Steve Swan Guitars: Mathias Thoma Basses

Older European Basses

European doublebasses on this page will come from before 1970, whether built in factories, smaller shops, or from a solo builder.

For more complete description or questions, please email steve_swan@earthlink.net or call (650) 515-1014.

1955 Ladislav Herclik 3/4 flatback	A fine responsive prewar style bohemian doublebass from this prolific maker. Fine to medium grain Spruce top, Medium flame figured Maple back and sides, Medium flame figured Maple neck, Original halfplate hatpeg tuners, Ebony nut, fingerboard, and tailpiece, Maple bridge with adjusters, Gotz steel endpin, Dark red-brown oil varnish finish. Dimensions are: Top length 42 1/2", Upper bout width 20 7/8", Middle bout width 14 1/4", Lower bout width 25 3/8", Depth at tail 8 1/4", Depth at upper bout bend 8", Depth at neck 6 3/8", String length 41". A few crack repairs, french polishing. Recent setup adjustments and fingerboard surfacing by Michael Olivola. Though built in 1955, this is very much a light prewar style bass with a quick response and a lovely, rich voice. With cover.	$9950

1940s German 3/4 Flatback	A good jazz pizz bass that has proven itself to be reliable on the bandstand for that last several years. Plain Maple back, sides, and neck, Hatbox style tuners in good working order, Ebony nut, fingerboard, tailpiece, and tailpiece saddle, Despiau bridge with Full Circle pickup (which functions as adjusters) installed, Steel rod endpin, medium brown varnish. Dimensions are: Top length 42 1/2", Upper bout width 20 3/8", Middle bout width 14 5/8", Lower bout width 25 1/4", Depth at tail 8", Depth at upper bout bend 8", Depth at neck 6 5/8", String length 42". A former local school bass, extensive restoration work was done by Michael Olivola and Alex Friedman. Recent maintenance was performed by Michael Olivola and Gael McKeon. The response is quick and the voice is balanced and solid. Used in the last several years as a performance instrument in jazz and western swing settings. No specific cover comes with the bass, but I have lots of cover options.	$5950

1930s Czech 3/4 carved back	Medium grain Spruce top, Plain figure Maple back and sides, Flame figure Maple neck, Brass halfplate tuners, Ebony nut, fingerboard, tailpiece, and tailpiece saddle, Gotz aluminum endpin, Maple Bridge with adjusters added as part of a complete setup by Jeff Sahs, Reddish brown varnish, Realist pickup installed. Dimensions are: Top length 43", Upper bout width 19 3/4", Middle bout 14 1/4", Lower bout 25 1/4", Depth at neck 6 1/2", Depth at upper bout bend 8", Depth at tail 8 1/4", String length 42". A good gigging jazz bass strung with Spirocore. With cover.	$4750

Ca. 1920s Czech Flatback 3/4	Maple back, sides, and neck, Carved Spruce top, Dyed maple hatpeg tuners, Dyed Maple fingerboard, Ebony nut, Replacement ebony tailpiece, Old endpin, Nonadjustable bridge set up for jazz playing. Dimensions are: Top length 43", Upper bout width 19 3/4", Center bout width 14", Lower bout width 25 3/8", Depth at tail 8 3/8", Depth at upper bout bend 8", Depth at neck 5 7/8", String length 42 1/4". Many repaired cracks. Recent restoration included removing the original oxidized black finish and cleating and regluing old cracks and plate separations from the ribs. Attended to by many bay area repairmen opver the years, the most recent work was performed by the celebrated Allan Droyan. This featherweight bass from the prewar gut string age sings to the lightest pizz touch to the Spirocore weich strings. A really nice jazz instrument. With cover. I had Jeff Sahs plane the fingerboard, add bridge adjusters, and recontour and reslot the bridge. This bass now playwww.steveswanguitars.com/Gallery/Euro/Bendekit%20Lang/index.htmls like a dream.	$4950.00

