Double Bass Double Bass

[jimvaughn11]

Recently I was gifted an upright 3/4 or 7/8 double bass with a sticker tag inside -
Germany - USSR occupied. Any information about who made it and value is greatly appreciated.

 

[eh_train]

Hey Jim,

Welcome to TB!

There were a bunch of posts recently about Occupied Germany basses: Anyone have more info on Grunert Bass

Your bass is probably late 1940s or early 1950s. IIRC, eventually East German luthiers were consolidated into a shop called Musima. But yours predates that...

 

[Ed Fuqua]

That finish is in great shape to be from the late 40s to early 50s...

 

[VictorW126]

I can't say for sure, but it looks for me like a Czech, Hungarian or East German bass from the mid to late 80's or younger.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

It’s nowhere near that old. The finish was sprayed on. My eye says it’s a Musima.

 

[eh_train]

The finish does look too good to be 40s-50s, unless it was an extreme closet classic. But if it's newer the sticker inside is really odd. As discussed in the earlier thread I referenced, USSR occupied would have only been used between maybe 1947 until the early-ish 1950s. After that it was the GDR/East Germany.

Maybe it was an older back they were using up with that label? Maybe the label was put there in the 70s or 80s by a disgruntled Musima employee??

 

[eh_train]

It’s nowhere near that old. The finish was sprayed on. My eye says it’s a Musima.

KFS, it does look really new and shiny. But the early 1950s USSR Occupied Grunert that I had was also a sprayed on, industrial strength finish. And it looked really clean for a 70 year old.

To the OP, it was made in East Germany at some point. The value is about what a used ply in decent shape would sell for.