Help me identify my West German bass!

Herbie 80's · #1 02-07-2010, 07:23 PM

Howdy all. I just got my first upright today. I had played it about a week ago, and bought it the next day. From what I know, it is about 60 years old, it is made in West Germany (it says on the inside), but the makers tag seems to have fallen off. I think it's fully laminate, but I can't tell 100%.

I also know that she was played in the Thunder Bay Symphony (Northern Ontario, Canada), before I got hold of her. She has a number (1067) on her, and on the bag, but past that, I know nothing of her. She was being sold in a music store for $1,500, and they knew I wanted to buy an upright, so they called me over. The neck is ebony, and the tailpiece is as well. It also has the usual german crest on the back, reminiscent of Hofner, Juzek and Wilfer (I think). She also came with a german bow, but it looks generic, and has no markings. It also looks old. Here are some pictures:

* To Swiningoodtime, I actually meant to find out the brand name, to see if anyone recognizes it, etc,. Miscommunication there! I've already named her Lucy.

Thanks : )

swingingoodtime · #2 02-07-2010, 08:36 PM

She's a lovely fat-bottomed girl, congrats! Being German, I'm thinking Brunhilde or Helga (or just Hilde) might be appropriate

btw, your tailpiece looks to be set quite high; the tail wire probably needs shortening to bring the TP closer to the end-pin (I had the same prob with mine, played & sounded better after adjustment...)

Herbie 80's · #3 02-07-2010, 08:48 PM

Thanks. I didn't notice the tailpiece was a bit high. Unfortunately, the next time I can get it set up is in July, which is quite a ways away.

Paul Warburton · #4 02-07-2010, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herbie 80's

The neck is ebony,

Whew.

Co. · #5 02-08-2010, 04:55 AM

I doubt that it's 60 years old. "Made in WEST Germany" as opposed to "made in Germany" is only widely used since the 70's.

LeslieD · #6 02-08-2010, 06:32 AM

I'll throw out a guess about your bass. It looks to me like one of the Anton Schroetter laminated basses with flamed maple veneer on the back and faux flaming on the neck. Basses like yours were apparently made in a number of different shops/places in Germany and sold under the Anton Schroetter name (and perhaps other names). According to my luthier, they were commonly purchased for use in school districts in Pennsylvania (and maybe other eastern states).

Jake deVilliers · #7 02-08-2010, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Co.

I doubt that it's 60 years old. "Made in WEST Germany" as opposed to "made in Germany" is only widely used since the 70's.

I beg to differ. The 'Made in West Germany' and 'Made in Western Germany' labels appeared after the Second World War ie the late forties.

wineaux · #8 02-08-2010, 09:45 AM

Herbie,

Congrats. That's a great looking bass. Hope it sounds as good as it looks.

A couple of things:

The label says made in "Western Germany," which is different from "West Germany." West Germany existed from the end of the 1940s until 1990. Once the Berlin Wall went up, West Germany became the widely accepted usage. Before that, Western Germany was used more frequently. So, odds are your bass was made at some point in the 1950s. (More specifically some time from 1948 or '49 to 1962.) See Jake's post.

The next time you have your bass in for a check up, or if you have mirror and light that fit through the f-holes, check up near the shoulders. Some German factory basses have serial numbers or other identifying marks penciled in up there.

Finally, I think you meant to say the fingerboard is ebony. The neck is what the fingerboard is attached to.

Good luck with the bass and finding out more about it.

ArenW · #9 02-08-2010, 10:33 AM

That looks almost identical to a bass I just sold. Mine had a label that read E.R. Schmidt, and had a solid top.

*SOLD* German Hybrid F/S - F/T

Mike Carr · #10 02-08-2010, 10:40 AM

Looks a lot like one of my old ones. Anton Schuster is how mine was spelled. Mine wasn't bad!

bass_snake · #11 02-08-2010, 12:01 PM

NIce, congrats. I want an upright in that price range too.

Fred

Herbie 80's · #12 02-08-2010, 03:00 PM

Thanks for all your replies.

I did mean to say the fingerboard is ebony, my mistake. I didn't realize that West Germany and WestERN Germany made it from a different period. Learn something every day.

