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03-18-2006, 07:25 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: North Carolina | | | String identification
Perhaps if you could get some really clear shots of the strings as they are attched to the tailpiece, it may help in identifying what strings you have.
Most (but maybe not all) strings have a distinctive pattern of colors at the ball end of the string. Also, a picture of the pegbox and the colors of the ends of the strings there would be helpful.
Not tht I'm an expert in string ID, but maybe some others here could help you. |
03-18-2006, 07:56 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Colorado Springs CO | | Pirastro Olives- Check it out here- http://www.quinnviolin.com/qv_stringidsearch.shtml
It's kind of hard to see the Bass from the pictures that you have- do you have any full front and back?
Nice flame on the neck, though...
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"I am beginning to see some improvement"
Pablo Casals, on practicing 3 Hours a day at age 90
Last edited by reedo35 : 03-18-2006 at 07:58 AM.
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03-18-2006, 12:05 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: NOT USA | | | Thanks so much!
I will get some full pics of back and front for you. |
03-18-2006, 12:35 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: NOT USA | | | |
03-20-2006, 12:13 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: NOT USA | | | Follow up-
Follow up-
I think I've identified the bass via (hello, hello) other threads in this forum. I still lack a clear idea of when this (Entry-level ~1960 German) bass was made, though.
chicabass/K`
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Fretless bass is a gateway drug that can but only lead to upright addiction.
Last edited by chicabass : 03-20-2006 at 12:29 PM.
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03-20-2006, 12:19 PM
| | Banned
Owner: Ken Smith Basses, Ltd. | | Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Perkasie, PA USA | |  Wilfer?
Quote: |
Originally Posted by chicabass Follow up-
I think I've identified the bass via (hello, hello) other threads in this forum. I still lack a clear idea of when this (Wilfer?) bass was made, though.
chicabass/K` | Who said this is a Wilfer? To me, from the pics you posted it looks to be a Plywood Bass. My guess would be Germany from around 1960 but not Wilfer. All the Wilfers I have seen are fully carved Basses. Lang made many plywood Basses in that period and sold to the same importers that Wilfer did. These Basses often have many different brands but coming from only a few commercial German factories.
Last edited by KSB - Ken Smith : 03-20-2006 at 12:31 PM.
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03-20-2006, 12:28 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: NOT USA | | | [quote=KSB - Ken Smith]Who said this is a Wilfer? To me, from the pics you posted it looks to be a Plywood Bass. My guess would be Germany from around 1960 but not Wilfer. All the Wilfers I have seen are fully carved Basses. [quote]
Ooo how embarrassing. I take that back then!
I give up. It's not really important anymore anyhow.
I love the bass, love the sound. Could be a 'Whatever'.
[The person selling it to me was not all that clear on the origin of the instrument, but I got to hear/play it and took a liking...]
chicabass/K`
__________________
Fretless bass is a gateway drug that can but only lead to upright addiction.
Last edited by chicabass : 03-20-2006 at 12:36 PM.
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03-20-2006, 12:34 PM
| | Banned
Owner: Ken Smith Basses, Ltd. | | Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Perkasie, PA USA | | embarassed?
[quote=chicabass][quote=KSB - Ken Smith]Who said this is a Wilfer? To me, from the pics you posted it looks to be a Plywood Bass. My guess would be Germany from around 1960 but not Wilfer. All the Wilfers I have seen are fully carved Basses. Quote:
Ooo how embarrassing. I take that back then!
I give up. It's not really important anymore anyhow.
I love the bass, love the sound. Could be a 'Whatever'.
chicabass/K`
| Nothing to be embarassed about at all. The ID of these Basses are often difficult since they carry many names from the same shops and most shops make similar looking Basses in Germany and around the German/Czech border. Can you confirm if the Bass is carved or laminated? I can't tell from your pics.
The most important thing is how you feel about your own Bass and how much you like playing it. Opinions mean very little after that.
EDIT: Your profile says German Shop Bass c.1950. That's about what I estimated. After WWII and before 1970. That's the window I would choose as the tuners look to fit that era. Nice flamed neck from what I can see.. Enjoy..
Profile says, out of the USA? Care to elaborate on that?
Last edited by KSB - Ken Smith : 03-20-2006 at 12:38 PM.
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03-20-2006, 12:51 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: NOT USA | | | German Shop Bass c.1950
Updated my profile soon after I got some feedback in this thread, and I'd been given that 'window' of after-war/before 1980 by the seller, but thought people might have a better insight on that in here! (:
I hate having to say I'm in Australia.
Thanks for your help!
The sexy neck and sound were some main things that appealed to me about this bass.
The purfling is 'trivial' (although real?).
It feels great, and has an ebony fingerboard which was just reshaved.
