another ....

[Adrian Levi]

I'm looking at purchasing this bass and am wondering if I can find out more about the instrument !! Its a 3/4 and has a pretty large scroll / I guess its Bohemian of sorts.

[Ken Smith]

Yes, I think it is Germanic but Germany rather than Czech (Bohemian). I would go with Markneukirchen area or northern Germany in general rather than southern (Bavaria, Mittenwald area). Although the Purfling style is taken from the French, the outer linings/moldings and the angle bent flatback are Germanic in style and make, not French. The Scroll is another obvious sign of it being German over French as well. This bass also has some age to it from the early 20th century at the latest and the late 19th century or so on the early side. Ofcourse, upon personal inspection I might find signs that would date it closer but from the pics, that's my guess. The varnish also looks light pointing to a possible refinish at some early date but not recent.

[Adrian Levi]

Hi Ken , thanks for the info . The pics I have are high res so I could edit some close up details for you if it would help you better pinpoint the age ?
Also you are spot on with the older refin ! The owner says that the finish under the scroll plates is original and of a 'slightly reddish' color!

[Sam Sherry]

More to the point, you've got a screw through the back of the headstock -- strike one! It's questionable how well the neck-block is attached to the back -- strike two! There a bucket-loads of presumably-repaired top- and side- cracks: Whether this bass strikes out depends on how well the work was done, and that is just about impossible to assess online. (More accurately, it's often easy to tell online if work was bad but it's pretty hard to tell if it was good.)

Bring this guy off to a bass specialist for detailed, careful review before you pay anything. Sure, you could be getting a bargain, but it's at least equally likely that you're getting a project which will never achieve "full value" no matter how much money you sink into it.

= = =

Oh yeah -- whether it was refinished or not, having a slightly different color under the tuner-plate is pretty normal. That is the part of the finish which is not exposed to air or UV.

[Stefano Senni]

I just finished a week tour in Japan where I played rental basses. One night in Tokyo I had the pleasure to play Ray Brown's bass (at least the one he kept in Japan for his tours). It is basically twin to this bass! Sturdy and very well sounding.

[Adrian Levi]

Originally Posted by Stefano Senni

I just finished a week tour in Japan where I played rental basses. One night in Tokyo I had the pleasure to play Ray Brown's bass (at least the one he kept in Japan for his tours). It is basically twin to this bass! Sturdy and very well sounding.

Sounds interesting ,do you have pics of that bass ?

[Stefano Senni]

no, unfortunately. After Ray passed away that bass was sold to a guy in Tokyo who is an amateur player from what I have understood. It's just a nice old german factory bass with a good power and even sound, nothing high pedigree, except the fact that it was former property of Mr. Brown.