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Double Bass ID My Bass

TroyK

TroyK

Mar 14, 2003
8,127
10,484
Seattle, WA
#1
Hey, I just discovered the "name this bass" game and thought it might be fun to do with mine. I have a theory about what it might be or it might just be one of those anonymous basses.

Here's what I know about it for a fact and some pictures of it. After a few of the gurus have weighed it, I'll post what I think and what has been suggested to me about it in the past.

First the label: There are 4 labels in it. One is the local shop where I bought it 5 years ago, so let's ignore that one. The others are:

"Made in Czechloslovaka" with a little emblem that looks like a KH with a diagram of a doublebass, the neck making the left vertical of the H. This one won't photograph.

Stern's Violin Shop Grindstone, PA Restored 12/1982, etc

This Label is in all Durro Violins Salvadre de Durro B&J Importers New York Sole importers None Genuine without it.

Photos over next few posts.

Thanks in advance, I'm looking forward to what you have to say.

Troy
 
#2
This is really the only of the label that will photograph legibly. It's probably the most important, but I wish I could get a photo of the Made in Czech logo.
 

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#8
So, I've had her about 5 years. She's has some major cracks and repairs, but has held up well under pretty good use. I occasionally play a bass that gets my attention, but seldom play one that I actually like better. It's nice to have a loyal friend.

I'd love to know whatever there is to know about her. I'll hang up and listen. :-)

Troy
 
#9
At least you have labels! :) I did some Google searches based on the information you gave us.

I don't think B & J stands for Ben & Jerry's :ninja: It stands for Buegeleisen & Jacobson.

B & J seems to have been an importer of all musical instruments including: accordions, plucked and bowed stringed instruments, brass & woodwind mouthpieces, concertinas, cymbals, guitars, harmonicas, penny whistles, percussion instruments, phonographs, pitch pipes, strings, ukeleles, violin bows, violins, and evidently basses.

Google finds lots of hits for Salvadore de Durro violins with B & J New York as the importer. Alas, they say Germany and not Czechoslavakia. I can't find a bass. I think that B & J imported instruments and labeled them under their own house brand. In this case they used the name [Invalid or Expired Link Removed].

The following has been proven incorrect, but left for reference.
The KH may stand for Karl Hauser, but everything I've seen for Hauser is from Germany. From what I've gleaned on the internet, it probably stands for a communist-era instrument factory, the Kutna Hora Violin Company. A Kutna Hora violin label I found on Ebay (link is dated and will expire) shows the letters KH with the left verticle line of the H formed by a symbol.

It seems that B & J moved to Canada and became B & J Music which at some point became part of Kaman Music (Ovation, Genz Benz, Sabian, etc). I doubt the corporate mega-machine can help, but there is an email: [email protected] "Please do not send pictures or attachments via email. They cannot be received."
 
#10
Nice thoughtful response Art!! Regardless of label I would like to see better pics for discussion. From a glance looks like a Schroeder/Wilfer/Juzek. Many of the lower end carved wilfers were labeled Karl Hauser. She looks like a "factory" bass BUT if you love her then who cares!
 
#11
Thanks to you both for your responses. What type of pics would be helpful? I would love to get better label pics, but tried to no avail.

I feel pretty strongly that she's a factory bass. Hammond Ashley suggested circa ~1900 and I found some other instruments from that importer in the 1890-1910 range, so that age seems plausable.

I've seen Juzeks that look very much like this one and I think that the factory that made them was on the Czech side of the river at the turn of the century. So my theory has been that it was a Juzek factory bass that wasn't labeled Juzek. But, I'm interested in learning more.

As you said, it doesn't really matter. I've got an instrument that I have a good connection with and that's really what matters.

I'm headed out of town for a week and have left her with my luthier for some cleaning and maintenance. She's going to see what occurs to her about the origin while the bass is with her and I can take some more pictures week after next if you'll let me know what angles would be helpful or if anyone wants to see her post cleanup.

Troy
 
#12
I have one with the Salvadore De Durro , B&J imports label and the KH label. My bass is violin corners and has the similiar crecent similar to a Juzek at the back botton.

Check out: linkhttp://jazzgitarren.k-server.org/hofner.html

Scroll down seven guitars see the tailpiece on the model 458 and it will match your KH label. Your bass was made in Czech probably around 1920-40, Hofner moved his factory to Germany early 50's.
 
#13
hotdbass said:
I have one with the Salvadore De Durro , B&J imports label and the KH label. My bass is violin corners and has the similiar crecent similar to a Juzek at the back botton.

Check out: link

Scroll down seven guitars see the tailpiece on the model 458 and it will match your KH label. Your bass was made in Czech probably around 1920-40, Hofner moved his factory to Germany early 50's.
Click to expand...

Interesting! Some of the information I dug up must be wrong.:eek: The 'Kutna Hora' violin's label from my earlier Ebay link shows the same logo as the guitar on the page referenced by hotdbass. My apologies.
 
#14
Well, it looks like you found it. I don't have my bass to compare, but that does look like the logo. Thanks for the research.

I'll do a bit more on Hofner and the years they build basses on the Czech side of the river.

-tk
 
#15
I sent an email to Hofner asking for some info or a resource. For those of you who asked to see more pictures, here they are. I've been out of town and left her with my luthier for some adjustments and clean up. There were some cosmetic problems from bass touch up that preceded my ownership and I wanted to get them cleaned up. She did a great job and with a little work on the nut, the bass has never sounded so good! I can't wait to get her back out there with my guys.

I still can't photograph that label, try as I may.

Troy
 

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