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Double Bass 1973 Conrad Götz Model 553

L

loughery

Oct 15, 2011
4
0
#1
Howdy all, thoughts on this bass? Seller wants $2300. Thank you, George
 

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#3
"1973 Conrad Götz Bass Model 553, 3/4. The solid spruce top is well selected and fully aged, air dried, completely hand-carved and -graduated. Top of well selected solid spruce, fully aged and air dried, hand-carved and -graduated. The slightly flamed, solid maple back is arched and graduated by hand. Hand-carved maple neck. Expertly reinforced inside and outside, inlaid purfling. Tyrolean style machine heads. Hand-varnished in a medium brown color, hand- polished. The swelled back is for rich tone quality. A professional bass with great carrying power."
 
#4
I am going to visit the seller on Sunday, what should I look for and what photos should I take to post? I am military in Germany, and the bass is 10 minutes away from Ramstein Air Force Base. Stay posted and keep giving me advice, thanks !
 
#5
Check the seems to see if they look tight. Don't worry too much about cracks and bumps, if they've been repaired properly (ask and look for cleats on the inside of them. Look for breaks around the heel of the neck or to see if it looks like it's not at it's natural angle. See if the bridge feet seem to conform to the top cleanly or if there are gaps.

Assuming from your post, you aren't very experienced, those are the things I think you might spot on your own. If possible, take someone with you who has an experienced eye or take it to a luthier (or ask who has been working on it).

Play it, of course, but also have him play it and listen from around the room. Do you hear buzzing or rattling? Do you like it?

All that said, it looks like a very good buy at that price if it checks out. I would expect it to list at least 2X here in a good market, if it's as described.
 
#7
Hello again, I just read on a bluegrass website (banjohangout.org) that plywood basses are better for pizzicato versus solid piece tops, especially bluegrass. Never heard that before...any argument here either way?
 
#8
Well, it depends on instrument of course and taste too. Usually fine plywood basses have a strong and shorter plucking sound, which is usually suiting well in bluegrass or jazz, carved instruments have much better arco sound and the tone is lasting longer. But it all depends on exact instrument, you never know how one plywood or carved can be different from each other. The best way to see the difference is to play a few different basses I believe.
 
#9
loughery said:
Hello again, I just read on a bluegrass website (banjohangout.org) that plywood basses are better for pizzicato versus solid piece tops, especially bluegrass. Never heard that before...any argument here either way?
Click to expand...

I think that's an over generalization. Something to it, from a certain perspective, maybe, but I wouldn't call it "true".

You want to buy the best bass that presents itself to you and then get it set up for your needs. Strings and setup can make a huge difference in the character of the bass as does design and construction. What the top is made of is just one factor.
 

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