Can anyone help me ID this bass.

[carlopetro]

Hello, I was hoping someone could give me a better idea on the identity of this bass and more specifically its value. All I know is that it is supposed to be a circa 1930’s German. There are two partial labels inside. Both have been mostly scraped off. I believe one of the labels might read: Copy of Antonio Stradivari. Yes, I know Stradivari never made basses, but that’s what I think may have been printed on the label.


Measurements in inches are:

Full Height 71
Body Height 42
Scale Length 42
Upper Bout Width 19 1/2
Center Bout Width 14 1/2
Lower Bout Width 25
Rib Depth 7 ¾

Photos Here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/carlopetro/Bass

Thanks in advance.

[Andrew McGregor]

That looks exactly like my bass, which I'm told is a Höfner from East Germany. There should be a number scratched into the varnish near the endpin; what does it say? The number on mine is 1958, which is supposedly the year of manufacture.

[carlopetro]

Originally Posted by Andrew McGregor

That looks exactly like my bass, which I'm told is a Höfner from East Germany. There should be a number scratched into the varnish near the endpin; what does it say? The number on mine is 1958, which is supposedly the year of manufacture.

Thanks for your reply,

There is no number by the end pin or anywhere that I can find on this bass. If there is no number does that mean it is not a Höfner?

Do you have any pics of your bass I could see?

[madeinthePRC!]

Well to be honest I don't know, the shoulders look bohemian, and I would speculate checkoslovakian influences. But that signature fretwork on the shoulder. absolut HOFNER no denying that. i'm quite certain that it is infact a Hofner made in germany, hang on to that one because since hofner now makes the basses mostly in the PRC (people republic of china) then you could have a good resale value

[carlopetro]

Originally Posted by madeinthePRC!

Well to be honest I don't know, the shoulders look bohemian, and I would speculate checkoslovakian influences. But that signature fretwork on the shoulder. absolut HOFNER no denying that. i'm quite certain that it is infact a Hofner made in germany, hang on to that one because since hofner now makes the basses mostly in the PRC (people republic of china) then you could have a good resale value

Thank you for your reply,