Johannes Rubner 3/4 bass: best way to sell?

[M4TT]

Hi,

 

I am looking to sell my late mother-in-law’s double bass. She was an avid musician who enjoyed playing a number of instruments semi-professionally. She had two double basses, the first she asked be donated to a local school for children to hopefully learn the joys of using it as it was “a cheap” one which we have done but the second she said was a much more professional instrument that should be used to the full as she did in front of an audience.
Anyway I’ve been searching around and having spoken to a local-ish shop who wanted 30% commission to sell it I thought I’d see what other options there were and stumbled upon this forum. I see that I can subscribe to sell items here but I wanted to ask you, the regular members, if you felt that would be the best course of action for such an instrument or if there were other, better, alternatives I should consider.

I won’t put any pictures here as I don’t want to contravene any rules but it is a very well loved and looked after Johannes Ruben 3/4 made in 1987, with the serial 12/87. To my untrained eye it looks to be in great condition and a few years ago my late mother-in-law indicated to my wife it was worth around £7-8k.
I’m out of my depth in understanding the real value of such an instrument and would welcome any advice on that side of things too, does anyone know who could help with that?

There are also, separately, two bows which we would look to sell. Again any advice on how best to sell them would be fantastic. I am based in West Sussex.

 

I hope this post isn’t breaking any rules and would like to thank you for any help in advance.

Edited 6 hours ago by M4TT

[Dan Dare]

The value of any instrument will always depend on how much potential buyers are willing to pay, as well as the usual things - make, condition, etc.

 

Unless your local-ish music shop specialises in double basses,  they are probably not the best place to go for a valuation or to sell it. In your shoes, I would Google something like "double bass dealers uk" and contact a few of the names that come up. Ignore any shops that sell electric instruments. I just tried it and places like Bass Direct and the Bass Centre, which sell mainly or exclusively electrics, appeared, but there were also some double bass specialists.

 

Speak with a few and get a feel for what they think they can get for the instrument. All will charge commission - they have to set up an instrument, put right any issues before sale and offer some kind of guarantee - which will not be pennies. Fair enough, given that they have to make a living.

 

If you have a quality instrument, you are still likely to realise more by selling it through a specialist and paying commission than you would by doing so privately. You could also contact a few auction houses that specialise in musical instrument sales. Avoid local outfits - the sort of places you see on programmes like Bargain Hunt - that auction mainly bric-a-brac and house clearance stuff. Google "stringed instrument auctions uk" and you'll find some.

[Hellzero]

Calling @Beedster and @Happy Jack who are in your area as certainly others, but I don't know them.

[NHM]

A few years ago I sold a rather nice violin through Maple Violins of London (they sell all classical stringed instruments, despite the name). They were a pleasure to deal with. I took my violin to a local valuation session and they made me an offer subject to contract on the spot - I handed over the violin (I'm very trusting!) and was paid about a week later. They clearly had pro buyers on their books that they were sourcing instruments for. I can't remember what commission they took, but I was pleased with the final price. It was more that I think I could have got without a good knowledge of that specialist market. And giving it to a dealer to sell took all the hassle away from me.

[Happy Jack]

1 hour ago, Hellzero said:

Calling @Beedster and @Happy Jack who are in your area as certainly others, but I don't know them.

 

I know more people who fix double basses afer I've damaged them than I do those who can sell high-end instruments such as this.

 

Not much help, I know, but I'd sooner admit my ignorance than fire up the old bullshit generator ...