German, Austrian and Bohemian Basses...

[fydda]

Just had to start this thread
Here are some of my instruments. Some of them are sold and
some of them are under restoration.



Left: German instrument from Manheim built 1905. Unsigned, but with a poem written under the top plate including date and place. Strange measures on this one. Thick plates and only 12cm between the f-holes. Roundback. Heavily flamed.
Middle: German unsigned. Not that special, but sounds nice. about 1920? Roundback
Right: Unsigned German instrument (Pfretschner?) bought 2nd. hand in 1910. Roundback



Left: Hermann Dölling Jr. fine instrument built about 1885(?) I am pretty sure the label is original and that this is one of his earliest basses. Roundback.
Middle: Old unsigned instrument with wiener-scroll. Had a fake Pietro Palotta label. Repairs signed by different luthiers. Hard to read, but oldest probably 17??. Nice instrument! Flatback.
Right: This doesn't actually fit in here, but what the hell.. Norwegian instrument built by myself. Built 2001, but not finished yet(!) All traditional materials and traditional techniques used. Roundback.

[5stringDNA]

Nice basses fydda! I like those dark old germans a lot. That new bass of yours has nice curves and should be a very attractive instrument when finished up.

[bassame]

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

Now fydda, you are in Germany and I suppose you are German as well.

Gee, I thought Oslo was in Norway?

[fydda]

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

3/19/06 Quote from me; "We could also put German, Austrian and Bohemia together and a seperate one for other eastern european Basses and then one for 20th century American makers thru current." Posted as an answer to you 'fydda' on the 'Database' thread, remember?

I remember. Just stole your title . Actually, I thougt somebody else who posts more frequently than me would start this thread, but since I didn't find any, I just couldn't wait any longer.

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

Now fydda, you are in Germany and I suppose you are German as well. In USA we have many Basses imported here in the last 100 years with two different labels in them BUT they look exactly the same. They are G.A. Pfretzschner and Andreas Morelli. There are also Morelli labelled/branded Basses from Karl Herrmann and Saumer as well. My point and question is this. Are there only C.F. Pfretzschner Basses there or also ones in the German domestic with the "G.A." initials whom I know only as a Bow maker?

Actually, I'm in Oslo-Norway and I'm norwegian. Never lived in Germany.
Regarding the Pfretzschner basses, I'm sorry to say that I don't have much information for you. The only thing I can say, is that there are G. A. instruments as well. Here are some pics:

http://www.kontrabass.biz/images/upl...retzschner.jpg
http://www.kontrabass.biz/images/upl...etzschner3.jpg

[fydda]

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

oops, ok. I looked at your website and couldn't understand the language, I thought it was German. My bad, but my question still stands about the domestic european markek and what names/brands we see here in USA.

I see the G.A. Basses but the repair label says repaired in Calif. That means it was in USA. In the Henley Book, G.A. was a Bow maker. Only C.F. I, II and III made Violins thru Basses. They were the only Pfretzschners that did NOT make Bows as it was mainly a Bow making family. Also, C.F.I used to label his Violins as being made in Cremona. I have a book that has him in Italy but the book is from 1896. They also mention the family as being in Germany as well. C.F. II did the same as well as German labels later in. C.F. II was his sucessor. Henley has the C.F. I and II listed as trying to fool the world as they were never in Italy at all. G.A. once again was a Bow maker only but they may have used his name for exports as the family name was quite famous for making Bows.

Ahh.. Sorry. Misunderstood the wuestion at first.
The only thing I know - as you allready pointed out - is that there where much faking and trixing with the labels in that family. The german author Albert Fuchs confirms this in his "taxe der streichinstrumente" as well.
I support your theory about the family using G.A. only for export.

[bassist14]

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

My point and question is this. Are there only C.F. Pfretzschner Basses there or also ones in the German domestic with the "G.A." initials whom I know only as a Bow maker?

i´ve never seen a pfretzschner bass in germany. i also think it´s an export label.

[robobass]

I would support the export label theory. I've got a bass stamped "G.A. Pfretzchner / Markneukirchen". I it bought in the US. I now live in central Germany. When I mentioned it to My orchestra colleagues here, one said: "nah, they didn't make basses!" I was also told that Pfretzchner is a very common name in that area, so it may have been a different family.
Robobass

[Silversorcerer]

Just wanted to say I'm glad these threads are coming along. The English and New England ones as well. I don't have much to contribute but a thank-you to those who help bring this highly educational material together;- so THANK-YOU!!!