Ca. 1960s Benedikt Lang 3/4 carved back	A rich-toned bass with a strong, penetrating voice. Plain Maple back, sides, and neck, Engraved halfplate tuners, Ebony nut, fingerboard, tailpiece, and tailpiece saddle, Belgian style Maple bridge with adjusters, Aluminum shaft endpin, Medium brown varnish, external linings, plastic binding on body edges and F-holes. Dimensions are: Top length 41 1/4", Upper bout width 19", Center bout width 14 1/8", Lowr bout width 26", Depth at tail 8 1/2, Depth at upper bout bend 8 1/4", Depth at neck 7 1/8", String length 41 1/4". Repaired top cracks and side cracks. Big meaty voice. A good working pizz bass. No cover included. On consignment.	$5950

Ca. 1930s Pfretschner 3/4 swell back	Recent restoration work with a new bass bar and shorter string length from a neck reset give this great sounding old bass much more modern performance specifications. Nicely quartered Maple back and sides, Maple neck, Beautiful fine grain Spruce top, Original brass halfplate tuners, Ebony nut and tailpiece saddle, Macassar Ebony fingerboard, Period painted white wood tailpiece, Maple bridge with adjusters added, 10 mm rod endpin, Dark reddish brown oil varnish. Dimensions are: Top length 42 1/2", Upper bout width 20", Middle bout width 14 1/2", Lower bout width 25 3/4", Depth at tail 8 3/8", Depth at upper bout bend 8 1/8", Depth at neck 6 3/4", String length 41 7/8". A fine large voiced arco or pizz bass. Pointed, punchy voice with Spirocore mittel or dark, smooth voice with Evah Pirazzi medium tension strings. With Full circle pickup and cover.	$9950

Ca. 1940s G.A. Pfretschner 3/4 carved back	A solid sounding example with a big, meaty voice from this well known german export company. Plain figure maple back and sides, Beech neck, Fine grain spruce top, Brass halfplate tuners, ebony nut, replacement fingerboard, and tailpiece saddle, Boxwood tailpiece, Boyd Poulson endpin, Maple bridge with adjusters. Dimensions are Top length 43 3/4", Upper bout width 20", Middle bout width 14 3/8", Lower bout width 25 1/2", Depth at tail 8 1/8", Depth at upper bout bend 8 1/8", Depth at neck 6 5/8", String length 42 1/4". Older work by Pat McCarthy included: Inlaid bass bar cleats, Doubling, New bass bar, and crack cleats. Older work by Boyd Poulson: New Poulson enpin and crack repairs. Recent work by Matt Bohn includes: Installation of new ebony fingerboard, New bridge, New soundpost, New boxwood tailiece, and fitting of wooden endpin to the Boyd Poulson collar. This bass has a very muscular, well-defined voice and has proven itself on countless jazz gigs. A very fine instrument for a working jazz musician. No cover included.	$9,975

Ca. 1940s Czech Flatback 3/4	With features like a 41 7/8" string length, small dimension back braces, and hatpeg halfplate tuners, this bass could have been made in the 1930s, but I'll play it safe by assigning a probable manufacture date of just after WWII. A solid voiced and responsive instrument that spent a year in restoration. Plain figure Maple back, sides, and neck, Fine to medium-fine grain Spruce top, Hatpeg tuners on brass halfplates, Ebony nut and fingerboard, Painted white wood tailpiece and tailpiece saddle, Dresden bridge with adjusters. Dimensions are: Top length 43 1/4", Upper bout width 20 1/4", Middle bout width 14 3/8", Lower bout width 25 7/8", Depth at neck 6 1/4", Depth at upper bout bend 8", Depth at tail 8 3/8", String length 41 7/8". Restoration and repairs include: Inlaid soundpost patch, Splined top crack repair, Two cleated top cracks, Regraduate bass bar, Reglue corner blocks and top back brace, Splined back center seam, Replace two center seam back strips, Neck reset and new fingerboard and nut, New bridge with adjusters, french polish existing finish and bare spots. This bass speaks very quickly with an authoritative voice. A nice light weight vintage instrument. With cover.	$2950

