Old German Grunert plywood 3/4 bass

speedster · #1 10-24-2009, 07:38 PM

Old bass German plywood 3/4 bass made by Grunert with Underwood pickup, Thomastic spiral core strings (reds), adjustable bridge, adjustable fine tuners on tail piece, ebony board. Big sound, big volume, excellent set up, comes with bass bag.

Used for many years in an Ontario Bluegrass Band

Located 3 hours North of Toronto, willing to deliver to Toronto area.

**Francois Blais** · #2 10-25-2009, 09:43 AM

Price please?

Regards,
François

speedster · #3 10-28-2009, 05:16 PM

Whoops Sorry .............. Asking $2800 or trade for older Martin guitar... D18, 21 or 28. The Bass is 50 - 80 years old and has been played alot by myself and by some professional bluegrass bands touring Ontario... Underwood pickup is around 25 - 30 yrs old, bass bag is in excellent condition. Ebony fret board in excellent condition with no cracks and no buzzing....

I just loaded some pic's on our myspace website at this link in the pic's section....

http://www.myspace.com/httpwwwmyspac...dbluegrassband

Jake deVilliers · #4 10-28-2009, 11:54 PM

He said 'fretboard'...

speedster · #5 10-29-2009, 05:55 PM

Okay Jake I'll bite, what should it be called ? Thought fret board was what ya called it........

But I'm no luthier... barely a bass player............lol

speedster · #6 10-29-2009, 08:13 PM

Should have checked the label, don't know why I thought it was a Hofner.....

Would take an old Gibson ES 335 on trade.....

**Francois Blais** · #7 10-29-2009, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedster

Okay Jake I'll bite, what should it be called ? Thought fret board was what ya called it........

Fingerboard.

speedster · #8 10-29-2009, 09:59 PM

Ah so I'll try and be politically correct from now on .... if I can remember....

What's the difference ? other than semantic's we still fret the board with our fingers at the correct positions don't we....

Thanks for the correction guys.... it's a really nice fingerboard/fretboard what ever. Deep dark hard Ebony.....almost Black

Jake deVilliers · #9 10-29-2009, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedster

Ah so I'll try and be politically correct from now on .... if I can remember....

What's the difference ?

A fingerboard has no frets!

Paul Warburton · #10 10-30-2009, 08:14 AM

JAKE! Man, you're worse than I am. You must be able to sniff this **** out.

drurb · #11 10-30-2009, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

JAKE! Man, you're worse than I am. You must be able to sniff this **** out.

I'm sure glad someone sniffs it out! Wait-- gotta go polish my headstock.

Jake deVilliers · #12 10-30-2009, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

JAKE! Man, you're worse than I am. You must be able to sniff this **** out.

I mostly just try to let it go but I expect better from Canadians!

Ike Harris · #13 10-30-2009, 12:00 PM

This Grunert plywood thing got me curious. According to their website, the co. started in 1956, so the bass couldn't be any older than 50 yrs old, if indeed it's from the same co. that we know today. More than likely, it was made FOR Grunert by the same people who make plys for the various German names we come across frequently. Any other ideas or pics maybe? Don't want to rain on the parade but just curious.

Ike

Paul Warburton · #14 10-30-2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

I mostly just try to let it go but I expect better from Canadians!

I used to too, but I can think of two new members who are shooting down expectations.

speedster · #15 10-30-2009, 03:00 PM

My understanding is that it was made by the Grunert family, Herbert or Hubert or similar...

I remember researching and contacting someone way back almost 20 years ago and asking and I seem to remember the response was that their father or brother made a few prior to the company starting...

Something like that, the guess was it was 30 - 40 years old back then so 50 or more was the estimate.....

Not many around, I've only ever seen one more that is similar and close in Vintage and it lives with a lady in Oshawa Ontario who happened on to hers years before I found mine.

Both have the same tone, volume and sound which is big, bold and loud. Better than almost all the Kay's I've played over the years...

Awesome Bluegrass Bass....... unusual and rare to boot.,

speedster · #16 10-30-2009, 03:04 PM

Hey Jake as I said I"m no luthier and I'm getting too dang old to really give a crap about being politically correct.

And duh I am aware there are no frets.... but not everyone looking for an upright bass (especially a plywood for bluegrass or rockabilly) is as highly cultured and Bass correct as some of the folks on this site and saying fret board lets us poor country bumpkin red necks understand what I am talking about.

Any whoo I agree its a real purty head stock too............LOL

speedster · #17 10-30-2009, 05:04 PM

The Original Grunert String Bass
Made in Germany
Model 101

speedster · #18 10-30-2009, 05:36 PM

Grunert Company......the latest one started by Horst around 1956 after his brother died and prior to that was run by their father.

Hence the exact date is up in the air but I do know it's old.

Also know they are not plentiful, know they sound better than most any other plywood bass's I've played or heard.

Also know it is a damn shame to have it sitting in a corner in the bass bag not getting played.

According to the label inside it is a Model 101 but other than that ??????

I'm no bass expert like all the folks on this forum...

Wish I could continue to play it but my age is catching up to me and my left hand is getting real bad due to an Electrical Contact incident about 25 yrs ago and I just can't play it for any time without injurying myself and my forearm turning black.

I now stick with playing my Electric Upright Eminence as I can get away with it and play for a few hours without injury.

speedster · #19 11-04-2009, 09:35 PM

Sold pending payment

Thanks

bass_snake · #20 01-31-2010, 08:14 PM

Is this still available? Can you send me pics please?

Fred