American Standard Bass #1730

idResponse · #1 07-13-2010, 12:17 PM

I recently became the owner of an American Standard bass. Serial number 1730. Apparently built in 1948 or so, this thing has seen better days. It's dinged up and chipped apart, has repaired cracks in the neck on both body and tuner side. It has been being abused by a middle school in Tacoma, WA for an unknown amount of time. They were going to just get rid of it! Fortunately I know the teacher there, and he donated it to me.

It has been 11 years since I have owned an upright and that is 11 years too long. About time I had one again!

Still have to set the sound post proper, this thing sounds dead, and I'm using string and a grilling fork to set it. You work with what you got!

tomshepp · #2 07-13-2010, 02:08 PM

Nice score! You should let Jake DeVilliers fix that baby up for you. It'll sound and play great. I think he's in your neighborhood.

Jake deVilliers · #3 07-13-2010, 07:26 PM

Congratulations IDR on your new bass!

Thanks for the vote of confidence Tom!

I guess IDR is in the extended neighbourhood after all - we get through Olympia at least once a year...

idResponse · #4 07-13-2010, 08:15 PM

I don't really have money to sink into this thing, so it will just have to hold itself together until that day. it doesn't play -that- badly, it's just not something i could pull some stanley clarke action on!

here are some updated photos:

http://subliminal.audiolabs.org/crap/upright/

detail shots of the neck repair work and the weird school code engraved on the bottom. couldn't just write it on a sticker and paste it inside the instrument, nope... had to deface it...

jlilley · #5 07-14-2010, 12:40 AM

Congrats... I'm the proud owner of SN# 1997. They aren't the prettiest basses on the planet but they get the job done!
Another vote of confidence for Jake, I've played a few basses he has worked on and they all sound great. One of these days, I'll find the time to get him to work his magic on mine.

Cheers,
John