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For sale 1938 American Standard Doublebass

Closed
$4,600.00
Strings
4
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Here it is, the plywood bass that dreams are made of. Regretfully I am selling my extremely early 1938 American Standard that I purchased specifically to tour with Rhiannon Giddens. It has been a glorious bass and the band absolutely loves it's brawny presence in the mix but our touring is taking us to many far flung places in the next few years and I am forced to purchase a travel bass. It is powerful, woody, warm and commanding. It supports a band like no other and mixes beautifully with just about anything. It sounds like a carved instrument and often better than many of my friends carved basses. The string length is 42 3/4 inches and is very playable. I have never put gut strings on it but I can only imagine how incredible that would sound. I always dreamed of being the guy with a bass like this and I finally had the opportunity. Will consider trade for a travel bass. You will see that this one has the common neck repair at the heel. I was concerned at first but after a year of travel I am confident that it is totally rock solid. Every player who has played this bass is completely taken with it. I'll be sad to see it go but happy for another player to experience this beautiful beast. Available to show in Brooklyn NYC

Here's a couple of gigs with this bass in the wild:

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Comments

Ed Fuqua

Ed Fuqua

Dec 13, 1999
11,736
8,941
70
Columbia SC
www.reverbnation.com
Disclosures
Chuck Sher publishes my book, WALKING BASSICS:The Fundamentals of Jazz Bass Playing.
Jason, have you thought about going the removable neck route? Alexis Cuadrado did that to his German lion's head bass, he might have some good insight nto the before and after....
 
Jason Sypher

Jason Sypher

Jan 3, 2001
3,836
5,202
Brooklyn, NY
jasonsypher.com
Absolutely yes. Originally that was my plan. There are a few great luthiers doing conversions right now with a range of about 3-4K. But then, there is the case to purchase as well which is easily another 2K for a really tough road case. I'm just not sure if that is economically sound even though it truly is the best case scenario.
 
Steve Freides

Steve Freides

Former Mannes College Theory Faculty
Supporting Member
Dec 11, 2007
2,576
1,508
Ridgewood, NJ
Just curious to know, from those who know about these things, if that scale length was more common when this bass was made. I almost never hear of anything past 42" and even that's pretty long for those of us who aren't big.

If it's an Eb neck, might this be a good candidate for conversion to a D neck?

If a better plywood bass was in my budget, this one sounds like it's great. GLWTS.

-S-
 
KUNGfuSHERIFF

KUNGfuSHERIFF

Feb 8, 2002
10,677
6,684
50
Upstate NY
Longer mensures were common back in the gut old days. Oddly, the old King I had was just over 42" and not 44"-ish.

Jason, you have PM. An idea to chew on.
 
Ed Fuqua

Ed Fuqua

Dec 13, 1999
11,736
8,941
70
Columbia SC
www.reverbnation.com
Disclosures
Chuck Sher publishes my book, WALKING BASSICS:The Fundamentals of Jazz Bass Playing.
Jason Sypher said:
Absolutely yes. Originally that was my plan. There are a few great luthiers doing conversions right now with a range of about 3-4K. But then, there is the case to purchase as well which is easily another 2K for a really tough road case. I'm just not sure if that is economically sound even though it truly is the best case scenario.
Click to expand...

I just hate seeing you let a bass that you love go. Not that economic realities aren't economic realities, my response was more emotional than practical :(
 
Jason Sypher

Jason Sypher

Jan 3, 2001
3,836
5,202
Brooklyn, NY
jasonsypher.com
I have to say, string length really never affects me. Perhaps it's because I've ALWAYS had a bass over 42". Those long strings resonate in a way that I love. It's a D neck, no doubt about it. I'm a small guy with small hands...don't read into that...
 
Jason Sypher

Jason Sypher

Jan 3, 2001
3,836
5,202
Brooklyn, NY
jasonsypher.com
Emotional indeed. Playing a bass at venues I would have only dreamed of and all the memories we pour into an instrument. But independent wealth has eluded me this far and I still need the tools to get the gig done. After two years of back lining basses never knowing what I'll get to play I've come around to some simple realities that most of my contemporaries have already accepted. Get the best travel bass you can afford and a great front of house guy:)
 
Joshua

Joshua

WJWJr
Staff member
Gold Supporting Member
Aug 23, 2000
3,863
5,336
Connecticut
A beautiful sounding and looking bass; good luck with the sale!
 
james condino

james condino

Spruce dork
Commercial User
Sep 30, 2007
5,443
13,477
asheville, nc
www.condino.com
Good luck with the sale Jason. It sounds like a great bass. These are not that uncommon, so you can find another one later if you miss it.

