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Double Bass Meisel bass - value?

J

jlpolk

Oct 24, 2008
20
0
Darien, IL and Wisconsin
#1
Hi all,
I'm not a bassist myself, but inherited a Meisel bass from my parents. It was probably made in the '50s or '60s, and appears to be in pretty good shape (just a few dings around the edges). It has a plywood top and solid wood sides and back, and I think it's full size, but I'm not sure (how do I tell?). I got a preliminary appraisal of $2500 - does this seem reasonable? It hasn't been played in a looong time, probably not since the '60s. Thanks for any help you can provide.
 
#2
jlpolk said:
Hi all,
I'm not a bassist myself, but inherited a Meisel bass from my parents. It was probably made in the '50s or '60s, and appears to be in pretty good shape (just a few dings around the edges). It has a plywood top and solid wood sides and back, and I think it's full size, but I'm not sure (how do I tell?). I got a preliminary appraisal of $2500 - does this seem reasonable? It hasn't been played in a looong time, probably not since the '60s. Thanks for any help you can provide.
Click to expand...

Never heard of a ply top with solid sides and back before. Usually it's the other way around. You might want to double check that. If it is a hybrid with a solid top, $2500 is reasonable, although if it sounds great it might be worth more.

My guess is that it's probably 3/4 size. Post measurements including length of strings from nut to bridge if you want to know for sure.
 
#4
Here are the pics:
 

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#9
So is the whole thing laminated or just the top?

Couldn't tell you how it sounds--my mom was the bass player and she died in 1971. It's possible it was played a few times after that by friends of my dad, but for the most part it just sat. I'm assuming it would need new strings at this point.
 
#10
The whole thing is laminated.

It is not common, if ever, to make a bass with a carved back / sides and a ply top.

The "hybrid" basses have a carved top and ply back and sides, so that they get the extra resonance and more complex tone of the carved top, but also the durability and crack resistance of the laminated back and sides.

Absolutely nothing wrong with a good quality laminate bass though, even those who play carved basses like them to use as gig basses, and some of us actually prefer them for their punchy tone. They are also popular as student instruments for aspiring orchestra bassists. Fully carved basses can be somewhat fragile and require periodic crack repairs, but they have a huge complex sound. It's a trade-off of sorts.

Best way to get an idea of the value would be to take it to a music shop that deals in double basses, or a bass luthier.

Why not learn to play? It's addicting. :D

That is a very nice looking bass, should be a German made bass, which can be very good quality. You should have no trouble selling it. What area are you in? Maybe we can suggest a shop or luthier nearby.
 
#11
It’s a pretty little bass too bad you don’t play; maybe someone else in your family could use it. Given the fact that it is laminated you’re not going to get much from it in the open market. Too may other decent laminated basses selling for around a grand or so… I’d be surprised if you could get $2500 but you never know, try craigslist.

If you can’t sell it for your price see if you can donate to a school or church or some such organization. You could get a tax break and its good juju…
 
#12
It may be worth more than a grand because of it's age though, if I could venture a guess I'd say $1200-1500 possibly?

But 2500 is more in the hybrid bass price range I would think, a little high.

Maybe someone who is familiar with vintage Meisel basses could add more here.

I sure would love to have it. Those old German plys can be cannons. Too bad this economy sucks, I am one of the unemployed masses at the moment. :(
 
#13
I wouldn't worry about putting new strings on it or money into setup if you're going to sell it. Strings, string height etc... are all very personal choices and with strings the choices are never ending nowadays,

Many people spend over 2k for old Kay plywood basses that are a lot more beat up than that one, but some people really have a thing for Kays and the enthusiasts drive the price up like they do with other old US made instruments like Martin guitars.

If you're not going to play it I hope you find it a good home. Should be a good solid bass for someone if it's in as good a shape as it looks from the pictures.
 
#15
I would take this bass to a qualified bass luthier who would not only tell you what it was, but also give you some idea of what work was needed and the estimated cost. It will certainly need new strings and a new/straightened bridge. Was your "appraisal" done by such a luthier and was it done recently?

If you want to sell it, you can post it here. You can also contact the local schools to find out if they or their students are looking for a bass.

If you tell us where you are, we could give some more definite advice.
 
#16
I live in WI, but my dad's house & bass are in the Chicago area (western suburbs). The appraisal was done a few years ago by someone who is not a luthier. I wish I had a family member to give it to, but, sadly, that isn't the case.

Thanks everybody for all the great information--very interesting. I've really learned a lot about basses in the last few days. I will certainly be posting here in the classifieds before too long.
 
#19
That looks just like a ply bass from the same place where mine came from... identical purfling design (even though I bet that's just ink on the ply version).

So, my bass came from some anonymous factory in East Germany; the only identification gives the country and the year 1958. If I'm right, you've got a nice bass there, probably as good as ply gets.
 

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