We'll, it's not trash! Take it home to Kolstein and get them to tell you what it is and what it needs.
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It is a Samuel Kolstein & Son Bass it seems numbered in pen. Made right near my home town on Long Island.
Update: I took it to the luthier, they said the top is kind of caved in to the point where it's flat and it would take months of work and money to correct it. I also found out it's a hybrid bass with a solid spruce top and laminate back and sides. I may take it back to the Kolstein shop and just see what they say too, but in all likelihood I'm going to to just use it as decoration in my living room and save money to buy a functional double bass.
Looks like its in fantastic condition! Congrats!
Also, it sounds fancy, so unless you feel particularly ballsy, I'd pay people to do most things. Welcome to the world of DB, where everything costs way more than you think it should.
Also, it sounds fancy, so unless you feel particularly ballsy, I'd pay people to do most things. Welcome to the world of DB, where everything costs way more than you think it should.
The top doesn't look deformed to me, but if a luthier looked at it, maybe it is. If it is, I will bet you a box of doughnuts that it is because the bridge was on and the strings were up to tension for some period of time while that soundpost was loose inside. Something that people who don't understand the instruments do. And Chris is probably right about the other dowel being the endpin.
I object to turning a Kolstein into wall art. If you aren't invested in it, let it go to someone who will get it playable again.
I object to turning a Kolstein into wall art. If you aren't invested in it, let it go to someone who will get it playable again.
The top is clearly sunken on the G side, which tells me it was under string tension without the soundpost in place for quite some time. Not all that surprising for a student-grade bass.
The instrument wasn't made on Long Island, more likely in Romania. It's just a shop bass.
If it was on my bench I'd pop the top, lay it face-down on my old toddler-bed mattress (it's a cheap and cheerful substitute for a plaster mold), apply heat and use weight and go-bars to press it back into round. Not a job for a newb and in a shop maybe more than the bass is worth, but not something that should take months. Two weeks, maybe three.
OP, I expect to be in town soon if you'd like me to have a look at it in person and give a free opinion.
The instrument wasn't made on Long Island, more likely in Romania. It's just a shop bass.
If it was on my bench I'd pop the top, lay it face-down on my old toddler-bed mattress (it's a cheap and cheerful substitute for a plaster mold), apply heat and use weight and go-bars to press it back into round. Not a job for a newb and in a shop maybe more than the bass is worth, but not something that should take months. Two weeks, maybe three.
OP, I expect to be in town soon if you'd like me to have a look at it in person and give a free opinion.
Nice pics. Can you post one of the bass in strict side profile (both sides). Let's see how flat that top is.
Definitely get a second luthier opinion and estimate.
It might not be necessary to get this back in shape immediately for steel strings and concert pitch. You could ask for estimate about getting it back into playing shape for very low tension strings and perhaps tuned to Eb, Ab, Db, Gb.
Definitely get a second luthier opinion and estimate.
It might not be necessary to get this back in shape immediately for steel strings and concert pitch. You could ask for estimate about getting it back into playing shape for very low tension strings and perhaps tuned to Eb, Ab, Db, Gb.
The deformation is clear on the G side f hole. Doesn't mean it can't be set up for playing. Take it to Kolstein or Jeff Bollbach on Long Island, or Bill Merchant in the City.
I still haven't gotten a chance t take it back to Kolstein, been really busy at work. I'm gonna take it there and see what he says. Since I posted originally, I've managed to set the sound post (just one), so that's a start - probably not in the right exact spot, but it's in. Like @fdeck said, if I can get some cheap parts and get the bass playable to a point where I can learn on it, that would be a huge success. If i can't get it playable at all, hey, it was unplayable to begin with.
