Strange bass for sale, opinions sought

Steve Boisen · #1 02-12-2007, 06:51 PM

This is the description from the ad:

String bass violin ¾ master grade ,,solid carved Decole 1966 - $3400

it’s a master art grade
Bass violin
This bass was made by a Luther named
Decole in Youngstown Ohio in 1966
I have sold violins for a lot of years
And never have I seen such a beautiful
Bass violin,
this is a beautiful work of craftsmanship.
solid spruce top and
Extreme high flamed solid maple back and sides
The flame goes right up the back and
up the neck an thru the peg head ,,¾ size…
The F holes have additional cuts..
And is in excellent condition..
The bass has a great sound deep and loud
, this bass is the quality
of a advance classical instrument and would be
perfect for a top jazz stand up bass player
I am only asking 3500 but believe it’s a instrument worth
much more. it has been stung with supernil strings and has a
new bass bag and stand,

I couldn't get the pics to show in this post but here is a link to a Snapfish photo album with the pics that the seller sent me.

What do you think? What's up with the f-holes and the shoulders? Is it just me, or does that neck heel look strange?

- Steve

clink · #2 02-12-2007, 07:45 PM

Disclaimer: I'm not a luthier and have never played one on TV

Nope, you're not strange. The heel looks screwed up; almost like the maker cut the ribs too much and had to make some patches to cover up his mistake. The heel looks like it's cut down too much to me. There's not enough 'there' there. I don't see any overhang where the back meets the top ribs.
The ff's are just strange to me. They seem awfully wide and out of proportion. The added cuts give it a Merlin the Wizard vibe.

Also, neither the top or back has any purfling.

On the positive, the quilted maple on the back is pretty and the neck has some nice flame. He did chose some nice wood to work with.

That said, it might play and sound fantastic.

PoorPlayer · #3 02-12-2007, 08:30 PM

I looked up the guy's email address. He plays violin and has his own web site. Given that he lives in an RV, he might be motivated to sell...

hdiddy · #4 02-13-2007, 03:34 AM

Take another look at the photos. Whats up with the end-pin? Is that a wooden end-pin on there? It looks too big and cylindrical to be a metal end-pin to my eyes. Does anybody else see that?

Steve Boisen · #5 02-13-2007, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PoorPlayer

I looked up the guy's email address. He plays violin and has his own web site. Given that he lives in an RV, he might be motivated to sell...

Ah...the power of google. That counter in the middle of his web site is a little scary.

I also noticed the lack of purfling on the bass and the wooden endpin. The town of Webster (best known for it's enormous flea market) is a two hour drive for me, and I'm not sure if I want to waste a day and a tank of gas to check out a funky homemade bass with non-traditional construction methods. I also don't want to see the inside of that RV

- Steve

PoorPlayer · #6 02-13-2007, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdiddy

Take another look at the photos. Whats up with the end-pin? Is that a wooden end-pin on there? It looks too big and cylindrical to be a metal end-pin to my eyes. Does anybody else see that?

I saw that too, but my old King had a wooden endpin so I didn't think twice about it. The wooden endpin that came with my King was too short, so I made a longer one out of an old baseball bat and painted it black. Is a wooden endpin a problem?

hdiddy · #7 02-13-2007, 11:35 AM

I guess it's a only a problem if the endpin isn't high/low enough for you. The only way to tell is to play the bass. It kinda adds to more of makers designs as COLONELCLINK has described about the heel and f-holes.

Silversorcerer · #8 02-13-2007, 05:44 PM

There are lots of iffy looking sort of PLan aHeAd stuff about the construction of that one. Who knows, it could be a great bass. The wood of the neck and the back is really nice stuff, but it was not too skillfully laid out to really make the best use of the flame and quilting. There is a shim on the neck between the fingerboard and neck. The carving of the top is a little too smooth looking at the edge. I don't think the maker had much experience at the point this one was made. The outside lining at the back edge looks odd the way it meets the ribs and that whole area of the neck join is hard to tell what went on there. The bridge also looks like it was stained dark or is not maple. Non standard f-holes are OK, but these holes are too wide and the edges are a little on the soft side. If it has a wooden endpin, that is the least problematic thing going on. There are some luthiers that think a wooden endpin is best and I think for a long time the endpins on most DBs were wooden.

I'd give the maker a C- barely passing grade. I think the pattern looks like one that is published in a bass building book by Harry Wake, with the exception that this one has a carved back. That switch might be what got them in trouble with the fit at the ribs on the upper bout in the neck area. The dimensions look OK as far as bridge height and all and if everything is made solid, it might be OK. But for that money (even less), you can get a bass carved by an experienced and professionally trained builder that very plausibly will sound better and be less of a problem down the road.

WillBuckingham · #9 02-13-2007, 07:21 PM

I could only look it the first photo without making an account, but I'm pretty sure it's a shot of the bass lying face-down on the bridge on the floor?!?!?!

Jeff Bollbach · #10 02-14-2007, 09:36 AM

Wow! I got to witness 200 souls going to hell. Kewl, I could almost hear them scream. Since Jesus is coming maybe he'll buy that bass.

Ben Rolston · #11 02-14-2007, 01:47 PM

I dont know if its a problem, but the back is made of three peices instead of two.

Luthiers: does that have any effects (negative or positive)

Silversorcerer · #12 02-15-2007, 01:26 AM

Multiple pieces in the front and back are common. The back on my bass is four pieces of much less figured wood, however, the grain that is there is nicely placed and matched. In this case it is just pretty wood on the back of the bass, not a real awareness of how the wood is used. I don't think the 3 piece back is a problem, or at least not because it is three pieces.

Silversorcerer · #13 02-15-2007, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Bollbach

Wow! I got to witness 200 souls going to hell. Kewl, I could almost hear them scream. Since Jesus is coming maybe he'll buy that bass.

Ha! You stuck around a lot longer than I did, Jeff. I was like, I don't wanna know any more!

redefine dave · #14 02-16-2007, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Bollbach

Wow! I got to witness 200 souls going to hell. Kewl, I could almost hear them scream. Since Jesus is coming maybe he'll buy that bass.

I only got 72...

Ale · #15 02-16-2007, 07:04 AM

The bass seem weird.
And the guy seem like a religious freak , but maybe a good bass.

forcedrings · #16 02-17-2007, 07:04 PM

The bass looks "wrong". That isn't to say anything about the sound--because the sound is the answer. From a visual perspective, it doesn't line up, but I'm sure that is how instruments evolve. Maybe this is the link that will change my perspective.

rdwhit · #17 02-17-2007, 09:14 PM

I kind of admire this guy in a strange way, even if I'm going to hell- that part is really strange!. He seems to be a free spirited dude. I'd love to visit him & see that strange bass, but not to buy it. I think he belongs in a David Lynch movie. People are wild. He plays ok, but He lives in a trailer down by the river................

Sippy · #18 02-17-2007, 09:23 PM

Wow... that guy is weird! whoever would have that counter on their webpage is not running on all 8 cylinders.