Going to check out a mystery local classifieds "early 1900's german flatback"

Wilbyman · #1 03-18-2011, 01:32 PM

So on a whim I picked up my local classifieds bulletin (comes out every week) and was flipping through the musical instruments section.

I was surprised to see a listing for "early 1900's german flatback double bass with Fishman pickup appraised $6000 sell $3000".

I am the only upright player (certainly jazz upright player) for about 60 miles in any direction (helps gigging wise!), so this was kind of surprising.

I called the guy and he lives 20 minutes out in rural Ohio. He said it came out of the Columbus OH school system, where it was bought by a luther in Lancaster and rehabbed. He got it from said luthier and has had it about 2-3 years, never learned to play it.

I know who the luthier is and have one experience with the luthier which wasn't very good...work was kinda iffy...

But I have to say, I am too curious not to go check it out tonight. Any suggestions on how to tell if anything is really askew, other than the playability, sound, and any open and obvious gaping seams/cracks? (I know sucking/blowing on the cracks is a quick way to tell if they're open...).

So are you guys curious or what? I will get some Iphone pics if nothing else...

TroyK · #2 03-18-2011, 01:39 PM

I'm curious. Please post pics.

Thump around on it with your thumb and listen for something loose sounding. Shine a light in it and see where it peeks out. Play it, look for sinkage on table or a bump over the sound post.

Ask for the appraisal...

Sounds like it could be a good deal. You didn't say if it's ply, hybrid or carved. If it's ply or hybrid, it might be a great bass, but I think $6,000 is unrealistic. If it's carved, maybe. It sounds like a bad seller's market, though, so unless he want's to send it someplace like Cinci to be consigned or ship it, the local market value of it is not likely to be what it might appraise at. (good news for you)

Let us know.

Wilbyman · #3 03-18-2011, 01:43 PM

i assumed it was carved from the ad and appraisal (who knows on that) but we will see. i will get some pics. agree on your post otherwise.

oh yeah troy.. ad said sell 3k

Quote:

Originally Posted by TroyK

I'm curious. Please post pics.

Thump around on it with your thumb and listen for something loose sounding. Shine a light in it and see where it peeks out. Play it, look for sinkage on table or a bump over the sound post.

Ask for the appraisal...

Sounds like it could be a good deal. You didn't say if it's ply, hybrid or carved. If it's ply or hybrid, it might be a great bass, but I think $6,000 is unrealistic. If it's carved, maybe. It sounds like a bad seller's market, though, so unless he want's to send it someplace like Cinci to be consigned or ship it, the local market value of it is not likely to be what it might appraise at. (good news for you)

Let us know.

uprightben · #4 03-18-2011, 05:57 PM

I've never heard of sucking and blowing on a bass to test the seams, sounds romantic. I usuall give it a hard knock with one knuckle all the way around the edges and listen for a buzzy kind of sound. I wouldn't count open seams against the thing when trying to assess its health, though. Look for poorly repaired cracks, anything that looks like a screw or a dowel was used, try to wiggle the neck joint and sight down the fingerboard towards the bridge. Does the neck seem to point straight at the endpin? These are the things that are red flags. Also be aware that "german from the early 1900's" is the prime time for it to be a blockless wonder. bring a flashight and look inside the thing, and stick your finger in the f hole and feel the inside of the top. A very rough surface can mean carved in bass bar.

brother21 · #5 03-18-2011, 07:42 PM

appraisal at 6000 ? nothing ever sells at value of an appraisal. Go play it if it needs a setup strings and all, that's a great bargain point. Sounds nice...

Jake deVilliers · #6 03-18-2011, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wilbyman

So on a whim I picked up my local classifieds bulletin (comes out every week) and was flipping through the musical instruments section.

I was surprised to see a listing for "early 1900's german flatback double bass with Fishman pickup appraised $6000 sell $3000".

I am the only upright player (certainly jazz upright player) for about 60 miles in any direction (helps gigging wise!), so this was kind of surprising.

I called the guy and he lives 20 minutes out in rural Ohio. He said it came out of the Columbus OH school system, where it was bought by a luther in Lancaster and rehabbed. He got it from said luthier and has had it about 2-3 years, never learned to play it.

I know who the luthier is and have one experience with the luthier which wasn't very good...work was kinda iffy...

But I have to say, I am too curious not to go check it out tonight. Any suggestions on how to tell if anything is really askew, other than the playability, sound, and any open and obvious gaping seams/cracks? (I know sucking/blowing on the cracks is a quick way to tell if they're open...).

So are you guys curious or what? I will get some Iphone pics if nothing else...

Hey, that sounds promising!

Let us know how it works out.

Wilbyman · #7 03-19-2011, 05:44 AM

The thing needs lots of work. It is all carved but tons of bad open cracks and I dunno if the neck is askew or not. It could be pretty cool with 3-4k of loving. It sounds pretty decent even with the thousand year old set of strings on it. But I'll pass...

Nice guy! He's a mechanic.

Wilbyman · #8 03-19-2011, 05:45 AM

More pics

Rebop · #9 03-19-2011, 07:52 AM

Looks like a cool bass. Too bad it was so far gone.

And jeez, I'm sick of seeing the BP-100 mounted that way; it just doesn't work all that well that way.

forester · #10 03-19-2011, 07:55 AM

nice condition, but taking on that mishapening look.

Don Higdon · #11 03-20-2011, 02:13 PM

I don't know what is meant by "early 1900's". Does it mean 1949? That does not at all look like a hundred-year-old bass. I've owned three. The relection of the bridge in the picture suggests the varnish is too glossy. Aside from the edges, which could have happened last month, I don't see wear and tear marks.

Wilbyman · #12 03-23-2011, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Higdon

I don't know what is meant by "early 1900's". Does it mean 1949? That does not at all look like a hundred-year-old bass. I've owned three. The relection of the bridge in the picture suggests the varnish is too glossy. Aside from the edges, which could have happened last month, I don't see wear and tear marks.

Thanks Don. I dunno about the age. The cracks and bad stuff didn't really show up in the photos. The varnish was pretty glossy in person.