Since it says Western Germany that places it between '48, and 1962? Neat. I'll throw a mirror in it today and try to find a serial.

She also plays very well. British punchy tone. Not too deep, not too high. Perfect for me, I find. With a bow, she's very deep, quite hearty, you could say. The E is a bit hard to use, the notes don't come out very well. This is probably because of the old strings that need to be changed (they seem to have dents in the tops, but not in the cores). It'd also be nice if the action was a bit higher, but that's just me.

* I looked on the inside with a very bright flashlight. There are no serial numbers, nothing. The only evidence of any marking past the 'Made in Western Germany', are 3 spots that have paper and text on them. Unfortunately, all three of these pieces of papers don't seem to be fully intact; I can't read anything on them. Their placing strikes me as odd though. One is beneath the left F hole, one is at the very top of the right F hole and one is right beside the sound post.

cpaterso · #13 02-28-2010, 12:37 PM

Hi - Mine looks very similar - mine has lighter finish. but same emblem on back. mine is carved, from 1956 Germany. Label says made by Karl Nurnberger, Bohemia. nice bass; quick response, sound is good for jazz. my fingerboard seems to be 2nd grade ebony - but i got it worked on at Heinl's in Toronto, and it is great. AND - i only paid $3000 for it!!!!

Craig

reedo35 · #14 02-28-2010, 12:57 PM

Could be a "Cottage Industry" Bass, which means that different people made different parts of it, and then it was assembled at one shop. Is that purfling real or painted?
Anyway, if it sounds good to you, you got a bargain.

Herbie 80's · #15 03-03-2010, 08:48 PM

The purfling is real ebony.

I know it isn't carved now. It was easy to see when I looked at it closer. While it isn't carved, it is still a very nice bass. I'm ordering heavy gauge Corelli tungsten strings, and an adjustable bridge from Gollihur music soon.

When I get back home to Montreal I'll have it professionally set up, have the tailpiece moved down, adjust soundpost, all that jazz. How much do these set ups usually cost?

Paul Warburton · #16 03-04-2010, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herbie 80's

The purfling is real ebony.

Whew, again. Sorry, nothing personal.

Herbie 80's · #17 03-04-2010, 06:36 PM

Paul, would you prefer I said that the purfling is real? What would you prefer I say? So, I've made a typo in two of my posts. Thanks for pointing it out.

AMJBASS · #18 03-05-2010, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herbie 80's

The purfling is real ebony.

I know it isn't carved now. It was easy to see when I looked at it closer. While it isn't carved, it is still a very nice bass. I'm ordering heavy gauge Corelli tungsten strings, and an adjustable bridge from Gollihur music soon.

When I get back home to Montreal I'll have it professionally set up, have the tailpiece moved down, adjust soundpost, all that jazz. How much do these set ups usually cost?

By all means try out new strings, but I wouldn't order a bridge. When you go to have your bass set up, see if the bridge is salvagable and you can have adjusters installed. There are some really good luthiers in Montreal. If you need a new bridge they can supply that. Setup cost can vary depending on how much work you get done. You would need to take it to a luthier and have them give you an idea of the cost.

If I had to put a name to that bass I would say Hofner. I actually just picked up one before the new year which is nearly identical.

3ddi3 · #19 10-30-2010, 02:07 PM

I have to agree with Adrian Juras.
It's most likely a Karl hofner. I've got one that looks almost the same except mine is fully carved and build in the 1980's. The flower on the back is usualy a sign that it's a top of the line bass. (off course in it's own price range) I bought mine for $ 700,-- and I love it.

Sounds great plays great....

KTFunkAlive · #20 10-31-2010, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3ddi3

I have to agree with Adrian Juras.
It's most likely a Karl hofner. I've got one that looks almost the same except mine is fully carved and build in the 1980's. The flower on the back is usualy a sign that it's a top of the line bass. (off course in it's own price range) I bought mine for $ 700,-- and I love it.

Sounds great plays great....

I agree, I've got a fully carved Hofner (1983) that looks very similar.

700 bucks? Wow, you stole that baby.