Any info on Anton Schuster bass

[mlz77096]

I always wanted an older preferably German bass. I went to look at a 45 year old made in Germany Anton Schuster. Before seeing it, I searched the internet for info and came up with precious little. The bass felt really good to play, had a nice sound, appeared to be healthy and was within my limited budget, so I brought it home. Can anyone tell me more about the Anton Schuster basses? Thanks.

[KSB - Ken Smith]

Schuster is a common German name. There are 25 makers of Violins and Bows in the Henley book dating from the 18th thru 20th centuries. There is no person named Anton listed. Most probably it is a brand name for commercial imports to exploit a once famous or rather well known German family of makers related or not.

Show pics of the bass if you want more info. Otherwise it's just a blind guess what you are looking at. The name at this point is unimportant.

I always wanted an older preferably German bass.

Why German? German over what other country of makers?

I went to look at a 45 year old made in Germany Anton Schuster.

If it says "made in Germany" then it is a sure sign of a factory import with a fictitious name. That's the basic pattern of trade with instruments coming from Germany. "Made In" written in English in a German Bass is a sign it was not made for Germany nor handmade for any market!

Handmade German instrument labels are written in German unless made for the general export trade to USA and England. Italian in Italian, French in French and English write in English along with Italian or Latin like "Fecit London". Germans sometime use Italian writing as well to 'spruce' up their image.

[mlz77096]

My original first choice was an American Standard because the best bass I heard among my Old Time music friends was a beat up American Standard. But when I tried it out, it was hard to play - too big for me, I think, and the neck was thin and gave me some trouble.

I've been playing a CCB that I paid $270 with gig bag and bow (no shipping) so anything would be an upgrade. Why German? I see old German and sometines Czech basses advertised in the $1000 and up range. The operative word here is "old." I didn't see any old anything else close to $1000. I watched a few on ebay but I decided I wanted to play them first.

The Anton Schuser neck just fit my hand and the action was easy. It's laminated and I need that because I will be playing inside and outside, summer and winter. The label reads Anton Schuster, hand made, made in Germany.

I didn't expect it to be a rare find. I think I've read that this was the brand of an import company. I just wondered if anyone knew more about them. Seems like some pretty nice instruments carry that name. Mine is plain as a mud fence, and about that color, but looks is not why I bought it. I'd send a picture if I could figure out how.