Hello Patrick.
I have recently bouight a Full size bass. The label inside says Handarbeit aus Mittenwald Boyern(May be Bayern)
Made in Germany.
I have been told by another fellow that it could be a Benedict Lang bass.
I understand that most double basses are 3/4. This one is much larger.
Length is 75 1/2 in. upper bout is 21 1/2, lower bouit is 27 1/2, depth is 8 1/2 in. 45 1/2 inch body length and 44 inch scale.
It has wood pegs for tuners.
It has a flat back, the previous owner called it a German flat back bass. The wood in the back appears to be ash(My guess)
The top is solid, not laminated.

I would like to know the luthier, some idea of value and desirability.

My plan is to donate the bass to the University of Texas in Odessa, Texas.

Any help you can give me will be appreciated.
Thanks, Jim Curlee

'Handarbeit"--hand work, hand made

"aus Mittenwald"--from the Central Forest, or something similar

"Bayern"--Bavaria [southern Germany; beer & mountain country]

Sounds like you've got the real thing there.

Hello Patrick.
I have recently bouight a Full size bass. The label inside says Handarbeit aus Mittenwald Boyern(May be Bayern)
Made in Germany.
I have been told by another fellow that it could be a Benedict Lang bass.
I understand that most double basses are 3/4. This one is much larger.
Length is 75 1/2 in. upper bout is 21 1/2, lower bouit is 27 1/2, depth is 8 1/2 in. 45 1/2 inch body length and 44 inch scale.
It has wood pegs for tuners.
It has a flat back, the previous owner called it a German flat back bass. The wood in the back appears to be ash(My guess)
The top is solid, not laminated.

I would like to know the luthier, some idea of value and desirability.

My plan is to donate the bass to the University of Texas in Odessa, Texas.

Any help you can give me will be appreciated.
Thanks, Jim Curlee


Hello Jim,
If you can, get it to Don Robertson at Robertsons Violin Shop in Albuquerque to have a look at it. I am sure he/they could definitively identify its maker, but a Mittenwald bass is often a factory bass... made by the main luthier's assitants, in a sort-of mass production. Tho' hand made, it may not have been made by a name maker but by his shop. Most big-name luthiers, from what I understand, would make three prototypes and they would be copied en masse by his help. But, yes, it is a real German bass (sounds like) and made in Mittenwald area. Hopefully it has a maple back and sides, with a spruce top. The string length suggests 7/8 size (bigger than 3/4 but smaller than 4/4)... tho' you COULD call it 4/4 I suspect. There are many COPIES by Chinese and Eastern Europeans that have fake labels. So the best thing to do is have Robertsons check its authenticity. But can you PLAY it? :)
If UTO will not accept it, Arizona Bass Players, Inc. (a non-profit) would definitely, and it would be used often.
Best to you!
Patrick

Hello Patrick. Thanks for the information.
I know Don Robertson and have been in the store in Albuquerque many times. I was hoping for a solution closer to home.
I plan a trip to deliver consignment instruments to High Desert Guitars in Santa Fe this summer and will try to find room for the bass.
The trip to Albuquerque is quite different if you take along a double bass.

The University of Texas in Odessa is developing the Orchestra program again after closing the Music Dept. several years ago. Dr. Thomas Hohstadt is the former Director of the Permian Basin Orchestra and has agreed to Direct the New Orchestra at UTPB in Odessa.

I have donated a nice cello and viola to his program. I have a violin which will go along with the Double Bass. I suppose I will have donated a String Quartet at that time.

Thanks again, Jim Curlee

As a maker I would make the following comments.
It's a big bass. A lot of people like big basses. The string length on large basses is not necessarily longer than that of 3/4 size basses. It is was it is as far as quality is concerned regardless of how many hands might have been involved, and if you are donating it, I'd think they ought to be very thankful for such a bass. Good on you!