PRICE: $2,500
I posted for this bass a little while ago and had started out with a price that had been suggested as an asking price by the David Gage employee who inspected the bass. The is the first fulled carved bass I've owned and I really didn't know the market all that well. After having put the bass out on the market for a bit I now understand a better price point for the bass, so I'm re-listing it.
This bass needs to have a lot of work done on it and I simply can't afford it. This was a once-in-a-lifetime purchase for me, and I'll definitely lose money, but I've had it for about four years and it's been good to me so I can't complain.
THE BASS
Late 1800s/early 1900s Tyrollean fully carved 3/4 upright bass
* Round back
* Goetz brass endpin
* Ebony tailpiece
* Ebony fingerboard...LOTS of life left
* Adjustable bridge with Fishman Full Circle Pickup
* String Length: 41.5"
* Body Length: 43.5"
* Upper Bout Width (max): 19"
* Lower Bout Width (max): 25"
* Depth: 8"
Accesorries:
- A Mooridian Deluxe Gig Bag, which is not perfect but has no rips or tears and is probably the best upright bag you can get. It retails for around $389 plus shipping or tax.
- A Fishman Full Circle Pickup (already installed), which works perfectly and retails for $210.
- A transport wheel which has a brand new end-pin shaft and is very solid. This would retail for about $60.
- A DampIt bass humidifier. Cheap to get, only about $12, but great to have.
- An Edouard Nanny Complete Bass Method book of etudes, which retails for about $70 plus shipping.
[Note: I also have a bow (French frog) that I would sell separately for $250.]
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WORK NEEDED
- The bass has one large crack on the top and some smaller cracks of less concern, which is normal for a bass this age. This, and the next item, would require that the top of the bass be removed. That's about $1,200. This would allow the cracks to be properly and fully repaired. I only have an iPhone camera and the photos I can take are pretty low-res. However, even with a better camera it would be hard to capture the one crack that is of primary concern. It's hairline and is 3 and 1/2 inches in length, running almost straight up and down under the fingerboard. The result is that when the bass is played there is a rattle/vibration that is very audible, thus making the bass essentially unplayable at this time.
- According to the luthier at Gage, the bass needs a new bass bar. I believe that the bass bar itself runs about $1,200 - $1,400.
- The bass needs to have edging work done, something that would be addressed along with removing the top.
- The seam running along the bottom portion of the bass where the top is joined to the sides is open around the whole bottom of the bass. This would obviously be taken care of as a part of the estimated repair cost given to me at Gage and is essentially a minor repair, especially given that the top would have to come off anyway.
- It was recommended that the bass get a neck reset. The reason given for this was to improve the angle which is, in my opinion, fine, but according to the luthier at Gage could be improved with a reset.
- There is a bit of sinkage just below where the neck joint, under where the ebony fretboard extends out over the body. The crack is through the area of sinkage. Neither the crack nor the sinkage have expanded since they first appeared.
TOTAL REPAIR ESTIMATE FROM DAVID GAGE: $4,500
Could you get away without installing a new bass bar or doing a neck reset? Probably. You could certainly save money that way. I had one person come and look at the bass who definitely knew what he was talking about and he disagreed about the bass bar replacement. I'm no expert so I can't say. That would be for you to decide. But given that's it's $1,200 just to take the top off at David Gage, it might be best to address everything at once. Or go to another luthier if you have a preference. I know that Gage is expensive...but the work they do is top notch so I got the estimates there.
Obviously this is a lot of work. However, one thing that the person I dealt with at Gage told me, along with pretty much everyone else who has played the bass, is that the bass has a *great* fundamental tone. When I bought the bass the tone was amazing.
NOTE: In terms of any other cracks, I'm not specifically aware of any other than the large one on top, but the luthier at Gage did say that there was some work on the inside that would need to be addressed. Perhaps these are smaller cracks, or maybe he was simply refering to old cleats that would need to be tended to. Yes, this was taken into account when I was given the estimate for work.
This might sound like a lot but I'm really just trying to be as honest as possible. If you saw the bass you would also realize that other than the crack and some minor cosmetic issues, the bass is actually a very sound and solid instrument especially considering its vintage. For someone with the money to invest, this would be a fantastic fixer-uper. It would be great for a pro to keep as a main or second bass.
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PRICE
$2,500 for the bass and ALL of the accessories.
From a cost/benefit perspective here's how it looks:
Total Cost including repair: $7,000
Gage's estimated market value: $8,500
Gage's estimated insurance appraisal value: $10,000
Add on to that all the accessories and it's an even better deal.
Again, this bass has the potential to be amazing if properly restored. I have tried to be as honest as possible in terms of the condition of the bass, just as I would want someone to be honest with me.
I have no way of shipping this bass and I don't have a car (this bass has made plenty of subway trips!) Therefore it would be local pick up only in Astoria, Queens, NYC. No, I won't travel to you. It's cash-and-carry. I'd be happy to let you look at the bass if you're interested. This could be a great pro bass in the right hands.
More Photos Available Upon Request
Thanks!
- Joel
