new bass-can you help me identify?

Hi all, I've been lurking for a few weeks, and thought I'd use my first post to introduce my new bass. It's a long story why I don't know exactly where it was made, but a) It's Chinese, b) it's not a Christopher bass, c) it's fully carved (spruce & maple), d) it's new (late 2004 at the earliest), and e) it sounds ridiculously good. I'd appreciate any wild-assed guesses or just comments on what you see!

Pictures are here.

Note the way the lip is tapered to a point and has a neat little design at the top and bottom of the back.

I might tell you where I got it later, but for now I'll remain cagey. No, it's not stolen.

Oh, and about me: I'm Jeff Guevin, a computer programmer by day and just-getting-back-into-playing bassist by night. My main thing is jazz, but I studied classical in school (Whitman College and Cornell U.), too. I live in Ann Arbor, MI. I also have an apparently unusual EUB I'll share pics of later on.

Oh, and let me say thanks to many of you, who have helped me immeasurably in the last few weeks with your posts.

Cheers!

[edited to correct stupid mistake]

 

Thanks for all your comments, everyone! I'm glad to hear from people who know their basses that it looks like good work--that was my impression, too, but mine is an untrained eye.

The bass most certainly sounds like a winner. Pizz that rivals what I hear on many a professional recording. Arco--who knows? My technique has gotten so bad that it's hard to tell, but I do think I hear a lot of depth and richness, and that's with jazz-oriented strings and relatively low action.

Sam, indeed! But I already knew I was a lucky man before this... BTW, I really like your recordings.

jmpiwonka, I'm in Ann Arbor, MI. The eastmans I've looked at online certainly seem like they're in the ballpark based on their quality, but I haven't seen any defining characteristics that make it a sure thing.

Thanks again, all. If anyone does still want to take a stab at an ID on the bass, I'd still love to hear it.

 

Not one that is useful in determining its origin. Basically it passed from Chinese luthier to (at least one) Chinese reseller to American setup guy. The original label is history.

 

hdiddy, thanks! I think I know the basses you're talking about--I had found some pics online that had that characteristic carving and bohemian design on the top and bottom of back and also under the fingerboard. Unfortunately, mine does not have it under the fingerboard, so I think that may be a no go.