Bass or Furniture?

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

I have played both for 40 years and worked on both. I just don't understand your comment.

I understood it, I think. I believe it's called a "joke."

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

Why do you think it's 200 lbs? It isnt' solid Pauly!

Well, duh! The neck is, Kenny-Boy

[Stingrayz]

I can see this bass in the corner of an old ski lodge, it might be the wood the top is made of., but i can see it in a bar on display, its beats the hell out of a Pot of Plants in a corner

[Chasarms]

No doubt who won the form v. function debate in that maker's mind, but I agree that the workmanship and aesthetic value of the thing very nice.

[GT Kirk]

That endpin has got to add at least another 10lbs.

Tom

[Chasarms]

Originally Posted by GT Kirk

That endpin has got to add at least another 10lbs.

Tom

It looks like it was borrowed from the coffee table -- a nice coffee table, mind you.

[uptonbass]

Originally Posted by Chasarms

It looks like it was borrowed from the coffee table -- a nice coffee table, mind you.

Ha...very true

[velvetkevorkian]

I quite like it... and would certainly play it if it is indeed playable.

[Bob Branstetter]

I wrote the seller asking for more information and I received the following:

There doesn't appear to be a sticker
of any kind, however visable through the left F hole (in pencil) is 'Made by Ed L. Feidler'
but thats all.

The bass measures as follows:

Upper 18 1/4
C 14
Lower 22 1/4
Body 35
Neck 19 1/4
String 38
Total height 65 3/4

Anybody looking for a small 1/2 size bass with a huge neck?

[Silversorcerer]

I think it is quite interesting but obviously more of a woodworker's result than luthier's. Still, thin that neck down a good bit and put a standard bridge on it and who knows? It might be a cool little chamber bass. It certainly took some skill as well as original inspiration to put that together. My guess is that it was intended to be functional all the way, but suffers from home design, like Bob suggests, the maker had no pattern and improvised. Not knowing any better he left the neck way too thick, but the fingerboard dimensions look pretty normal. I guess that it is pretty close to real given that it comes from a remote area where the builder may have had little opportunity to do more than study a picture of a bass. The internet has really changed all of that. Any ideas on whether it has normal innards?

And check the way that long oblong point decends to almost the middle of the back from the button. It looks like that is thicker and carved into the back. Homemade maybe, but an impressive if unschooled effort. I'd give the maker high marks for effort, if not perfect functionality.

Some American folk art/craft collector should snap it up happily.

[Bob Branstetter]

Originally Posted by Silversorcerer

My guess is that it was intended to be functional all the way, but suffers from home design, like Bob suggests, the maker had no pattern and improvised. Not knowing any better he left the neck way too thick, but the fingerboard dimensions look pretty normal.

Actually what I said was that he "tried to use a blown up violin pattern instead and modified it accordingly". IMO, If you were to scale it back down to violin size, that neck would look pretty normal - for a violin.

[MonetBass]

Originally Posted by Bob Branstetter

The first thing that came to mind after I looked at the side views of this bass was it was very similar to what you would expect to see looking at a violin in a side view.

That was what I thought. The body looks a little 'thin'. Definitely has an inflated violin look to it.

[Bass]

It's not worth $1500: the auction's over with no bids.

I suppose this is obvious but ebay proves it.