1931 John Juzek 7/8 (1050)	A fantastic sounding carved back gamba shape Juzek in rare 7/8 size. German Maple neck, back, and sides, Nickel halfplate tuners with Ebony rollers, Ebony nut, tailpiece saddle, and fingerboard, Exterior linings, Dyed black Maple tailpiece, Aubert bridge with aluminun adjusters. Dimensions are: Top length 45 3/4", Upper bout width 20 3/4", Middle bout width 15 1/2", Lower bout width 26 3/8", Depth at tail 8 1/2", Depth at upper bout bend 8 1/4", Depth at neck joint 7", String length 43 1/2. A few well-repaired top and rib cracks and very mild playing wear. Maintained by Berkeley's doublebass luthier, Pat McCarthy. This amazing bass really does it all. A great jazz bass, which has been it's primary use for the last 15 years, or a professional level orchestral instrument. This is a rare opportunity to play one of these basses outside of New York or Los Angeles. With cover.	$12,500.00

Previous Offerings

1926 Otto Rubner gamba shape 3/4 carved back

An especially fine sounding example of Otto Rubner's early work. Josef Rubner (1864-1927) Started the Markneukirchen family bass making business and was best known for his large orchestral basses. Otto Rubner (1885-1963) built this modern shaped 3/4 size instrument with sloping shoulders in the family shop a year before taking over the business upon the death of his father in 1927. Mildly flame figured maple back and sides, Scroll grafted flame figured Maple neck, Individual french style tuners, Ebony nut, fingerboard, and tailpiece saddle, Dyed hardwood tailpiece, New Maple bridge with adjusters, Gotz aluminum shaft endpin. Dimensions are: Top length 43", Upper bout width 19", Middle bout width 14 3/8", Lower bout width 25 7/8", Depth at tail 8 1/2", Depth at upper bout bend 8 3/8", Depth at neck 6 3/4", String length 42 1/8". Old repairs include crack repairs, some finish repair at the edges, and the scroll graft. Recent procedures by Matt Bohn include: Neck reset (with the new shorter mensure), new fingerboard, and the endpin and tailpiece installations. The bridge and final setup were performed by Mike Olivola. This bass responds easily to a bow with a very colorful and complete mature voice that is quite expressive all the way through the upper registers. It's also a good pizz instrument with Spirocore mittel guage strings. A very nice old handmade bass brought into modern playing specifications. With cover.

Ca. 1940s G.A. Pfretschner "Strad Copy"

Carved back gamba shape 3/4 doublebass from Markneukirchen. German Maple back, sides, and neck, German Spruce top, Brass halfplate tuners, Eb neck, Maple wedge under meaty Ebony fingerboard, Ebonized tailpiece, Well-made Despiau bridge 6 3/4" above the table, dark red varnish. Dimensions are: Top length 43 1/4", Upper bout 20 1/4", Middle bout 14 1/2", Lower bout 25 1/2", Depth at tail 8 5/8", Depth at upper bout bend 8 1/8", Depth at neck 6 5/8", String length 42". A solid bass with a large voice that easily moves between pizz and orchestral functions, the fingerbaord has low relief making playing three sets of jazz a breeze. With cover.

Ca. 1950s Anton Dietl 3/4 carved back

My personal favorite of all of the 3/4 Dietl basses that have come into the shop in the last five years. Beautifully flame figured Maple back, sides, and neck, Spruce top with medium width grain at center and finer grain toward the edges, Brass halfplate tuners, Ebony nut, fingerboard, tailpiece, and tailpiece saddle, Maple bridge with adjusters added, Adjustable wooden endpin in Gotz collar, Medium brown varnish. Dimensions are: Top length 42 1/2", Upper bout width 19", Middle bout width 14", Lower bout width 25 1/4", Depth at tail 8 3/8", Depth at upper bout bend 8 1/4", Depth at neck 7 3/8", String length 41 1/4". A lively and colorful instrument for jazz, a quick and expressive instrument for arco work. With cover.

