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can anyone tell me the origin of this bass?

Discussion in 'Basses [DB]' started by downunder, Apr 17, 2018.

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  1. Apr 17, 2018 #1
    downunder

    downunder

    Aug 25, 2005
    Philadelphia
    I bought it about two years ago from a woman who said it's Italian, that many years ago she bought it from a member of Philadelphia Orchestra who was her teacher at the time. It's an awkward bass to play bc of the size and the cello shoulders, but it has a great jazz sound. The neck has been replaced with an unorthodox scroll graft. Sorry the pics are not great View attachment 2987123 View attachment 2987125
     

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  2. Apr 17, 2018 #2
    LouisF

    LouisF Supporting Member

    Apr 21, 2003
    Los Angeles, CA
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  3. Apr 17, 2018 #3
    KUNGfuSHERIFF

    KUNGfuSHERIFF

    Feb 8, 2002
    Upstate NY
  4. Apr 17, 2018 #4
    GretschWretch

    GretschWretch Supporting Member

    Dec 27, 2013
    East Central Alabama
    I dunno. OP's bass has high shoulders, but they are more rounded than the Kolstein bass.
     
  5. Apr 17, 2018 #5
    LouisF

    LouisF Supporting Member

    Apr 21, 2003
    Los Angeles, CA
    Look at the 3 Milanese basses at Barrie's site - they are generally related IMO
     
  6. Apr 17, 2018 #6
    csrund

    csrund

    Feb 7, 2011
    Bloomington, Ind.
    Last edited: Apr 17, 2018
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  7. Apr 17, 2018 #7
    Neil Pye

    Neil Pye

    Apr 13, 2016
    Horsham, UK
    If I had to guess, I'd say that started life as a BIG 4/4 bass that has since been cut down to make it more playable. What's the stop length? I'm pretty sure it didn't start life that shape
     
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  8. Apr 17, 2018 #8
    downunder

    downunder

    Aug 25, 2005
    Philadelphia
    it's still a big bass, and not very playable. I doubt if it's been cut down, but you never know. . mensur is 41.5" 105.5cm. The neck has been replaced, though.
     
  9. Apr 17, 2018 #9
    Eric Hochberg

    Eric Hochberg

    Jul 7, 2004
    Chicago
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  10. Apr 17, 2018 #10
    downunder

    downunder

    Aug 25, 2005
    Philadelphia
    Ken just wrote to me said "german, 19th century"
     
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  11. Apr 17, 2018 #11
    csrund

    csrund

    Feb 7, 2011
    Bloomington, Ind.
    I can buy into that assessment. The oblique f-holes look Tyrolean, and perhaps it had conventionally sloped shoulders cut down to shorten the neck and string length. (Close-up pics of the purfling around the shoulders might reveal such.) The only thing that doesn't look German to me is the scroll; seems a bit wide/chunky.
     
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  12. Apr 17, 2018 #12
    downunder

    downunder

    Aug 25, 2005
    Philadelphia
    Scroll is extremely wide imo: 5”!
    The bass has been refinished, Looks like a dark finish was brushed on over the old finish - and the purfling is really hard to see. I don’t think it’s going to show up in pics. I can’t imagine why anybody would cut the shoulders into that shape, though, because they make it so awkward to play in the upper register. Thumb position starts around E on the G string