Should I get this bass ? Stored for 20 years

[feech]

A friend of mine has an upright they mentioned to me they are selling. 

 

Haven't seen it in person yet but they just sent me these photos. It's 1967 I think and looks to be Hungarian made. I love how it's aged it looks so much prettier than my Thomann 22 3/4 !

 

It's been in storage (in a soft foam case) for 20/25 odd years so I'm sure it's going to need some set up and new strings at the very minimum. Im not sure exactly where in terms of temp/humidity.

 

Though I'm wandering what kind of issues I should be on the look out for or common issues basses that have been in storage encounter that could be costly to repair.

 

They are asking for 275 for it as this is what they originally paid in the 90s when they were a student.

 

Would you go for it ? What should I keep an eye out for ? Is it too much risk of being a money pit ? Also am I right in thinking this is carved or is a hybrid ? 

 

Thanks to all for your knowledge in advance ! 

 

 

[Beedster]

Yes 👍

[Stub Mandrel]

275?

 

Rearrange these words into a well-known phrase or saying:

 

Off ... bite... hand.

[simonlittle]

Definitely. 

[feech]

1 hour ago, Stub Mandrel said:

275?

 

Rearrange these words into a well-known phrase or saying:

 

Off ... bite... hand.

 

Any idea what It could be worth ? 🙂

[NickA]

Basic laminate bass.  Very shallow body.  Likely to be short on tone, sustain and projection.

 

Still, some of those 1960s east European factory basses are quite decent.  Especially if youre going to use a pickup.   I'd say make sure to play it first, but for £275....just buy it and see.

 

Bear in mind that new strings will be £200+, a new bridge similar (tho it looks to have a good and well fitted one), and the cost of repairing any internal rattles will be way more than the value of the bass. But being plywood, it's likely just fine in that respect.

[Hellzero]

No need to change the strings, just clean them, have the bass checked by a luthier as he may need to relocate the sound post as well as the bridge correctly, but it's a minor adjustment.

 

At this price tag, if it's playable as it is without rattling noises, you can't be wrong.

 

Storing a classical instrument for that long is quite common.

[feech]

46 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

No need to change the strings, just clean them, have the bass checked by a luthier as he may need to relocate the sound post as well as the bridge correctly, but it's a minor adjustment.

 

At this price tag, if it's playable as it is without rattling noises, you can't be wrong.

 

Storing a classical instrument for that long is quite common.

 

 

Having only owned 1 upright (from new) can i have a perhaps silly question... What would a rattle mean ? I assume different depending on where but would anything be considered "terminal" or a major red flag ? 

[Burns-bass]

1 hour ago, NickA said:

Basic laminate bass.  Very shallow body.  Likely to be short on tone, sustain and projection.

 

Still, some of those 1960s east European factory basses are quite decent.  Especially if youre going to use a pickup.   I'd say make sure to play it first, but for £275....just buy it and see.

 

Bear in mind that new strings will be £200+, a new bridge similar (tho it looks to have a good and well fitted one), and the cost of repairing any internal rattles will be way more than the value of the bass. But being plywood, it's likely just fine in that respect.

This makes all sense.

 

You’ll never get rich selling a used DB. It may be worth £1000 when fixed up, but factor that it when considering the space needed to store the thing too!

 

 

[Burns-bass]

8 minutes ago, feech said:

 

 

Having only owned 1 upright (from new) can i have a perhaps silly question... What would a rattle mean ? I assume different depending on where but would anything be considered "terminal" or a major red flag ? 

Problem is you don’t know what’s causing it. I had a bass rattle yesterday on stage. Turned out to be a loose tuning key. Could equally have been the end pin, pickup or, well, lots of things.

 

I once had a rattle one a gig and it stopped after sort of banged the bass on the side. Didn’t return and I thought it better to leave it that way.

[Stub Mandrel]

11 hours ago, feech said:

 

Any idea what It could be worth ? 🙂

 

More.

[simonlittle]

In all honesty it looks like it’s in great condition for a bass that’s nearly 60 years old. Any bass that hasn’t been touched for a long time will be in need of a setup at least but at that price you’ve really got nothing to lose.