65 Yr Old German Bass - Need Help

[Whisper]

I've come across what is apparently a 65 yr. old German bass. Can anyone tell me more about it from these 2 pictures? Is the crack something to worry about? It is for sale, for $4000 CDN (about $3500 USD). Is that a good price?

Pics:

[Eric Hochberg]

There's no way anyone can tell from two pictures if $4000 is a good price for this bass. It needs to be inspected by a competent bass luthier to determine what, if any work needs to be done. When you know how much money it will take to put it into solid condition, then you can figure out if the asking price is reasonable. If it is a well made bass in good shape now, if it sounds good and is a comfortable size for you, $4000.00 is a good price for a quality German factory instrument. These instruments can command much higher prices in the right market.

[DJones]

I would ask the seller how that giant crack formed on the side, I'm kinda curious myself.

[joel kelsey]

How does it sound/play? That is where I would start. Good luck!

[Martin Sheridan]

The side cracks look like they've been repaired.
But I can't tell from the pics if the bass is carved or laminated.
It's a good price for a carved bass, but I wouldn't pay that much for a laminated bass, because you can buy a fully carved new bass for that price.

[Martin Sheridan]

A second look at the edges and I believe it's carved. If you like the sound snap it up.You can sell it for more than that.

[Ale]

Damn , thats a serious crack. That will be pretty hard to fix , its a difficult location and the wood is very weak at that place.
The asking price seem a little to much considerd that crack.

[Martin Sheridan]

Usually side cracks will be open and very visible, also uneven with one side being higher than the other. These look like they've been pulled together glued and cleated.
Here's how you can check. Put your thumbs on each side of the crack and put some pressure on them. If the crack is unrepaired it should give and the two sides will separate a little revealing that the crack has not been repaired. As a bass luthier these look repaired to me.
In any case this is not that big of a deal and I wouldn't reject the bass over them. Although it's best to repair them with the top off, it can be done from the outside by someone who knows what they are doing.

[Whisper]

Yes it is a carved bass, and it looks like the crack has been repaired. As long as it's repaired well, is there any reason to worry?

[toman]

aaargh, who puts a bow in the f-hole like that?

[mrpc]

The same person that let that nasty crack develop. I'd steer clear of any instrument that has been so badly abused, unless you can get it at a fire sale price.

[Martin Sheridan]

Unless I'm really missing something, these are old cracks that are repaired and they are not unusual at all. Cracks can develop on the sides of a bass for any number of reasons. They are usually not a serious injury to the bass, but need to be attended to which unless I'm completely blind have been glued up and pulled together on this bass. I've got a bass thats going on 200 years and it must have 20 or more repaired cracks on it, all well done, solid, plays and sounds great and I'm not going to trade it for a new bass with no cracks.

Ask the owner if you can take it to a repair shop to get it checked out. If they give you the go ahead and you like the bass, you can't beat it for that price. If it were in my shop it would be a lot more. If they say it needs repair, then the question is how much, get it in writing, and then you have a negotiating point with the seller.

[basss]

Originally Posted by toman

aaargh, who puts a bow in the f-hole like that?

thats what she said