Double Bass 1910 carved German Roundback

[breen]

I’m going to look at this bass tonight. I only know it’s a carved German bass made between 1910 and 1930. It’s a good price for a carved bass. Any opinions or insight would be appreciated.
It looks a bit rough which doesn’t bother me. Suppose to be in playing condition

 

[Matthias Hacker]

I am far away from being an expert on this.
There are almost no cracks visible, with a bass at this age this seems to be unusual to me.
Build like a tank? Thick wood, and maybe not overly resonant, but easy to amplify? Maybe.
There is one repaired crack under or below the soundpost, not the best place for a crack. If that should be a concern or not, no idea. I´d take a mirror and a lamp that can be inserted trough the soundhole, to be able to take a look at the repair work from inside. Maybe take a look at pictures how these cracks should look like if the repair work is done well.

 

[breen]

I am far away from being an expert on this.
There are almost no cracks visible, with a bass at this age this seems to be unusual to me.
Build like a tank? Thick wood, and maybe not overly resonant, but easy to amplify? Maybe.
There is one repaired crack under or below the soundpost, not the best place for a crack. If that should be a concern or not, no idea. I´d take a mirror and a lamp that can be inserted trough the soundhole, to be able to take a look at the repair work from inside. Maybe take a look at pictures how these cracks should look like if the repair work is done well.

Thanks for the reply. I guess I’ll just have to have a good look and play it. He’s asking 2200 cad (1750 Us) which is pretty cheap for a carved bass.

 

[damonsmith]

Thanks for the reply. I guess I’ll just have to have a good look and play it. He’s asking 2200 cad (1750 Us) which is pretty cheap for a carved bass.

Good price. If it seems solid and sounds good I would pick it up. There is a lot headroom for repairs at that price, so it is low risk. As long as it sounds good.

 

[jlmorgan84]

The price is very cheap for a carved German bass. The sound post crack would scare me away just personally regardless of the price. Sometimes the scale on these old german basses is pretty long, so play it long enough to make sure it seems comfortable to you.

 

[SAlcott]

Measure the distance from nut to bridge. Anything over 42" is too long these days unless you have giant hands.

 

[SAlcott]

A properly repaired soundpost crack is no big deal, the key words being "properly repaired".

 

[mooseonbass]

I have a bass that is very similar to that, perhaps identical, but it has a lot more repaired damage. It also came from Canada. It is a great bass and I paid a lot more than that, years ago.

 

[groooooove]

that price is low enough to be sketchy.

check the string length, like others said. i'd also be skeptical of the soundpost repair, not that they can't be done expertly and reliably, but that it's expensive for that to be the case.

there's a chance this is an awesome deal. but, a nice old german bass with a good sound can easily go for $6k-15k depending on tone. too good to be true may be just that?

 

[damonsmith]

You are not wrong - but, I read this as a price by an individual who wants to sell. $6-15k is the price for someone ready to wait for a year or more having it sit in a shop AND give the shop a cut.
This is one of those situations we talk about being able to get "with patience". Most of the players I've known get a bass this way.
Especially if it seems solid and isn't making noise, I wouldn't stress about the crack. I would jump on this deal. I'd even bring cash and try to get the price down.
Again: IF it sounds good and the scale isn't insane. You will have repairs in your lifetime on this bass, but these are the basses than can really sound great in a way that a new bass in this range just can't.

that price is low enough to be sketchy.

check the string length, like others said. i'd also be skeptical of the soundpost repair, not that they can't be done expertly and reliably, but that it's expensive for that to be the case.

there's a chance this is an awesome deal. but, a nice old german bass with a good sound can easily go for $6k-15k depending on tone. too good to be true may be just that?

 

[WillyW]

I'm not a DB player or owner (yet) and I'm anxiously awaiting an update...

 

[groooooove]

You are not wrong - but, I read this as a price by an individual who wants to sell. $6-15k is the price for someone ready to wait for a year or more having it sit in a shop AND give the shop a cut.
This is one of those situations we talk about being able to get "with patience". Most of the players I've known get a bass this way.
Especially if it seems solid and isn't making noise, I wouldn't stress about the crack. I would jump on this deal. I'd even bring cash and try to get the price down.
Again: IF it sounds good and the scale isn't insane. You will have repairs in your lifetime on this bass, but these are the basses than can really sound great in a way that a new bass in this range just can't.

agree completely.

a close look at the repaired crack, measure that string length, and listen to it. should be an easy choice to make!

 

[breen]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I haven’t been able to see the bass yet. Hopefully tomorrow. I will measure the string length and check and inquire about the repairs. But yes, if it sounds good and feels solid I will buy it.

 

[BobDeRosa]

I bought my Juzek as a severely broken instrument (body cracks, broken neck) about 20 years ago. Had it fixed and played it regularly.

Then, on December 19, 2014, I passed out (dehydration from the flu, not intoxication) and fell on it right smack-dab in the middle of a tune. The bridge went through and demolished the top. I thought it was a goner.

My genius luthier thought different and managed to restore that broken beauty to its former glory and even beyond. He took three months to fix all the cracks, reinforcing them with 31 cleats. He also graduated the top so now it sounds better than ever.

I've now gigged (probably 400 gigs) with it happily for nearly seven years and it's still a fabulous instrument. The great NYC bassist Marco Panascia has played it, knows its history, and still bugs me to buy it every chance he gets.

Bottom line: If you like the bass and it looks promising, don't let a few cracks dissuade you. Can you take a luthier with you?

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

A crack on either side of the soundpost is ugly but not the end of the world. Last time I did that repair, rather than fit an inlaid patch, I cleaned up the area and fit an overlaid patch with the grain offset 15 degrees or so, then shortened the soundpost accordingly. It worked.

 

[Matthias Hacker]

Some of us would like to accompany you when taking a look at this bass
Good luck!

 

[damonsmith]

I Can you take a luthier with you?

Has anyone ever done this? Unless your luthier is a friend you actually meet up with socially, I can't see this ever really happening, even though it is such common advice.

 

[breen]

I bought my Juzek as a severely broken instrument (body cracks, broken neck) about 20 years ago. Had it fixed and played it regularly.

Then, on December 19, 2014, I passed out (dehydration from the flu, not intoxication) and fell on it right smack-dab in the middle of a tune. The bridge went through and demolished the top. I thought it was a goner.

My genius luthier thought different and managed to restore that broken beauty to its former glory and even beyond. He took three months to fix all the cracks, reinforcing them with 31 cleats. He also graduated the top so now it sounds better than ever.

I've now gigged (probably 400 gigs) with it happily for nearly seven years and it's still a fabulous instrument. The great NYC bassist Marco Panascia has played it, knows its history, and still bugs me to buy it every chance he gets.

Bottom line: If you like the bass and it looks promising, don't let a few cracks dissuade you. Can you take a luthier with you?

Wow! That’s a great story. Glad it all worked out. I won’t be able to take a luthier with me, but I have a guy who I use if I need any work done. I am confirmed to go see it tomorrow.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Make finalizing the sale contingent upon inspection. If the seller balks, walk.

 

[damonsmith]

Make finalizing the sale contingent upon inspection. If the seller balks, walk.

Not bad advice. Better advice when the price is higher. With that much headroom for any repairs I wouldn't go that that far. It is a nice old bass for under 2K. It will need repairs, it is just a matter of when.
Worry about the sound and scale and jump on it if it passes.