NBD: IDK! (What is this bass?)

[40Hz]

I know what it is…

It’s awesome!!!

Congratulations on scoring such a cool bass. Play it well.

 

[BAG]

I have no idea what it is but i really like it!

 

[BEADG63]

Cool bass...betcha that sucker weighs over 15 lbs. though...

 

[kodiakblair]

@boots_cats

Since you got it in Berlin asking on the German forum bassic.de would likely have a better chance of getting info.

 

[moonshinegtrs]

I'm pretty sure that Fodera is using red oak as an option in their neck builds.


Moonshine

 

[Fender_Bender]

I used to be a pro woodworker and I think the neck is more likely to be ash. Ash is very popular in Europe and oak is a little heavy for a neck through. Despite the “homemade-ish” look I have a hard time believing a homemade special would have a serial number stamped into it. If you’re persistent in your digging I think you’ll eventually find out who made it.

 

[Maxdusty]

I used to be a pro woodworker and I think the neck is more likely to be ash. Ash is very popular in Europe and oak is a little heavy for a neck through. Despite the “homemade-ish” look I have a hard time believing a homemade special would have a serial number stamped into it. If you’re persistent in your digging I think you’ll eventually find out who made it.

Good point...
I was thinking initially that it's a manufacturer's prototype of some kind rather than a home made bass.

 

[boots_cats]

I used to be a pro woodworker and I think the neck is more likely to be ash. Ash is very popular in Europe and oak is a little heavy for a neck through. Despite the “homemade-ish” look I have a hard time believing a homemade special would have a serial number stamped into it. If you’re persistent in your digging I think you’ll eventually find out who made it.

Based on all the weight-related comments, I'm guessing it's ash. This bass is super light (at least compared to my Ric...)

It's getting new flatwounds, a proper setup and a good cleaning as we speak. Can't wait!

 

[boots_cats]

Oh and I think it's the date, not a serial number. Which is also cool, it's (apparently) made about 2 months before the Berlin Wall fell.

 

[boots_cats]

Play it well.

No promises there ...

 

[40Hz]

No promises there ...

We have complete faith in you.

 

[rohi]

Wow, that's a beaut. If you fail to uncover the history of the bass, feel free to make up your own.

 

[Solarmist]

The neck looks like oak. I don’t know of any production shops using oak for necks, so I’m guessing home made.

That's what I was thinking too, and looks like others are thinking the same ...
It does look very nice though.

 

[BAG]

Based on all the weight-related comments, I'm guessing it's ash. This bass is super light (at least compared to my Ric...)

It's getting new flatwounds, a proper setup and a good cleaning as we speak. Can't wait!

Light and good looking........ i think i need one of these.

 

[taught]

Im not sure if its only the picture but the fretboard appears to be the blackest black of the milky way galaxy and I dig it drool

 

[nilorius]

Don't know where it came from, but a luthiers work for shure. Would like to have it myself.

 

[theinfamous]

What is the disadvantage to an oak neck? I assume there is one, right?

I really don’t know if there is a disadvantage. Since oak is so readily available, and cheaper than maple, you would think it would be used. Maybe it’s the open grain, or that maple is just that much harder and durable.

There's a lot of oak Chapman Sticks out there. I've never personally understood the aversion to oak in the bass market. Anyway, the bass looks amazing. I think you did well in the trade.

There was just a discussion of oak a couple days ago. I have limited woodworking knowledge, but from my experience, it is not as nice to work with as a lot of other woods. I'll try to summarize most of what the other thread came up with:

-it wears tools quickly because it is very hard

-The open grain of some varieties of oak does not finish sand easily or well at all

-It chips very easily and is not forgiving

-A lot of people don't like the way it looks- they say it looks too much like furniture

-It may have undesirable tonal characteristics

-It smells bad when you're working with it

The main point seems to be that it is very hard and heavy, but still open grained and fairly porous. Sanding takes forever when compared to maple as it is really "furry" (i dont know the proper term for this, it's the best I could do) when you cut it. I can understand why the majority of builders don't like to use it simply based on the chipping factor, which can be really irritating, and lead to inconsistent results. There's obviously ways around it, but it clearly takes more time and care to get good results, and if consumers in general don't want oak, why bother?

 

[MotorCityMinion]

Hmmm. It's home made if it cant be identified, It's luthier built if it's known? That bass is very nice looking and appears to have a high build quality. Look at how the back of the head stock is dished out. All edges are tangent. Something I'd definitely want to try if ever I came across it.

 

[boots_cats]

There's no question it was made by a luthier, but maybe as a side project? Maybe it was a gift?

Maybe the date isn't the date of manufacture, but a birthday or anniversary or something? The 5th anniversary is marked by gifts made of wood. Maybe it's actually from 1994. I imagine a heartbreaking story of a failed marriage, and gifts that once held sentimental value being sold for absurdly cheap prices, just out of spite.

 

[el jeffe bass]

That is a very cool bass. You took a chance and traded a known bass for something very unique. Use it to play gigs often enough and the answer to your question may find you.