C. 1930s German 5/8 Flatback

A lightly built responsive prewar 5/8 flatback with a longer than usual string length. Plain figure Maple back, sides, and neck, Even fine-medium grain spruce top, Quarter plate hatpeg tuners, Ebony nut, Mystery Rosewood fingerboard, Dyed Maple tailpiece, New bridge with adjusters, Gotz endpin. Dimensions are: top length 41 1/2", Upper bout width 19 1/4", Middle bout width 13 7/8", Lower bout width 23 7/8", Depth at neck 6", Depth at upper bout bend 7 1/2", Depth a tail 7 1/2", String length 40 1/4". Full restoration by Matt Bohn. This bass is quite lively in its response to pizz or arco play.

1964 Johann Heinrich Hammig carved back gamba shape 3/4 (nsn)

Made in the same Hofner factory as the current Paesold and Hofner 3/4 basses. Medium grain German Spruce top, German Maple neck, sides, and flame figured back, Upgraded Rubner engraved black and gold halfplate tuners, Ebony nut, fingerboard, and tailpiece, No bridge adjusters. Dimensions are: top length 44", Upper bout width 19 1/4", Center bout width 14 1/2", Lower bout width 25 1/2", Depth at tail 8 1/4", Depth at upper bout bend 8 1/4", Depth at neck 7", String length 41". This bass has seen a lot of use over the years and shows many repaired cracks and a darker brown overcoating of varnish, such as the late Noel Arrighi would use. It came in as a student orchestra instrument, but it sounds even better strung with D'Addario Helicore pizzicato strings for jazz. It has a loose, lively response and the old setup is comfortably low for easy play. A nice intermediate jazz bass. With cover.

Early 20th century German carved back 3/4

A great extremely responsive old jazz bass owned and played for many years by local jazz great, Mel Graves. Unfigured Maple back, sides, and neck, fine to medium grain Spruce top, Old single unit hatpeg tuners, Ebony nut, fingerboard, tailpiece and talpiece saddle, Recent bridge with adjusters, Medium neck profile. Dimensions are: Top length 43", Upper bout width 20 1/4", Middle bout width 15, Lower bout width 25 1/2, Depth at tail 8 1/4", Depth at upper bout bend 8", Depth at neck 6 7/8", String length 42". Many crack repairs and a 1" top splice from the treble side F hole down to the tail. Recent set up work by three different Bay Area luthiers. The current owner is a professional jazz player with extremely high standards. This great bass is quite expressive and has plenty of volume for most unamplified situations. Beautiful arco sound as well. With cover

Ca. 1960s Mittenwald 3/4 carved back

Likely made by Hofner, this is a good bread and butter gigging jazz bass. Maple back, sides, and neck, Fine to medium grain width Spruce top, Nickel halfplate tuners, Ebony nut, fingerboard, tailpiece, and tailpiece saddle, New steel rod endpin, New bridge with adjusters as part of a complete setup by Mike Olivola, Medium red-brown spirit varnish finish. Dimensions are: Top length 43 1/4", Upper bout width 19 3/8", Middle bout width 14 1/2", Lower bout width 25 7/8", Depth at tail 8 1/2", Depth at upper bout bend 8 1/2", Depth at neck 7", String length 41". Other than a couple of small glued top cracks, this bass hasn't required any structural work. The top shows a lot of thumbnail marks on the bass side of the fingerboard. With the most recent planing, the fingerboard has been planed a little thin, but it is nice and stiff. As a testament to its utility, Mike Olivola says that he wouldn't mind using this bass on stage. Cover not included on this consignment bass.

