You bought an upright bass for how much!?!

derrenleepoole · #1 04-15-2008, 08:12 AM

Well, I decided on Sunday to have a scout around eBay, just in case something of interest popped up on the old DB front, as I'm looking to buy my first proper upright. I found this:

Listed as a buy it now for an incredible £55!!!!!!!!

It's a 25 year old plywood bass, used in a school. So it's likely full of knocks and the like, but listed as working. It's only an hours drive away for collection. Who couldn't resist such a bargain? Then again, it might turn out to be very expensive firewood

I'll post proper pictures when I collect later. No doubt I'll need some of this forums expertise to help identify the bass etc... Wish me luck

MonetBass · #2 04-15-2008, 08:14 AM

Based on my experience with school basses, I'd say it likely will need some repair work, and some new strings for sure. If you can, take it to a luthier and have them look it over before you buy to see if they think it's worth your time. But for that price, you can't go wrong. Good find!

munkeyfish · #3 04-15-2008, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonetBass

Based on my experience with school basses, I'd say it likely will need some repair work, and some new strings for sure. If you can, take it to a luthier and have them look it over before you buy to see if they think it's worth your time. But for that price, you can't go wrong. Good find!

AMEN!

Good score I think too. Wish I could luck out on a deal like that too!

droo · #4 04-15-2008, 10:01 AM

Same happened to me a few years ago - not quite as much of a snip as yours (mine was just over 300 by the end of the auction), but a couple of hundred quid of work by a luthier was all it took to make it into a perfectly giggable bass.
Good work!

miles'tone · #5 04-15-2008, 10:16 AM

Nice-one. Result!

derrenleepoole · #6 04-16-2008, 03:02 AM

Well, I picked up my bargain bass last night. Bloke who sold it was really nice, and let slip that this bass was one of several being sold off. He'd managed to get one too, no doubt in better condition

But hey! never look a gift horse in the mouth, and be grateful for what you get.

From what I can gather, the bass is full sized, about 25 years in age and has been used in a school orchestra. There has been some damaged to the front of the body which has been repaired at some stage. The sound post is loose inside the body, and the bridge is not straight making the strings sit funny. There is some slight (small) gaps around the top of the body paneling near to where the damage repair is.

I've no idea on make, model or true age of the bass, and I really don't know its true value. So if someone here could help me out that would be brilliant. Cheers.

BusterDog · #7 04-16-2008, 11:07 AM

Can you see any kind of label if you look into the F holes?

derrenleepoole · #8 04-16-2008, 02:26 PM

I can't see any labels, it was the first thing I did when I got it home... I can however see what are (or are most likely to be) hand written factory markings reading '36' over which is written '75' (or 15 - it's hard to tell) then 'sad' the '5/7' underneath. I suspect these markings are codes for material allocation etc - or something similar.

The bass reminds me a lot of the ones I used to tinker on in university from time to time. So I'm in doubt that it's a cheapish factory made instrument. It would be cool though to identify it to a likely make or model just to quell my curiosity, so if anyone can offer an opinion that would be great. Even if it turns out to be a really average bass I don't mind too much, simply because I paid so little for it. Everyone has to start somewhere I guess.

derrenleepoole · #9 04-18-2008, 05:53 AM

*Bump?*

**Matthew Tucker** · #10 04-18-2008, 06:15 AM

I don't see any plies at the edges and the cracks under the neck look like it might be a carved top, not plywood. Pins through all the blocks. The heel shape and the thick toffee varnish make it look something like a german Meinel.

Greg Clinkingbeard · #11 04-18-2008, 06:54 AM

Nice score. If the soundpost is loose loosen the strings and get it to a luthier ASAP. You could do more damage. With some work it could be a really nice bass for you.

CultureSliver · #12 04-18-2008, 11:29 AM

When I picked up the bass I was Sooooo happy. These guys sell for about 8-10 thousand new. It was a school instrument and needed some fixing(new fingerboard, seam repairs, top crack) but it was a fully carved instrument. Upon close inspection, I found a number with the letters OHS next to them. I had gone to a local school and remembered a grant for music that allowed the school system to buy 16 of these Wilfers in 1996. I looked at the tag,1996. I called the OHS( Onate High School) orchestra director and asked if they were missing an instrument. They were. It was my bass. I had to give it back, when I was in sixth grade, my stepfather pawned my school bass and I was not allowed to return to continue the seventh untill I returned the instrument. It seemed rather karmic that I would be the winner of this bass. The school district reimbursed me what I paid for the instrument, but man, that was rough. Karma returned the favor and less than 2 years later, I got the bass of my dreams. LOL

derrenleepoole · #13 04-18-2008, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew Tucker

I don't see any plies at the edges and the cracks under the neck look like it might be a carved top, not plywood. Pins through all the blocks. The heel shape and the thick toffee varnish make it look something like a german Meinel.

There are certainly pins there, you can see them under the finger board were the crack is. The purfling(?) I not so sure on. It looks like it might be inlayed. There's a bit at the top of the body were you can see an exposed edge, and the purfling appears to be recessed into the wood. I'm no expert, but I think you might be right at it not being plywood. I can't see any laminate.

I've been in touch with a luthier in Manchester (UK) called Vernon's. I'm hopefully taking the bass over next week to have them give a professional opinion on the bass and have them quote for a proper setup etc.

I suppose the real question is this, for insurance purposes, what is a realistic monetary value if I got the bass professionally looked at and setup etc? If such a question can be answered of course with so little knowledge?

Edit: Cheers for the name Meinel - even if it's not this make, it helps on the road to identifying it.

miles'tone · #14 04-18-2008, 03:43 PM

I have an eighties Meinel and it does look very similar I must say. Mine is a ply and you can clearly see the laminations on the top. I believe yours is carved (the top at least). I could be looking at my own bass when I see your neck and scroll. The tuners are different though.
Take the above advice though, don't tune it without the soundpost fitted. Your bridge will be going walkies through the top!
Hope your new bass turns out to be a loyal friend. That's got to be the cheapest price paid for a bass I've ever heard of. Well done!
Now comes the hard bit.... Which strings to use?

**Matthew Tucker** · #15 04-18-2008, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derrenleepoole

If such a question can be answered of course with so little knowledge?

well it can't, really. you need to pay to get it properly set up, and play it, then work out what it would cost you to replace it with a bass of similar sound if it was stolen. Your teacher or the luthier would have a better idea.

look up Meinel and Musima basses on internet. They sometimes get prices tween Eu400 and EU1500 but it depends on the model and condition. Search those brands in these forums. They are mentioned several times in threads.

it could turn out quite a nice, if plain, instrument. but you'll have to sink some money into it.