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Double Bass Romanian Knilling "Bucharest" opinions?

Bergerman

Bergerman

Supporting Member
Feb 23, 2004
941
2,833
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Creswell, OR
#1
Well, The German bass I was going to look at yesterday sold moments before I arrived, so I am moving on. A local family-owned music store has a Knilling "Bucharest" that is about 3 years old, but has beed sitting on its stand all that time. Never sold or rented, appears to be in perfect condition. It has an ebony finberboard and nut, all laminated, and has been set up by a very competent local luthier. Label says made in Romania. Model is the 1302T. I searched, but did not find much on the forum about them. Any opinions? Is "Made in Romania" a good thing?

Bass is quite nice looking and plays and sounds great, but he is asking $1800 for it...is this reasonable?

Thanks, everyone!
 
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#3
One for sale locally was sold by an upscale music store to a bass guitar guy for $1600. It was NOT set up, and although it has a good tone is almost unplayable because of string height. There is also a hairline crack in the neck. It is a pretty bass though.
I tend to go with Mikman that for that price you can get a Shen, Upton or Thompson setup from a reputable dealer AND be able to sell it when you want to upgrade.
Remember, there is a reason that it has been sitting there for three years.
 
#4
I believe the main reason it sat for so long was that until I started negotiating with the store owner, they were asking $2595 for it, and would not budge! I had a discussion with the luthier that set it up, and he gave it high marks in all categories, plus it came with new Flexocors on it. It plays and sounds excellent, and is structurally sound. I let it sit for a while after getting them down to $1800, and after a final, hardball offer, I brought it home last week for considerably less than that...I feel I got a great deal on a very decent bass. Worlds better than my old Palatino, that's for sure!
 
#7
Hate to resurrect this ancient thread, but I have someone on the line who wants to sell me one of these for $1500. Supposed to be in good shape. I'm gonna play it tomorrow. Gonna put me in debt, though...

Any opinions? I've hear German-made is better, but how much better?

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#9
So I played it for about ten minutes today. It was a flatback Model 1308T serial near somewhere over 990, had a nice carved top, an ebony fingerboard, and an adjustable bridge. Low action, sounded pretty good. Maybe one dead spot on the G string, incredible tone all the way up and down on the E. I noticed a small separation between the top and the body, and the seller said he would take it over to Sal Gardina here in New Orleans to glue it up. Lots of scratches, needs a set of spirocores, maybe a good clean out.

I'm probably gonna jump. Finally gonna have a reason to buy some rosin. Yay!
 
#10
It's official! Sal Gardina told me told that he is very jealous today of my purchase and that he would have bought it if I hadn't made the deal first, and that I got a fantastic value for a fully carved instrument. It even got a set of used Spirocores slapped on it for not extra cost, so imma be swingin' in no time. Pics as soon as the seam gets glued by tomorrow and I get it home. I gotta make room for another piece of fine furniture, LOL.
 
#11
Bergerman said:
Well, The German bass I was going to look at yesterday sold moments before I arrived, so I am moving on. A local family-owned music store has a Knilling "Bucharest" that is about 3 years old, but has beed sitting on its stand all that time. Never sold or rented, appears to be in perfect condition. It has an ebony finberboard and nut, all laminated, and has been set up by a very competent local luthier. Label says made in Romania. Model is the 1302T. I searched, but did not find much on the forum about them. Any opinions? Is "Made in Romania" a good thing?

Bass is quite nice looking and plays and sounds great, but he is asking $1800 for it...is this reasonable?

Thanks, everyone!
Click to expand...
I came across a Bucharest bass and it is a very good student bass. The one I saw was a flat back with a carved top, and it had all ebony fittings. But I just noticed that this post was from 13 years ago, so it's already a done deal. HA!
 
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