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Double Bass A good day?

S

splitpoint

Nov 28, 2007
18
0
Parker, Colorado
www.handsonimaging.com
#1
I've recently decided to take of the DB and figured that I'd end up some plywood bass when a friend calls and says his neighbor has a bass for sale and that I should check it out. I figure what the heck, I have nothing to lose...

I show up to the house and this guy in his mid 80's answers the door and invites me in. He quit playing a few years ago and this bass has been in his living room since then, he wants it gone. It has some dings and dents and there is a crack in the top, strings haven't been changed in years. I ask him about its history and he states that he bought it second hand in 1947 and it has been his only bass for 60 years. The neck broke on it when he was putting it into the car many years ago and it was repaired by a luthier by drilling it out and putting an ebony dowel in it and glueing it. It sounds great. The nice thing about the dings is that it appears that this is a carved instrument. No buzzes that I can detect. It has some really old looking magnetic pickup installed and it came with a bow. It sounds good enough that I don't have any problem putting some work into it. I make what I consider a lowball offer and he takes it.

So, I figure this thing will need some work and I'd like to know exactly what I have here. There are two labels inside one is unreadable and the other ID's this instrument as having czech origin, I wasn't able to get a clear picture of the label for you guys. Can any of you tell me what I have here?

Pictures can be viewed here:
Link Removed
 
#6
My completely unexperienced eye says that it is fully carved and maybe a juzek? (just judging from the purfling on the back) i'm sure the more experienced people will correct me on this.

About the F-hole crack. I have a feeling that crack might be a bit close to the bass bar and that may make it a bit dangerous to play on it. Was it glued correctly. The close up picture shown shows some messy work. Anyways. take it to a luthier and get some work done. It's a nice looking bass, I'm sure it'll be better once you put a little money into it.

I wish I was as lucky as you.
 
#9
I figured "carved bass for $500? can't go wrong even if it needs some attention." It's so dusty and dirty that the f-hole crack in the picture looks worse than it is, the crack is a couple years old has not been repaired yet so there is no "bad" work to redo, it'll be a new fix. Aside from the divets around the edges this bass is in pretty good shape, much better than the pictures show.
 
#16
Exactly! What kind of a bass could one buy for $1500? It might not suck but it certainly wouldn't be in the same category as this one after putting $1k into it.

Needless to say I am super excited about this. Once the luthier looks at it I'll post an update for you guys. Did I mention it came with a nice German bow, and extra set of strings, and a gig bag?
 
#18
splitpoint said:
Exactly! What kind of a bass could one buy for $1500? It might not suck but it certainly wouldn't be in the same category as this one after putting $1k into it.

Needless to say I am super excited about this. Once the luthier looks at it I'll post an update for you guys. Did I mention it came with a nice German bow, and extra set of strings, and a gig bag?
Click to expand...
The fellow who let you have it for 5 bills probably was glad to see it go to someone who will now treasure it and enjoy it. He also might have known he was giving you a real good deal. So just channel that karma into your music.

A similar thing happened to Danny Thompson (Danny plays sometimes with Richard Thompson, no relation, of Fairport Convention fame and also played with Pentangle). He bought an old bass with a horrible finish from a fellow for 5 pounds (Britain) when he was first starting out. Under the bad finish was a 200 yr. old French bass in real nice shape.
 
#19
Yep, I think you gotta hold of a hot one here. An instrument like that, for that kind of money, from a guy who held onto it for 60 years and is getting rid of it (presumably) because he's near the end of The Ride and probably can't physically play it anymore? That thing has got Deep Musical Karma written all over it.

I suggest the only decent thing to do is to repair it and play it and spread some joy around. When it comes time for you to check out, don't forget the favour the Old Guy did you. Do it for somebody else.
 
#20
Yeah, the owners hands were shaky and he could barely play anymore.

Lets talk about musical Karma for a second: You guys know the story about the instrument, now I'll tell you about my quest for a teacher. My mother lives in downtown Denver and walks her dog every morning, she's a friendly type and talks to everyone she sees while out and about. One of her neighbors is a bass player and she talks to him regularly. This morning she's out and see's him in the yard and tells him about my bass. She hit's him up about my quest for a teacher, his reply is that "if he's half serious about playing I'll teach him." I ask her what his name is and the answer.....Charlie Burrell.

If you don't know who he is then you should look him up on google. Needless to say I'm am flying on a cloud today. Can you say devine intervention? I don't know what to say other than based on the events of the last couple of days that I must be destined to play the Double Bass.
 

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