19th Century German 5/8 flatback

A rich sounding instrument with features that suggest a build date of at least 150 years old. Medium grain spruce top, Flame figure Maple back and sides, Plain figure Maple neck, Hand cut quarter plate tuners over brass plates, Ebony nut, fingerboard, and tailpiece saddle, Pearwood tailpiece, Maple bridge made as part of general setup and repairs by Jon Peterson at World of Strings in Long Beach. Dimensions are: Top length 39 3/4", Upper bout width 19", Middle bout width 13 5/8", Lower bout width 24", Depth at neck 6 5/8", Depth at upper bout bend 8 1/4", Depth at tail 8 3/8", String length 40". A wonderful arco instrument with good pizz capabilities. It's hard to believe that the large, rich voice comes out of such a moderate sized bass. With cover.

Ca. 1960s Max Hoyer 3/4 carved back

A clear voiced and easy playing german 3/4. Plain figure Maple back, sides, and neck, Medium to wide grain Spruce top, Nickel halfplate tuners, Ebony nut, fingerboard, and tailpiece saddle, Dyed hardwood tailpiece, Gotz endpin, Maple bridge with adjusters added, Orange varnish. Dimensions are: Top length 41 5/8", Upper bout width 19 1/4", Middle bout width 14", Lower bout width 24 5/8", Depth at tail 8 1/4", Depth at upper bout bend 8 1/4", Depth at neck 7", String length 41". Quick, bright tone and easy play. A nice student bass. With used cover.

Ca. 1960s Anton Dietl 5/8 carved back

A well-preserved smaller bass by one of my favorite German shop builders. Plain figure Maple back and sides, Medium grain Spruce top, Flame figured Maple neck, Nickel halfplate tuners, Ebony nut, fingerboard, tailpiece, and tailpiece saddle, Well-made recent bridge with adjusters, dark red varnish. Dimensions are: Top length 42 1/2", Upper bout width 19", Middle bout width 13 3/4", Lower bout width 24 5/8", Depth at neck 7", Depth at upper bout bend 7 7/8", Depth at tail 8", String length 39 1/2". A solid playing bass with good depth on the bottom strings and rich trebles. A clean instrument for it's age. With cover.

Ca. 1880s Czech 3/4 Flatback

A strong, responsive bass kept in good playing condition. Even medium grain Spruce top, Plain figure Maple back, sides, and neck, Individual hatpeg tuners, Ebony nut, fingerboard, and tailpiece saddle, Old bridge with adjusters originally made by Pierre Josephs, Pecanic Maple tailpiece, Rick Turner pickup, side bumpers added, golden-light brown varnish. Dimensions are: Top length 43 5/8", Upper bout width 19 3/4", Middle bout width 13 3/8", Lower bout width 25 3/4", Depth at tail 8 1/2", Depth at upper bout bend 8 3/8", Depth at neck 6 3/8", String length 42 1/4". Strung with a mature set of Spirocore strings, this bass has a powerful, penetrating quality that served the consigning owner well for years on the bandstand. With cover.

Late 1940s Herold Jaeger 3/4 Flatback

Possibly a pre-WWII Czech bass, I'll play it safe and say postwar. Medium grain Spruce top, Plain figure Maple sides, back, and neck, Quarter plate brass tuners, Ebony nut, fingerboard, and tailpiece saddle, Dyed Maple tailpiece, Gotz endpin, Maple bridge with adjusters, set up recently adjusted by Michael Olivola. Dimensions are: Top length 43 7/8", Upper bout width 19 3/4", Middle bout width 13 3/4", Lower bout width 25", Depth at neck 6 1/8", Depth at upper bout bend 8", Depth at tail 8 1/8", String length 42". A fairly light weight and responsive pizz bass with enough solid bone structure to project well. A fine gigging jazz bass. With cover.

