Anybody has an idea of what this could be?

[mrRiffer]

I got this bass a few years ago, the seller told me it was a "Wilfer", German bass. This one sold as made in the mid-1960s. A lot of experienced players have had a look at it and says that it's definately not a Wilfer. Recently I had it in for repair and the top was removed, on the back of the top the "logo" on the picture was seen. Anybody who has a clue about year, manufacturing country and builder?
The bass is all plywood/laminated and is very well constructed. The top and bottom are 6 mm. thick.
Thanks!

[mrRiffer]

A couple of more pics.

[Jake deVilliers]

It would be good if you could show us the button and the scroll.

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Welcome to TalkBass mrRiffer.

+1 for detailed pics, and lots of them.

Even though my mystery DB still remains somwhat a mystery, some very knowledgeable people in here took their time to answer me. and mine's def. nothing special (Plywood identification help needed.).

Better to host the pics on photobucket or similar as well, You'll be able to get more detailed pics.

Regards
Sam

[mrRiffer]

Here's a few more. Would be really glad if someone had a clue. Cheers!

[mrRiffer]

2 more

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

I have no idea what it might be, except that I agree it's definitely not a Wilfer. I have a late '70s Wilfer plywood bass that bears almost no resemblance at all to your instrument. The button and (painted?) purfling are similar, but your neck heel is meatier and taller than mine, and the point on the back of the pegbox opposite the nut (not sure if it has a name) is more rounded than my bass.

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by mrRiffer

Here's a few more. Would be really glad if someone had a clue. Cheers!

Mr. Riff, I'd love to help but you're going to need to use a camera and post well-lit photographs that are in focus! Those pix are only useful for seeing the outline...

[mrRiffer]

Ok, Thanks a lot so far guys. Jake deVilliers, I'll try to take some new pics, just don't know how to post em´since my uploaded limit is exceeded on the forum allready. Anyway, what parts of the bass do you want to see? Does that logo say anything to you guys?
Thanks again and Cheers!

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Originally Posted by mrRiffer

Ok, Thanks a lot so far guys. Jake deVilliers, I'll try to take some new pics, just don't know how to post em´since my uploaded limit is exceeded on the forum allready. Anyway, what parts of the bass do you want to see? Does that logo say anything to you guys?
Thanks again and Cheers!

You need to use a dedicated pic hosting site and copy/paste the [IMG] tag to your post.

At first, I was really let down by the puny size of the attachment pics and the ridiculous size limit, but when You think about it, it all makes a perfect sense.

We like to show off our gear, we like to show off with our band pics, we like to show off our pets, we like to show off with our rides, hell, we like to show off how amazing our new camera is, and that takes up insane amounts of storage space and bandwidth. Hosting the pics on another site solves the problem for the forum.

As for what to show: details.
The construction methods and the level of detail is often the best indication where and when a particular instrument was made. The scroll, tuners (engraving), the purfling and the neck heel are good places to start.

From the little I've seen the lower end of the plywood basses (we have plenty of those here ), and from Your pics, my guess for the region of origin would be the former eastern block.

Since the eastern block ply instruments rarely made their way into US in any significant numbers, and the majority of the (DB) TBers are from US, sadly they aren't able to help in the majority of the cases. IMLE anyway.

Regards
Sam

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by mrRiffer

Ok, Thanks a lot so far guys. Jake deVilliers, I'll try to take some new pics, just don't know how to post em´since my uploaded limit is exceeded on the forum allready. Anyway, what parts of the bass do you want to see? Does that logo say anything to you guys?
Thanks again and Cheers!

You've got the right idea, its just that the pix are back lit or blurry or both.

You can always delete your present pix and upload better ones.

[mrRiffer]

Ok, here´s a new try, I´m still working on my photo skills.

[mrRiffer]

and these

[Matthijs]

I also think you should look for Eastern Europe. The heel and volute look very similar to my Chech bass. Can you show the whole body shape?

[mrRiffer]

Yes of course, looks like this.
Thanks!

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by mrRiffer

Ok, here´s a new try, I´m still working on my photo skills.

Ahh, that's better! It says 'Czech' to me - the tall narrow button and the really big neck heel do anyway, although I'd be more confident in that if the neck was beech...

You'd think the B + S insignia would be more helpful, wouldn't you?

[mrRiffer]

haha, yeah when the guy who did the repair job found the insignia I first tought it would be a piece of cake to get some info... Anyway his first guess was also Czech but after a while he changed his mind and said his best bet was DDR/East Germany. He also said it could be made in the 60s, 70s or 80s... Would be nice to know a little closer, any ways to see what year it could have been made? Or was everything basically the same from the 60s-80s regarding eastern ply basses?
Thanks for all your help and time!

[tstone]

I, too, have never heard of a "BS" bass.

But there's certainly no shortage of that commodity on these forums ;-)

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by tstone

I, too, have never heard of a "BS" bass.

But there's certainly no shortage of that commodity on these forums ;-)

That's 'B+S' dude!

[PaulKing]

It looks a bit Hungarian to me, those big round upper bouts.