Yet another ebay "deal?"

[drurb]

Okay experts, is this what it is claimed to be?

[Bob Gollihur]

Czechoslavakia did not exist until 1918, at least according to a quick Google search. I was pretty sure it was a post WWI creation, so I'd guess that rules out at least part of the description given the label.

[Arnold]

I don't know anything about this bass, the word "ebonized" for the fingerboard would make me ask the experts when "ebonizing" became the thing.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by Arnold

I don't know anything about this bass, the word "ebonized" for the fingerboard would make me ask the experts when "ebonizing" became the thing.

I was wondering about the same thing!

[Dharmabum]

Working in a music retail store for a few years, I learned a lot about the differences between good string instruments and lousy ones. One of the things I was told as a bright red flag was the word "ebonized."

[shwashwa]

here's the seller's response when i asked him about the date of czechoslavakia and the ebonized fingerboard (i told him i've never seen a bass that old with "ebonized" i thought they would just use real ebony since it was more available back then):

"ron here, that's odd the original tag inside reads made in czechoslavakia plus has 1721 on it. i guess 1918 is the early 1900's as listed i'm not a historian i majored in math! i'll take your word for the fingerboard but i've seen several czech's and german's with ebonized fingerboards so i'm somewhat suspect of your knowledge of these old basses? anyway the fingerboard may have been changed somewhere in the last 100 years who knows i listed everything to the best of my knowledge. anyway thanks for the info, later on!"

[musicman5string]

That's one of the ugliest basses I've seen.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by musicman5string

That's one of the ugliest basses I've seen.

+1! It looks more like they painted it (as Ken said) than refinished it.

[sforzando6]

Maybe it's just to my eye, or because of the paint job, but that looks like a plywood bass. Plus, I have never heard of a carved bass with an ebonized fingerboard.

[kipmartin]

I'm sure of 3 things:
1.) the bass has a carved top but maybe nothing else.
2.) its not as old as the guy says it is.
3.) its painted with ugly spray furniture paint.

its butt ugly, too.

kip

[drurb]

Originally Posted by kipmartin

I'm sure of 3 things:
1.) the bass has a carved top but maybe nothing else.
2.) its not as old as the guy says it is.
3.) its painted with ugly spray furniture paint.

its butt ugly, too.

kip

Just curious-- how could you tell it has a carved top? I couldn't find any tell-tale signs given the ugly paint job.

[sforzando6]

In addition to being butt ugly, that paint must really hurt the sound.