I did a lot of reading in the TB forum before looking for double basses!
chicabass/K`
__________________
Fretless bass is a gateway drug that can but only lead to upright addiction. |
03-20-2006, 01:13 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Colorado Springs CO | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by chicabass I love the bass, love the sound. Could be a 'Whatever'.
chicabass/K` | Well, that's the most important thing, isn't it? I was thinking maybe a Hofner or a Rubner Copy, it has that "look"
but if it sounds good to you it's awesome! 
__________________
"I am beginning to see some improvement"
Pablo Casals, on practicing 3 Hours a day at age 90
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03-20-2006, 03:38 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: NOT USA | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by jmpiwonka i thought the Oliv's were green. | Mmm...
They musn't be oliv's then.
*quickly checks strings for more detail*
The wrapping at the endpin is solid yellow wrapped in a red spiral of thread and then a cm worth of solid red wrapping, above the yellow.
Pegbox -
Green E
Black/blue A
Red D
Yellow/grimy G
chicabass/K`
__________________
Fretless bass is a gateway drug that can but only lead to upright addiction.
Last edited by chicabass : 03-20-2006 at 03:47 PM.
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03-20-2006, 05:00 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Colorado Springs CO | |  I'm stumped, then. My call was based on what I could see from your first set of Pics. Obviously these are the strings that were on the Bass when you got it, yes? Well, I Can't say for sure,but maybe they are a brand not made anymore.
__________________
"I am beginning to see some improvement"
Pablo Casals, on practicing 3 Hours a day at age 90
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03-20-2006, 05:12 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: NOT USA | | | Actually I'm just confused now too.
Mustn't be made anymore.
Checked a page that showed spirocores. They're not that either.
I call off the search! (-;
chicabass/K`
[Ja they were on the bass when I bought it. Must be very old. Thinking of changing them for something newer, so maybe I have something sharper to practice my ear with?]
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Fretless bass is a gateway drug that can but only lead to upright addiction.
Last edited by chicabass : 03-20-2006 at 05:20 PM.
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03-20-2006, 09:51 PM
|  | Supporting Member
Luthier: Bresque Basses, rep: Paulin EUB | | Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Sydney, Australia | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by chicabass I hate having to say I'm in Australia. | I don't!
The bass my daughter uses at school has the same pegbox winding colours, but a short purply-red winding at the tailpiece end.
Its a rather neglected suzuki bass and probably had the same strings since it was born in 1975. But last night I changed the inaudible E string for one of my old spirocores, and refit the sound post where it was supposed to be, and degunked the rosewood board, and now it sounds and plays like a bass again!
We all very happy now. Its all very well for the bandmaster to ask my girl to play with more growl but if the bass won't do it what hope does she have?
Now I just have to try to convince the school they need to send the bass off for maintenance every now and then like all the other instruments they have. |
03-21-2006, 12:26 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: NOT USA | | | Sounds like a lot of work needed by that bass, are you sure the school hasn't been trying to tweak profit/loss and make students play planks of wood? (-;
I'm excited for your daughter now anyhows. I can just imagine her taking a wealth more inspiration from the better set-up bass.
Trying to think back to if I'd actually started to <i>care</i> about sound, back in school. Hmmm.
The strings I have on now are great, very mellow and round for pizzicato, but defined and growly for arco. The G is maybe a little too bold for my liking!
The E however... very impressive. And yes, I think these strings are 'getting on' in age.
Very soft on the fingers, and easy enough to play (Not that I have much experience playing different double bass strings hah).
I'd really like to be able to get a new set just like it but obviously that's not possible. Maybe I'll ask in at the shop for a replacement that's similar. When I change strings *projects light years ahead*.
Very happy with the bass too. From what I've read, it seems I was offered a better deal than a lot of people.
Sometimes I think I need to be careful what I wish for, cause I might just get it- Now I have to follow through!
Full of c... onversation (:
chicabass/K`
__________________
Fretless bass is a gateway drug that can but only lead to upright addiction. |
03-21-2006, 09:00 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: NOT USA | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by reedo35 I'm stumped, then. My call was based on what I could see from your first set of Pics. Obviously these are the strings that were on the Bass when you got it, yes? Well, I Can't say for sure,but maybe they are a brand not made anymore. |
I asked the seller of the bass.
Pirastro Chromcores.
I feel deflated now, after waiting for some dark 'mystery string' set :|
chicabass/K`
__________________
Fretless bass is a gateway drug that can but only lead to upright addiction.
Last edited by chicabass : 03-22-2006 at 04:43 AM.
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03-21-2006, 09:00 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Colorado Springs CO | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by chicabass
I'd really like to be able to get a new set just like it but obviously that's not possible. Maybe I'll ask in at the shop for a replacement that's similar. When I change strings *projects light years ahead*.
chicabass/K`
| Check around this site, there are a lot of string, uh, enthusiasts (freaks)  who have slightly used sets for sale cheap...
__________________
"I am beginning to see some improvement"
Pablo Casals, on practicing 3 Hours a day at age 90
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