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05-24-2010, 08:05 AM
|  | Registered User | | | | | Righty with a lefty bass
Greetings all,
Last night I bought what appears to be a German bass, 3/4 size, labeled Anton Schroetter, made in Germany. It plays and sounds great, but the previous owner played left-handed and I do not.
I'm pretty handy, and am tempted to buy a set of files and widen the nut slots to accommodate right-handed stringing. Bad idea?
On a similar note, is it possible to unscrew the top of the (adjustable) bridge from the feet, reverse the top part of the bridge, and the re-attach the feet so that I can string the bass properly?
I live within driving distance of Dave Merchant's upstate New York shop, and could bring it to him to re-string, but would rather do it myself.
Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance.
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05-24-2010, 08:50 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NYC | | | You would be well advised to take it to BILL Merchant's upstate shop for this switchover. He'll do it right, and will make sure any other issue is dealt with as well. |
05-24-2010, 08:59 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Chicago | | | Where is the bass bar located? If it truly is a LH bass, then you have a problem. |
05-24-2010, 09:02 AM
| | Registered User | | | | Bill Merchant. Der. 
The bass bar is located under what is presently the G string. The soundpost is located under what is presently the E string. That is the correct arrangement for right-handed stringing, is it not? My impression of the bass is that it is a student instrument built right-handed and converted for use by a lefty player. Am I wrong?
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05-24-2010, 09:05 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Chicago | | Quote:
Originally Posted by KUNGfuSHERIFF  Bill Merchant. Der.
The bass bar is located under what is presently the G string. The soundpost is located under what is presently the E string. That is the correct arrangement for right-handed stringing, is it not? | Yes, you're good. I'd have Merchant set it up for you, though. That way it will play great from the get go. He's a fine luthier. You may need a new sound post, nut, etc. and he can give you the correct info. |
05-24-2010, 09:18 AM
| | Registered User | | | | | Thanks for the info. I'm writing Merchant now to ask for a quote on the string change, as well as an intermittent buzz that seems to be caused by a loose soundpost.
Anyone know anything about this beast? From the little I found by Google last night, it's one of the better German-made student basses to be imported into the US, but that's about it.
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05-24-2010, 09:23 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Chicago | | Quote:
Originally Posted by KUNGfuSHERIFF as well as an intermittent buzz that seems to be caused by a loose soundpost. | This is the time of year to change to a longer summer post, if it's a carved bass. |
05-24-2010, 09:25 AM
| | Registered User | | | | | It appears to be plywood.
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"All of the poor people who started rock and roll are cool." -- Iggy
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05-24-2010, 11:16 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Billings, MT | | Quote:
Originally Posted by KUNGfuSHERIFF Greetings all,
Last night I bought what appears to be a German bass, 3/4 size, labeled Anton Schroetter, made in Germany. | Is it a Schroetter, or is it a Paesold 'Schroetter'?
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Mark Bryan
DB player in Billings, MT
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05-24-2010, 11:42 AM
| | Registered User | | | | It appears to be the former. I can try to photograph the label this evening, but it clearly says Anton Schroetter, Master Art and Made in Germany, along with something else about the bass being a copy of a Mittenwald or something like that. It is pretty much identical to this bass but in better condition: http://www.elderly.com/items/110U-4260.htm
The widow I bought it from said her late husband used to gig it around the Northeast in the '70s and '80s, which predates Schroetter's move to China by a few decades. The CCBs I've played have nothing on this instrument, which feels and sounds like the better German basses I've had the good luck to try out.
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"All of the poor people who started rock and roll are cool." -- Iggy
Last edited by KUNGfuSHERIFF : 05-24-2010 at 11:52 AM.
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05-24-2010, 01:48 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Billings, MT | | | Score! Good luck with the setup, and pictures are always appreciated - especially if yours has that nice purfling detail below the button.
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Mark Bryan
DB player in Billings, MT
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05-24-2010, 01:51 PM
| | Registered User | | | | | Yep, same purfling. As soon as I saw that in the sellers pictures, that was the OMG moment. Can't wait to go home and play it.
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05-24-2010, 03:02 PM
| | Registered User | | | | |
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"All of the poor people who started rock and roll are cool." -- Iggy
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05-25-2010, 01:27 PM
| | Registered User | | | | | Merchant says to try switching the strings and rotating the top of the bridge 180 degrees, and all should be well. If the soundpost falls, I'm to bring it by Monday and he'll fix it. He also said the bass is worth $3K on the NYC market. What have I done right recently to deserve this kind of luck?
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