American Standard help

[lamarjones]

Greetings from the electric side Actually I found a ton of info that helped me get my first DB and I needed to thank this side for that...

Anyways, been playing bluegrass and this guy who plays and fixes banjos has this upright he tells me is an 1937 American Standard. I went to check it out and it plays and sounds great. This is no label on the inside so I don't know for sure about serial or anything, but this guy and another 'ol timer' who seems to know a lot about acoustic instruments was sure it was an American Standard, I have no reason to doubt them. I might get it off of him or help him move it, so I snapped a bunch of pics of it for the all knowing minds at TB. Any insight would rock.

front
front
front side
front side
front side
front side
lower
heel
head side
head side
heel
board top
board
upperneck side
back full
back
back side
back
back side
lower back
bottom

[Jake deVilliers]

Interesting bass. Its not an American Standard, that's for sure but...the back and nut look like Epiphone factory work, whereas the top almost looks like post-war German/Czech plywood. I can't tell from the photos whether the top has the characteristic Epiphone flats - Epis have a 2 1/2" flat spot around the edges, before the arching begins.

Does it have a serial number up on the ledges under the tuners or on the end under the saddle?

[lamarjones]

very interesting, under the ledge is the serial number 878. Thanks for the help, you think the top might not be original on it?

[lamarjones]

also, there seems to be a flat section on the perimeter of the top on it. But I see that the kerfling is not the same on the front as the back?

[jtlownds]

It sure doesn't look like an American Standard Cleveland to me either. I don't know what the hell it is.

[MollyKay]

From the other thread...

Well…I’ll give you my opinion

This is a post war production Epiphone B-4 most likely made around 1946-1947. I would say by looking at the pictures the neck, tuners and back are original. The front and tailpiece are not. The FF holes do not have the classic Epi shape so most likely your bass has had a hard life, the top was replaced, purfed and refinished. If it sounds good and plays nice, love it for what it is and blow to the wind if it is correct or collectable. It is definitely NOT and American Standard or Kay bass. I will catalog the information into my ever growing database.

Thanks for the post and give the bass a hug from me!

[james condino]

What Molly said....

Beyond that, probably the easiest way to tell a nice old American Standard bass is that, generally, in a room full of old ply basses, an American standard is so much bigger than all the old Kays and such that everyone else starts to feel a little insecure... great big boxes, great big scale length, and a great big low end (for an old ply...)

I know where several nice old American Standards are for sale right nearby.

How much is the seller asking for this bass?

j.

[lamarjones]

Thanks, I think that is what it is right there!

Seller was asking 1500 for it, it plays really nice so doesn't seem bad still I guess.

[Chasarms]

AS don't have those sloped shoulders like that. Nor do they have the more "squared" lower bouts. Here's one that was on the Upton site.



But, assuming there are no issues that need attention, $1,500 is not bad for even a no-name if it plays and sounds to your liking.

Offer him $1,200. You never know!!!!

[Duke_Spicher]

hey there! This thread made me think about my American Standard that I have. I should take a picture of it for you--I got frustrated at a Vegas show and kicked a hole in it once..whoops (I got frustrated at the lack of audience response at me beating my hand on the fingerboard for them)
I need to find replacement tuner machines for it... one has broken due to an amp sliding into it.
Does any one know where I could find a part like that to replace it? I've seen new machines for sale, but would prefer to keep it original type parts.
Duke