Is this a steal?

clementscb · #1 08-27-2010, 11:11 PM

I saw this bass on craigslist the other day its in my home town and is going for less than 1000 dollars. I was wondering what you guys think about this bass. The seller doesn't know much about it, only that it is roughly 100 years old and it is most likely German or Czech made. I haven't played it yet but I plan to go very soon to check it out. I also plan to take it to a luthier and and see what they have to say. I was just wondering if any of u guys could tell me just by looking at some pics what type of work might need to be done, whether its carved or ply and most importantly if this is something I should jump on.

Thanks
Charles

clementscb · #2 08-27-2010, 11:13 PM

more pics

Hollywars · #3 08-27-2010, 11:16 PM

Wow... It really looks like it could be 100 years old, in a bad way. Is there any writing or etching on it that says who made it?

clementscb · #4 08-27-2010, 11:17 PM

here are a few more

clementscb · #5 08-27-2010, 11:19 PM

I havent been over to see it yet but I dont think so. Does it look too beat up to be worth buying it. Or is it worth buying for less than 1000 bucks?

Dr. Love · #6 08-27-2010, 11:21 PM

Wow, it looks like there are some major cracks in the top and one in the bridge. I think that bass is going to need a lot of work.

clementscb · #7 08-27-2010, 11:22 PM

bigfatbass · #8 08-27-2010, 11:32 PM

Assuming, of course, that everything the seller says is true, it might be rescue worthy. Those pics also seem to show that it has already been repaired, which would lead one to believe it was worth saving at one point.

If I were in the market for a fixer-upper I might go as high as $650-700, barring any catastrophic flaws the pics don't show. The crack in the face is actually a pretty easy fix, I'd have to see the rest in person to give a real evaluation.

ole Jason · #9 08-27-2010, 11:33 PM

Is it even playable in it's current form?

The problem with deals like this is you may spend $900 on the bass but then $3k to repair it. After all that you have a bass that isn't worth the $4k you have in it. The tough part is that you really won't know what it sounds like until it's fully repaired.

TroyK · #10 08-27-2010, 11:37 PM

tough to tell from the pics. It doesn't look plywood to me, though. the cracks are not a problem if they've been properly repaired. Again, no way for me to tell from the pics, but a luthier could tell quickly.

You will need to put some money into it either way, but it could be a good buy, depending. Get it checked out.

clementscb · #11 08-27-2010, 11:40 PM

Jason I definitely know what you mean. If I took it into the shop ( St. Louis Strings) do you think they could tell me whether it would be worth putting the money into fixing it up. I mean do you think they could give a rough idea as to how it will sound or play after the work is done.

Eric Swanson · #12 08-28-2010, 06:46 AM

I would definitely take it to a good luthier, if possible, before committing.

If you have to buy before you have it checked, know that you might find many thousands of dollars worth of work will be required to make the bass healthy.

On the other hand, it could be a total steal, sold by somebody who has no clue of the bass' worth, who thinks that "old" and "funky" means "worthless."

Who really knows? It certainly looks cool....

arnoldschnitzer · #13 08-28-2010, 06:51 AM

That appears to be a "blockless wonder" German-made bass from the late 1800s or early 1900s. It may need a lot of work, but it is indeed a "steal" if it plays.

Eric Swanson · #14 08-28-2010, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Swanson

...Who really knows?...

Asked and answered.

Hector Wolff · #15 08-28-2010, 09:51 AM

Looking at the image of the side of the bass, I see what seem to be three nails holding the rib edge.

Also in the image it appears that the back plate is thinner than the front (or top) plate. The top looks carved, but that back, because of it's thin edge could be ply.

BAJO · #16 08-28-2010, 09:54 AM

After you pay the $800 bucks, you'll be in the whole for $5000-$4000 in repairs and only if you do it with a great luthier..

Steve Swan · #17 08-28-2010, 09:58 AM

These very lightly built german "blockless wonder" student basses were very inexpensive at the time. My third bass was one of these and the really light weight of 18 pounds made for easy response, but some howling wolf tones very uneven volume from string to string. They were usually built with an "integral bass bar", which is not a separate piece of spruce glued to the top, but part of the top itself. These basses can be turned into a decent working instrument, but it takes a lot of money and a very skilled luthier. Let us know how it turns out!

clementscb · #18 08-28-2010, 10:16 AM

Thanks for all the replys. I'm going today to check the bass out. I'm wondering how I should go about getting the seller to let me take the bass into the shop.

ole Jason · #19 08-28-2010, 10:24 AM

Just let him know what kind of money you're looking at when it comes to restoring it and give him your information.

I'd suggest asking him to come along but he might get cold feet if the luthier says things to lead the owner into believing the bass is worth a lot more than he's asking.

Square Bear · #20 08-28-2010, 10:31 AM

if it is playable in its current condition, you can at least get an idea of what the instrument sounds like. that is the crucial thing if you ask me... if it seems to have the qualities you want now as it is, it will only sound better after the investment, and could easily be worth the money and effort.