Double Bass Need Help Identifying

[skp667]

I bought this bass a few weeks ago in Philidelphia. There is no sticker or anything on the inside of it. Unfortunately sometime along the way it seems some idiot painted it black(with a brush I believe). It is an original 3-string so I know it is old, but other than that I have really no idea. It is 73'' long. I was wondering if any of you guy could provide some insight.
Thanks

 

[groooooove]

im sure people are going to ask for more pictures,

i'd be curious to see photos of the inside to see what the wood looks like. (it is wood, right?)

also i wouldn't take it being 3 strings to necesarily have anything to do with the age. it could have originally been 4 and been switched to 3 later- especially with paint to cover up and repairs done to holes in the scroll. though, it could very well be an original 3 string.

those tuners look intersting as well..

i have nothing to add other than that i'm curious to hear what the experts say.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

It's wood. Look at that long crack in the upper back. The auction description noted cracks throughout the body.

I also wouldn't mind knowing what that is. It looks vaguely Germanic in some ways, and homespun in others.

 

[skp667]

Thanks for the responses guys. It is definitely made of wood. I doubt it was a conversion job just going off of the width of the fingerboard, but then again I am no expert. The nut has obviously been replaced with some sort of round piece of wood. The bracing seems to be very minimal, though my only frame of reference is my '52 Kay. Any info would be very much appreciated.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

That "nut" is a horrible cob-job repair, as is the bolt through the fingerboard. I'm surprised to see something apparently old and poorly maintained as your bass with a modern-looking, rounded fingerboard.

 

[SAlcott]

It would be very strange for a 4 string bass to be converted to 3. Take it to a bass luthier for evaluation and let us know what you find out.