1940s Czech 3/4 flatback

A good solid gigging jazz bass with a quick voice. Plain Maple back, sides, and neck, Fine to medium grain Spruce top, Halfplate hatpeg tuners, Ebony nut and tailpiece saddle, Macassar Ebony fingerboard, Painted white wood tailpiece, Maple bridge with adjusters added as part of a complete setup, Dark brown finish applied over original varnish. Dimensions are: Top length 44 1/2", Upper bout width 19 3/8", Middle bout width 13 3/8", Lower bout width 25 1/2", Depth at neck 6 1/4", Depth at upper bout bend 8", Depth at tail 8", String length 42 1/2". Solidly repaired in the past, we just went through it and took care of a few open cracks. The response is quick and clear. A good step-up bass. With cover.

Ca. 1950s Anton Dietl carved back 3/4

A high quality Mittenwald 3/4 doublebass made with very fine woods. Flame figured Maple back, sides, and neck, Spruce top, German nickel halfplate tuners, Slim neck profile, Ebony fingerboard and tailpiece, Maple bridge with adjusters added, Beautiful red varnish. Dimensions are: Top length 43 1/4" , Upper bout width 19", Middle bout width 14 1/2", Lower bout width 25 1/4", Depth at tail and upper bout bend 8 1/4", Depth at neck 7 1/4", String length 41". This bass has a very colorful balanced voice. It's an excellent combination jazz and arco instrument. I'm still on the search for a 7/8 example of one of these Dietl basses for myself! With cover.

Ca. 1930s Juzek gamba shape 3/4 carved back

San Francisco bay area jazz great Glenn Richman's primary performance bass for the last 25 years. Even medium grain European Spruce top, Plain to lightly figured European Maple back, sides, and neck, Gold engraved Rubner quarter plate tuners replace the original halfplate tuners, Ebony tailpiece, tailpiece saddle, fingerboard, and nut, Gotz endpin, Maple bridge with black aluminum adjusters. Well-repaired heel break, Repaired 9" back crack in bass-side upper bout Long repaired side crack in bass-side lower bout. Well-maintained and relatively injury-free, it's hard to believe that this bass has traveled all over the world for a touring professional jazz musician. There is a fairly large 1979 repair label from noted bass luthier and author Charles Traeger. As evidenced in one of the photographs, the top treble side edge has been worn down to the exterior lining from thousands of hours of upper position playing. With its fairly moderate size and prewar build, the bass is responsive and speaks very quickly with an even voice through all ranges. The voice speaks with a solid authority that reminds me more of the contmeporary 7/8 basses in the shop. This bass was used most recently on the Bobby Hutcherson CD, A Wise One . With cover

Ca. 1950s Mittenwald violin corner carved back 3/4 (no date)

A good sounding solid workhorse postwar German bass with nice lines and choice woods. Flame Maple back, sides, and neck, Medium grain with German spruce top, Nickel halfplate tuners, Ebony nut, fingerboard, tailpiece and tailpiece saddle, Bridge with adjusters made by Jon Peterson of World of Strings. Dimensions are: Top length 44", Upper bout width 19 1/2", Middle bout width 14 1/2", Lower bout width 25 1/4", Depth at tail 8 1/4", Depth at upper bout bend 8 1/4", Depth at neck 7 1/8", String length 41 3/4". Light finish and edge wear. Developed voice from consistent play. A good combination jazz and arco bass at a very affordable price.

Ca. 1930s Czech or Bohemian 3/4 gamba flatback (no label)

A very lively lightly built prewar bass that is a joy to play. Plain Maple back, sides, and neck, Medium grain European Spruce top, Quarter plate hatpeg tuners, Ebony nut, fingerboard, tailpiece, and tailpiece saddle, Maple bridge, Gotz enpin, Dark amber varnish, Scratched line false purfling on both top and back. Dimensions are: Top length 44 1/4", Upper bout width 19 1/2", Middle bout width 13 1/2", 25 5/8", Depth at tail 8 1/4", Depth at upper bout corner 8", Depth at neck 6", String length 41 1/2". Light varnish and edge wear. A rich, mature voice with good volume that is great for pizz play. With cover.

