Help identify this unnamed Double-Bass

[Anton Johannes Hejl]

Thank you Ken, for the informative reply!

111,5 is the vibrating string length.

I bought this bass just a few weeks ago, trading in a 1960 W.German 3/4 gamba flatback, that I have been playing since I was 17. Adjusting to a new and larger bass is like starting over, but I am definitely enjoying the ride.

My new bass is very vibrant, and responds strongly to small changes in soundpost/bridge placement. On the other hand different strings does not make the huge difference I am used to. So far I have settled for the rather high tension mix of Spirocore E, A and Oliv D, G.

I have had the string distance at the saddle narrowed from 11.1 to 9.6 mm. I also tried narrowing the string distance at the bridge, but decided against it, because it made the sound more dull. It is now 28 mm on a 17.3 cm high bridge.

I find it easy to set this bass up for a big arco sound. I am working on getting the pizz. feel and sound just right as well...

Here is a picture of a Johan Braun (Mittenwald) bass for sale at Nahrmann, that might be similar (except that it is flatback):
http://imgur.com/a/9d3T2/embed

- Johs

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Anton Johannes Hejl

Thank you Ken, for the informative reply!

111,5 is the vibrating string length.

I bought this bass just a few weeks ago, trading in a 1960 W.German 3/4 gamba flatback, that I have been playing since I was 17. Adjusting to a new and larger bass is like starting over, but I am definitely enjoying the ride.

My new bass is very vibrant, and responds strongly to small changes in soundpost/bridge placement. On the other hand different strings does not make the huge difference I am used to. So far I have settled for the rather high tension mix of Spirocore E, A and Oliv D, G.

I have had the string distance at the saddle narrowed from 11.1 to 9.6 mm. I also tried narrowing the string distance at the bridge, but decided against it, because it made the sound more dull. It is now 28 mm on a 17.3 cm high bridge.

I find it easy to set this bass up for a big arco sound. I am working on getting the pizz. feel and sound just right as well...

Here is a picture of a Johan Braun (Mittenwald) bass for sale at Nahrmann, that might be similar (except that it is flatback):
http://imgur.com/a/9d3T2/embed

- Johs

Wow, 111.5 is nearly 44". That's big. I have owned basses like that before but we always modify them in restoration to 42"(106.7) or less. On the Braun bass, that looks 100% like a Neuner-Hornsteiner bass, gears, linings, model and all. Perhaps he was a bass maker for them. I have in my files somewhere pictures of that Zimmerman bass I mentioned. When I get the time, I will try posting them.

[Anton Johannes Hejl]

Well I guess You narrowed it down to Saxon area 1890-1930. On the receipt Erik Hoffmann wrote: Markneukirchen - 1900, so he came to the same conclusion.

Neuner & Hornsteiner, A. Meyer and J. Rubner have been mentioned as possible builders of my bass.

I find the design of the plates on the scroll interesting, and thought that they might be a trademark design of a certain builder...? Would be fun if anybody recognized the design.

Thanks for your help.

- Johs

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Anton Johannes Hejl

Well I guess You narrowed it down to Saxon area 1890-1930. On the receipt Erik Hoffmann wrote: Markneukirchen - 1900, so he came to the same conclusion.

Neuner & Hornsteiner, A. Meyer and J. Rubner have been mentioned as possible builders of my bass.

I find the design of the plates on the scroll interesting, and thought that they might be a trademark design of a certain builder...? Would be fun if anybody recognized the design.

Thanks for your help.

- Johs

Those plates are just a design I have seen on various basses and I don't know if they are original to the bass. I doubt it can ID the actual shop or maker but it is possible.

I looked at my email pics of the Zimmerman bass and the body is like yours and the Braun/N-H style bass. The Gears are Mittenwald style single gears as on the H-N basses of 1900. The outer linings are also different on the Zimmerman but who knows from bass to bass, year to year, decade to decade what each maker does. Things change sometimes. Enjoy your new bass.

[Anton Johannes Hejl]

Link to two pictures: http://imgur.com/a/T9MMl/embed

1. Is a 1924 3/4 bass by Josef Rubner (for sale at GEBA-online, Germany).
2. is a scroll from a 1900 Josef Rubner (for sale at The Bass Church).

The neck joint and laquer (on 1.) resembles my bass. It is therefore my impression that my bass is very likely to have been built by Josef Rubner.

Pictures of my bass: http://imgur.com/a/MwlQ1/embed

Any comments?

- Johs