how to find info about my czech double bass?

mitb · #1 02-25-2008, 06:58 PM

i bought an old czech double bass around 3 months ago. and all i know about it that its old, has been repaired quite a few times. sounds quite nice ;]
it has a sticker inside on which is written czechoslovakia
maybe someone knows some resource online about such basses?

or maybe i should include a few pictures in another post?
could anyone tell from pictures?
i can try to take a picture of the inside of the double bass....
cheers!

mitb · #2 02-26-2008, 05:23 AM

im sorry that i didnt include pictures of my double bass before, here are some pictures, maybe someone can tell me something. im a total newbie in double basses, i dont even know from what wood it could be. any help would be appreciated.

mitb · #3 02-26-2008, 05:25 AM

here are some more pictures

mitb · #4 02-26-2008, 05:34 AM

and one last
any help would be appreciated...
cheers

Bruce Lindfield · #5 02-26-2008, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mitb

any help would be appreciated.

Looking at those pics - I hope you and any friends/family are very accurate darts players - or else I would consider moving the bass or the board!!

KSB - Ken Smith · #6 02-26-2008, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mitb

here are some more pictures

It is a factory/shop Bass made after 1918-1919 WWI. That's when this country got it's name. Also, it was made for export (to the USA maybe) and that's why the label is in English.

The pictures are not good enough to see the wood. Top, Back, Sides, Scroll.. all angles and details.. Then we can tell more.

mitb · #7 02-26-2008, 08:52 AM

thanks alot for some info, its already nice to know that!
well i decided to upload all pictures to a server
they are in higher resolution than here...
the thing is that i bought it in lithuania and now i am in lithuania. so strange that it was made for export to the usa, long way to go...
anyway here is the link to the pictures

http://anarres.hardcore.lt/monad/double.bass.pics/

and about the darts, well i stopped throwing them after i put the double bass there, i dont have another space for it in this appartment, maybe if i would have a stand i could put it in the room i am in now, but basicaly i dont want to put it near central heating...

cheers

mitb · #8 02-26-2008, 09:05 AM

oh yea and it would be nice if someone could approximate its worth, i wonder if i got ripped off or not

cheers

Eric Hochberg · #9 02-26-2008, 10:02 AM

Through the f holes, it looks like there is a layer of material (that the label is on) that is not to the depth of the back. Is this right or just an illusion?

This Picture

mitb · #10 02-26-2008, 10:41 AM

what material? it seems that there is some old glue or traces of finish material inside.. i dont really understand what you mean, more pictures are being uploaded...
cheers

KSB - Ken Smith · #11 02-26-2008, 12:20 PM

Looks like a fully carved Bass with Spruce top, maple ribs and back, all solid.

In need of professional repair. The Finish was re-done and done badly. What is the size and measurements of this bass? I think in its current condition from $1500-$3000 is the value as-is if it's a 3/4 size and less if smaller. Although it is a carved bass, it looks to be made in a factory.

It does not look that old to me now. Maybe the head is from a different bass or just not re-finished like the rest of the Bass. I think 20-50 years old unless the condition is fantastic and it's from before WWII.

Eric Hochberg · #12 02-26-2008, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mitb

what material? it seems that there is some old glue or traces of finish material inside.. i dont really understand what you mean, more pictures are being uploaded...
cheers

It looks like the inside of the back plate is too close to the top in that picture, must just be an illusion. My mistake.

jmpiwonka · #13 02-26-2008, 01:43 PM

how thick are tops around the f holes normally?
http://anarres.hardcore.lt/monad/dou...s/IMGP5227.JPG

mitb · #14 02-26-2008, 04:16 PM

well i beleive its 3/4 although i am not sure about exact measurements
i measure it now and the length of it is 183cm (from bottom to the top of the scroll)
width of upper bout 50cm
lower bout 64cm

thickness of the deck is 1cm

"how thick are tops around the f holes normally?"

i dont understand that question

what kind of repair it would need? i took it to a violin maker to glue a few cracks. he mentioned something about the finish, he said that it would cost alot to re-finish it.
i am a total newbie, so how would it affect the sound and the double bass in general?

i got it for around 1000$
when the violin maker took a look at the bass and when i told him the price he said that its quite fair.

hmm... so age is mysterious thing yea?
but really thanks alot for the help! its great to learn all those new things.

cheers

mitb · #15 02-26-2008, 04:18 PM

also there are signs of many repairs, so i dont know if it was badly abused or maybe its just really old. well at least now i know that its probably older than me ;D

mitb · #16 04-10-2008, 01:25 PM

btw, i put new string on my old czech bass, i have chosen thomastik prazision orchestral
and now it really sounds like a diffrent instrument, twice louder twice fatter and in general, sounds more like a bass now ;]

but its harder to play because the strings are fatter...

now im trying to get a french bow... abit hard to find for some reason..

rockabillybob1 · #17 08-16-2011, 10:53 AM

i have got the exact same bass but my fingeroard is rosewood i have taken mine to a french polisher and it came back like brand new got exact same badge inside it i was told it was made near the end of world war one and in mint condition worth 1500 uk pounds maybe more my email is rmayson@blueyonder.co.uk i live in uk look at my band if you get a minute Black Cat Trio

rockabillybob1 · #18 08-16-2011, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mitb

btw, i put new string on my old czech bass, i have chosen thomastik prazision orchestral
and now it really sounds like a diffrent instrument, twice louder twice fatter and in general, sounds more like a bass now ;]

but its harder to play because the strings are fatter...

now im trying to get a french bow... abit hard to find for some reason..

read my blog i have the same bass its made end of world war one