Sam Grisman's Ca. 1930s Czech flatback 3/4

European Spruce top, Plain figure European Maple flatback, Mildly ribbon and flame figured European Maple sides with no exterior linings, Unfigured European Maple neck, Dyed Maple hatpeg style single unit tuners, Ebony fingerboard, Ebony tailpiece, New Gotz endpin, Bridge adjusters, Medium dark brown varnish. Dimensions are: Top length 43 1/2", Upper bout width 20", Center bout width 14", Lower bout width 25 1/4", Depth at tail 8 1/2", Depth at upper bout bend 8 1/4", Depth at neck 6 1/2". The medium profile neck has never had any cracks, breaks, or repairs. The back has 3 old repaired dryness cracks near the center line and just above the widest part of the lower bout as well as edge chips at the bottom centerline and about 6" to the treble side of the lower centerline. There is only minor concavity of the upper bout bend area of the back. The sides are remarkably clean and free of cracks axcept for a little tear on the treble side of the saddle area and an endpin crack that extends 2" into the bass side and about 10" of the treble side. The top has old repaired low humidity edge-to-edge cracks to each lower bout near their widest points, on either side of the tailpiece (3" treble side, 12" bass side), "9 extending below from the bass-side F hole, and a 2 1/2" wing crack extending up from the treble side F-hole lower ball to the center bout. The top edges show wear from moving the bass across many stage floors (Use a bass stand wherever you go, please!). I had Jeff Sahs install a new Gotz endpin, glue the open treble side wing crack, Plane the fingerboard, install a cable tailpiece wire to replace the stiff brass one, and recontour the bridge top for extremely easy low string height playing. This bass responds with a very even voice and is great for jazz pizz playing. I had Sam take off his pickup so that the new owner would have his choice of pickup type (or maybe they'll use a clip-on sax microphone like me). Formerly owned by San Francisco Bay Area bassist Paul Knight, Sam Grisman has owned and played this bass in concert (David Grisman Bluegrass Experience, Gypsy Kids) and on recordings (Sam and Dave, DGBX, Andy Statman's solo CD) for the last 4 years. With cover.

Ca. 1940s German large 5/8 flatback school bass

Very fine even grain carved German Spruce top, Solid German Maple sides, flat back, and neck, German halfplate tuners, Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard, Ebonized tailpiece. Body length 41", Upper bout width 19 1/4", Center bout width 14", Lower bout width 23 5/8", Body depth at tail 7 5/8", Body depth at upper bout bend 7 3/8", Body depth at neck joint 6 1/8", String length 41". The large 5/8 body is very easy to play, but the full 41" 3/4 string length gives a nice big sound. Just a few top, back, and side cracks that were repaired a few years ago. This bass came in with some old gut strings for playing traditional jazz. I like it strung that way or with Spirocore Orchestra strings for more current pizz styles or arco playing. With 2 different covers. I have just had the fingerboard planed, nut recut, adjusters added to the bridge, new tail wire, and varnish detailing. It looks and sounds great!

Circa 1960s Czech large 5/8 plywood bass

Plywood body, Nickel half-plate tuners, Ebony fingerboard, Ebonized tailpiece, medium neck profile. Dimensions are: 40 1/2 Body length, 19" Upper bout, 13 3/4" Center bout, 23 7/8" Lower bout, 7 7/8" Depth at tail, 7 7/8" Depth at upper bout bend, 6 7/8" Depth at tail, 40" string length. Old scroll repair. Repairs that I have had done are: Fingerboard reglue, new tailpiece wire, Gotz endpin replacement, reglue loose top and back seams. It is an easy playing bass that is easy to take in a car. With free cover.