I recently picked up a couple project upright basses from a neighbor.
One is a 60s German import, solid top (in 3 pieces right now), solid back, and about half of one of the sides in unusable condition. It does have a nice neck with an ebony fingerboard. No peg, bridge, tailpiece, tuners, or nut. Totally in pieces. the patina on the back and sides is suggesting a life in the public schools but honestly would look pretty awesome put back together. But someone would have to build the sides from scratch.
The other one appears to be a professional project that was not finished. 100% solid 3 piece top and 2 piece back, body is put together but does not appear to have ever had a neck on it. no label.
They are within 1/4 of an inch of each other when I measure from the neck pocket to where the bridge should land.
I am leaning towards shimming the neck pocket on the new one in such a way that it will take the neck from the German import, and trying to sell the back and sound board from the German import for a little money to spend on tuners / tailpiece / nut / bridge.
Any general thoughts?
Is a 1961 "Johan Rauner bass" something that is vintage or collectable enough that I should try and sell the neck with the back and sides and get a new neck for my new project? Its obviously never going to be an original bass with the sides looking the way they are and a new neck and fingerboard probably costs more than I could sell the package for.
Any advice for tackling the neck joint? Like how far should the fingerboard be from the soundboard, and what angle should I target? Is it worth trying to do some of bolt-on system for easier travel?
How would I find someone that would be interested in swapping the german top and back for a nut bank, tuners, tailpiece, and/or bridge? Used is fine (preferable)
photo album here: pics
One is a 60s German import, solid top (in 3 pieces right now), solid back, and about half of one of the sides in unusable condition. It does have a nice neck with an ebony fingerboard. No peg, bridge, tailpiece, tuners, or nut. Totally in pieces. the patina on the back and sides is suggesting a life in the public schools but honestly would look pretty awesome put back together. But someone would have to build the sides from scratch.
The other one appears to be a professional project that was not finished. 100% solid 3 piece top and 2 piece back, body is put together but does not appear to have ever had a neck on it. no label.
They are within 1/4 of an inch of each other when I measure from the neck pocket to where the bridge should land.
I am leaning towards shimming the neck pocket on the new one in such a way that it will take the neck from the German import, and trying to sell the back and sound board from the German import for a little money to spend on tuners / tailpiece / nut / bridge.
Any general thoughts?
Is a 1961 "Johan Rauner bass" something that is vintage or collectable enough that I should try and sell the neck with the back and sides and get a new neck for my new project? Its obviously never going to be an original bass with the sides looking the way they are and a new neck and fingerboard probably costs more than I could sell the package for.
Any advice for tackling the neck joint? Like how far should the fingerboard be from the soundboard, and what angle should I target? Is it worth trying to do some of bolt-on system for easier travel?
How would I find someone that would be interested in swapping the german top and back for a nut bank, tuners, tailpiece, and/or bridge? Used is fine (preferable)
photo album here: pics
