For sale 1930's carved Pfretzschner bass in Chicago *photos*

I finally have photos of my Pfretzschner bass that I have for sale.

This bass is in very good condition, especially for it's age.
It is fully carved 3/4 size round-back. String length is 41 1/4-in.
Comes with a deluxe Mooradian cover.

I'm currently on Chicago.

More photos:

and more:

one more:

hemhaw said:

I finally have photos of my Pfretzschner bass that I have for sale.

This bass is in very good condition, especially for it's age.
It is fully carved 3/4 size round-back. String length is 41 1/4-in.
Comes with a deluxe Mooradian cover.

I'm currently on Chicago.

Click to expand...

Beautifull bass. what price ? What about the bridge and the pegbox ?

olivier said:

Beautifull bass. what price ? What about the bridge and the pegbox ?

Click to expand...

The bridge was made by a local well know luthier, David Scott Henrie
(he does a lot of work for double bassists in the CSO). The bridge is beautiful. Another local luthier admired his work. I wish I had a better picture of it. It was set up for a Wilson pickup.
He also did the complete setup and reset the neck making it easier to play in the upper register and help it project more.

The peg-box is original but the tuning machines are not.

Thanks for your interest.

hemhaw said:

The bridge was made by a local well know luthier, David Scott Henrie
(he does a lot of work for double bassists in the CSO). The bridge is beautiful. Another local luthier admired his work. I wish I had a better picture of it. It was set up for a Wilson pickup.
He also did the complete setup and reset the neck making it easier to play in the upper register and help it project more.

The peg-box is original but the tuning machines are not.

Thanks for your interest.

Click to expand...

Thanks for your answers. I really think it's a nice bass. I meant what about those holes on the bridge, and also on the TP. You had some pickup or something ?

Oliver,
What you notice on the bridge and tail piece were from the Wilson Pickup.

Thanks for your curiosity.

I'll take any serious offer over $6,000.

I have had little response to this ad and am not excited about putting it on consignment.

Hemhaw, check your e-mail. Sorry for procrastinating on getting in touch, but I am definitely interested. I am in Madison WI, so it would be easy for me to make a day trip to Chicago at our mutual convenience.

I’m just finally getting around to once again put this bass up for sale.

Here is some additional information taken from my appraisal by David Scott Henrie in August of 1997:

“String Bass Measurements:

Upper Bout 51.5 cm
Middle Bout 37.0 cm
Lower bout 65.3 cm
Body Length – Top 110.0 cm
Body Length – Back 108.0 cm
Rib Width 18.7 cm
String Length 41 1/8”

“Description of String Bass: 3/4 size viol shaped string bass by G. A. Pfretzscher of Germany circa 1930. The bass is branded on the inside of the back. The top is of two-piece spruce with wide grain. The back is of two-piece maple slightly figured with ribs to match. The neck is of plain maple. The pegbox is fitted with new brass 1/4 plate tuning machines. The bass is ebony trimmed and is fitted with an adjustable bridge. The varnish is of a transparent reddish brown color shaded over a golden ground. The bass is in very good condition.

“Current Market Value: $ 9,000.00”


A couple of thing I should mention.

First, I thought the bass was Czech but is German.
Mark Sonksen’s main bass is a Pfretzscher. I thought he said it was Czech? Maybe I’m mistaken.

Second, this appraisal was done right before I had the main setup done and a couple of years before the neck reset and new bridge was made.

For whatever it is worth, I spoke D.S. Henrie regarding the bass and he felt that with it being in such a health condition I should be able to get between $8,000 to $10,000 for it.

I’m still asking for best offer over $6,000.

That bass looks amazing an im sure it sounds great. If you still have it in about a 1 - 1 1/2 years when i can get my money i will try and see it then.
Chad

That's a great looking bass. Somebody buy this thing!

Looks like a great deal. I am surprised it's still for grab!

Derek


Is the bass still for sale??????. if so why are you letting it go??

HV

Tell ya...if I wasn't remodeling ($$$$$$$$$) my house out here in the middle of nowwhere, I'd buy this bass and send it up to my parents' place in Northern Wisconsin. And I'd visit my folks a lot more often.

Yes, it is still for sale.

It hasn’t been an easy decision for me but I’m planning on continuing my education and the sale of the bass will help fund this.

Unfortunately I’ve only put it up for sale on this forum (too bad Bob G. no longer posts classifieds). Any suggestions for alternative selling methods would greatly be appreciated.

I should add I’m selling this bass at a loss. In total, I’ve invested about $8,500 in it.

Thanks for your interest.

I'd think that there would be some university bass students interested nearby. Maybe you could contact the bass chairpersons at the colleges in your area.

Does the Label say Czech? I am curious because the Purfling loop on the back under the neck is the same as on my Morelli labelled Bass but says Germany. I think they made it for the Morelli contract. I have seen others like yours with the same Loop by them.

Ken,

The bass is stamped (instead of labeled) "G.A. Phretzschner Markneukirchen".

So it is German.