help me identity this bass? what is it? is it worth saving?

[easye]

hey guys just got this little basket case from a house clean out guy. has a amplified peg in it and I am told it was from the 1950's and inside the bass it a has a sticker that just says germany. it is a plywood bass and needs some work any idea what it is or what it might be worth?

thanks
E


IMAG1215.jpg by proir, on Flickr


IMAG1210 by proir, on Flickr


IMAG1211 by proir, on Flickr


IMAG1212 by proir, on Flickr

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Couple grand on a good day. What does it need?

[FrenchBassQC]

Originally Posted by KUNGfuSHERIFF

Couple grand on a good day. What does it need?

Based on picture 1211, a bigger case.

[easye]

back is separated and new bridge looks like she got a little damp near the bottom.

[easye]

haha nice I think the case shrank

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Seam repair, maybe a hundred bucks. A new bridge, maybe $300. What got damp?

[easye]

the bottom the ply is not separated but there is a water mark

[Violen]

Get the seam done with hide glue by a professional and play the crap out of it.

[Champagne]

I have a bass with that exact inlay on the back by the neck joint. Cool! As with anything, it all depends on what is wrong. What have you noticed?

I have seen german ply basses go fairly cheap 3K but I really don't know to be honest for value. I'm sure someone knowledgable will chime in.

[Champagne]

Originally Posted by Violen

Get the seam done with hide glue by a professional and play the crap out of it.

+100

Thats what I would do too.

[easye]

thanks for input guys. I love the talkbass knowledge bass keep the info comming

[james condino]

Bohemian / Wilfer / Juzek-ish school; aka: mid century German style shop bass. More images of similar button and scroll work along with the usual drama discussion here:

Got a pre-war Juzek 5/8, who the heck made it?

The amplified "kickstand" is probably an early sure microphone, similar to the style you'll see on old Kays. 'Not very popular with bass berds, but usually get a nice re-sale value by pulling them out and passing them on to vintage guitar nerds who love the sort of old time "Robert Johnston" type voice when used to amplify an old ladder braced guitar.

Resale for a plywood model is proabably about 25 % less than a similar condition Kay, depending upon your market. ( generally less than $2k). Good plywood thump potential; lower brand recognition. I could make a lot more than it is worth in just my first year of giging with it locally.

Fix it; it may very well change your life!


j.
www.condino.com
www.kaybassrepair.com

[fdeck]

Looks like a hearty welcome to the dark side is in order, and congrats on a nice find!

[Jake deVilliers]

Congratulations! I'm a long way away and those pix are a little blurry but that looks like a nice old Wilfer i.e. Juzek to me. Its unfortunate about the finishing nails in the button but a nice score nonetheless.

[David Potts]

I have just bought the identical bass with the same label. Basses like this were sold here in the late 50s and the name Hofner was often mentioned. Juzek is not a name seen here.

My bass is a large 3/4 size and rather heavy for a plywood instrument. The varnish has lifted slightly around the purfling line, front and back, otherwise the bass is in good condition. It still has the original brass tail wire, curled back at the ends. It has a terrific ebony fingerboard, probably never redressed.

The bass will be passed on to my students when I have cleaned it and set it up. It should be a good student instrument (I hope).

Cheers....... DP

[easye]

Thanks guys between here and another feelers I put out it is wilfer/juzek/hofner taking the top prize. Def gonna restore her, structurally not cosmetically, I love the well earned mojo. I do vintage guitar restoration as my day job so no stranger to the hide glue and I have repaired several basses in the last 20 years. This may use all my skills but I will keep u all informed on the restoration process. !!! Thanks guys!

[Violen]

Please Pic blog it, we love that stuff.

[MagnificentB]

Originally Posted by easye

Thanks guys between here and another feelers I put out it is wilfer/juzek/hofner taking the top prize. Def gonna restore her, structurally not cosmetically, I love the well earned mojo. I do vintage guitar restoration as my day job so no stranger to the hide glue and I have repaired several basses in the last 20 years. This may use all my skills but I will keep u all informed on the restoration process. !!! Thanks guys!

Excellent!

[jnel]

just zoomed in- back and top look solid but would need a close up to say for sure.

never mind- just saw the other pics that are with the last pic.- leaning toward ply for sure