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. 

[NickA]

Non serious rattle = barrel of jack plug in pickup is loose.

 

Medium rattle = tuners, end pin.

 

Slightly serious rattle = seam needs glueing and clamping

 

Serious rattle = something loose inside and the front needs to come off.

 

Value ... maybe £800 at a dealer,  with no rattles and decent strings; significantly less as a private sale ...but £275 is not a bad price....if you like it.

[Geek99]

Just go and buy it before I do, okay ? 
 

JFDI and save me from poverty 🙏

 

PLEASE 

If you don’t like it you can always sell it on here for at least £275. Maybe buy a pint with the profit 

[keeponehandloose]

Best £275 you will ever spend.

[Geek99]

2 hours ago, NickA said:

 

 

Value ... maybe £800 at a dealer,  with no rattles and decent strings; significantly less as a private sale ...but £275 is not a bad price....

FTFY 

[Beer of the Bass]

I can't see any obvious structural red flags (neck repairs, neck/bridge geometry, cracks, sunken top etc), and even the bridge looks like it's probably OK. It looks like a solid top, I'd agree that the back is probably laminated. It's a non-ebony fingerboard, which you might be happy with for some styles of playing, but having mine replaced was a big improvement. 

It's interesting, that style of tuners often indicates an older bass, but it's clearly dated and the sprayed lacquer finish is very much a mid-later 20th century factory bass feature too. I guess Hungary must have stuck with the hatpeg tuners for longer than Germany did. 

I'd absolutely buy it for £275, but you could very easily throw a few hundred more at it to get it well set up with good strings. Of course, if you're feeling handy/brave and keep an eye out for decent used strings you could have it up and running for less. 

[Stub Mandrel]

Looking at the advice, if it was me, I would find the cash as it seems an opportunity to 'try out' double bass with minimal risk. It looks like, with care, you can just tune up and try it.

 

Obviously a setup would be advantageous but beyond that it would be decide whether to stick with and possibly improve it, or to get a better instrument. 

 

My only advice would be that it seems easy to dislodge the soundpost when changing strings.

 

It's a far better starting point than the one in this thread:

 

 

 

[Hellzero]

The OP already owns a double bass @Stub Mandrel. 😉

[Stub Mandrel]

2 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

The OP already owns a double bass @Stub Mandrel. 😉

 

OK you win Pedant of the Year 2025. Congratulations! You win a place on my ignore list.

 

 

Edited 5 hours ago by Stub Mandrel
misplaced punctuation.

[Hellzero]

You know what, I'm really fed up by this forum where people post without reading and start getting aggressive when you simply make them noticing it.

[The Guitar Weasel]

6 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Looking at the advice, if it was me, I would find the cash as it seems an opportunity to 'try out' double bass with minimal risk. It looks like, with care, you can just tune up and try it.

 

Obviously a setup would be advantageous but beyond that it would be decide whether to stick with and possibly improve it, or to get a better instrument. 

 

My only advice would be that it seems easy to dislodge the soundpost when changing strings.

 

It's a far better starting point than the one in this thread:

 

Lol indeed ... but it's winding up a very distinctive one