Double Bass Help identifying basses

[rogerjeep]

I am trying to get a little information on a few upright basses. These basses belonged to a friend who was a good player and has passed away. His family has now decided to start selling the basses. I went over to possibly buy one but I need help identifying a few to give a fair price. A few of the basses have been well loved. One bass has no identifying marks on it but has a big booming low end. That's the one I may be interested in but with no makers name I can't figure out a price. All of these may be for sale pretty quickly once I decide which one I do not want. I for sure will not buy the messenger.
any help and a decent value would be appreciated.

first group of pics is a messenger bass (I think)

The cover for the battery compartment is missing

2nd group of pics is an Ernest Heinrich Roth bass appears to be in very good,shape. Any info on the pickup?


3rd bass. No manufacturer label. Not in poor shape but seen better days. Very big boomy sound. Value?


4th bass. This bass was 2 toned. Very odd, I wasn't interested so I didn't take pics. I will later. The back and from were a blond usb color and sides were darker. When I go back I will take more piccs of this one.


thanks for any help

 

[BassFalcon]

The only help I can give is with the pickup on the Roth. It appears to be a Pierre Joseph String Charger. Endorsed at some point by NHØP. I've got one I bought about 2001. It's a flexible magnetic pickup, mounted to the fingerboard with 3m dual lock. The one in the pic has the bonus of the optional piezo add-on. Mine never did. I bet it sounds pretty darn good with the piezo addition. Pierre Joseph was a luthier, I have no idea what ever happened to him or his website. I found it in the classifieds in the back of Bass Player Magazine. I don't believe they are worth much at all, but they are great for high volume situations due to the lack of feedback. You can really crank it up. I believe the modern equivalent would be the Krivo. Judging by the foam in the F-hole of one of the other basses I'd say your guy needed pretty high volumes at times.

 

[rogerjeep]

Yeah he was played lots of loud gigs on upright as do I. That foam was in both f holes. I pulled the foam out of one to see if I could find a maker. Thanks for the info on the pickup, I didn't plug it I to see if it works, I am assuming it does since these were his daily basses.

 

[bassmanbrent]

#1 is definitely a Knutson Messenger. He used some beautiful woods for that particular bass. Most that I've seen have used woods that are high quality but quite plain.

 

[rogerjeep]

Thanks, I will reach out to Knutson and get more info and replace that backplate then sell the instrument.