[QUOTE="If it's an Eb neck, might this be a good candidate for conversion to a D neck?[/QUOTE]

The original necks were approx. 43 3/8" scale with an Eb neck. They make great conversion candidates because you can go to a D neck with a 41 1/2 -42" scale and a nice deep mortise that works great for a glued in or removable neck, but you'll need a new neck or scroll graft. I did about five of these conversions last year and am doing the same to my personal early three digit AS right now. It is a beautiful combination- my favorite of all the old plywood basses.
 
anightintunisia

anightintunisia

Supporting Member
Feb 17, 2011
562
854
Nashville, TN
Dude take out a loan from Note Worthy Credit Union. If you truly love the bass don't get rid of it. Upton Bass has a new removable neck travel case for 2K, and could also convert your neck for you. You could probably take out a loan for the same amount you're selling your bass for and still have your bass you know and love. Just a suggestion!
 
Last edited:
Ed Fuqua

Ed Fuqua

Dec 13, 1999
11,736
8,941
70
Columbia SC
www.reverbnation.com
Disclosures
Chuck Sher publishes my book, WALKING BASSICS:The Fundamentals of Jazz Bass Playing.
Jason, somebody named sonic something or another has a Czech Ease w/flight case posted for SALE or TRADE here, he's offering a cash+trade deal for a New Standard, might be worth a shot....
 
Jason Sypher

Jason Sypher

Jan 3, 2001
3,836
5,202
Brooklyn, NY
jasonsypher.com
Not a czech-ease guy, tried to be but I just can't get a feel for them. Thanks for the tip. At this juncture I really need something that travels, preferably a New Standard removable neck. DeSola has some nice options that I plan on checking out as soon as I stop moving about so much.
 
Mgaisbacher

Mgaisbacher

Supporting Member
Oct 18, 2012
575
353
Nashville, TN
www.michaelgaisbacher.com
A suggestion, that may to may not be economical for you. But I have a New Standard (LaScala model) with a removable neck done by Jed Kriegel in Boston, which I am extremely happy with. What you maybe able to do, and what I would do if I ever needed to do it again, is get a bass from a company like shen or new standard and before it is ever even set up maybe even possibly before the neck is even attached. Send it to someone who does good removable neck work and have them do all the set up work at the same time, half the work is taking the neck off and you can have it set up just how you want.

My one friend who travels a lot did this with a hybrid shen he bought straight from a distributor for about half of what you would buy one at a shop for. Then find a travel case that fits into your budget.

Best of luck with the sale and it looks like a beautiful bass.
 
Last edited:
M Ramsey

M Ramsey

Mar 12, 2005
629
11
65
North Carolina
www.bigmikeramsey.com
Hate to know you've decided to sell the old coffee table, but it's a musician's world and what must be done has to be done. I've had 3 Standards and am now down to one. My old one. Similar to yours. #731. I sold one about 3 years ago, from the mid-50's. I sold another mid-50's to a guy you may know, Andy Cichon. He's a NY area guy, playing for Billy Joel. He loves it and had looked at several American Standards, before settling on mine. I also picked up a King bass #4312 (I think). BTW, do you know what the serial # is in your American Standard?

Best of luck to you and it's good to see you hooked up with Rhiannon. She's an NC girl.
 
Darice Greene

Darice Greene

Aug 21, 2015
8
0
M Ramsey said:
Hate to know you've decided to sell the old coffee table, but it's a musician's world and what must be done has to be done. I've had 3 Standards and am now down to one. My old one. Similar to yours. #731. I sold one about 3 years ago, from the mid-50's. I sold another mid-50's to a guy you may know, Andy Cichon. He's a NY area guy, playing for Billy Joel. He loves it and had looked at several American Standards, before settling on mine. I also picked up a King bass #4312 (I think). BTW, do you know what the serial # is in your American Standard?

Best of luck to you and it's good to see you hooked up with Rhiannon. She's an NC girl.
Click to expand...
Is it still for sale?
 
Darice Greene

Darice Greene

Aug 21, 2015
8
0
Jason Sypher said:
Here it is, the plywood bass that dreams are made of. Regretfully I am selling my extremely early 1938 American Standard that I purchased specifically to tour with Rhiannon Giddens. It has been a glorious bass and the band absolutely loves it's brawny presence in the mix but our touring is taking us to many far flung places in the next few years and I am forced to purchase a travel bass. It is powerful, woody, warm and commanding. It supports a band like no other and mixes beautifully with just about anything. It sounds like a carved instrument and often better than many of my friends carved basses. The string length is 42 3/4 inches and is very playable. I have never put gut strings on it but I can only imagine how incredible that would sound. I always dreamed of being the guy with a bass like this and I finally had the opportunity. Will consider trade for a travel bass. You will see that this one has the common neck repair at the heel. I was concerned at first but after a year of travel I am confident that it is totally rock solid. Every player who has played this bass is completely taken with it. I'll be sad to see it go but happy for another player to experience this beautiful beast. Available to show in Brooklyn NYC

Here's a couple of gigs with this bass in the wild:

Click to expand...

Is it still for sale?
 

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Jason Sypher
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For Sale: Double Basses
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