Features: I first looked at this Bass about 2 years ago and took some pictures of it. I was puzzled by the mix of German and Vieneese features all in a single Bass. Recently the Bass was brought to Jeff Bollbach for a restoration of the Top. I went along for the ride and also dropped off my Loveri for Jeff to do as well. When he looked at the Top up by the Shoulder/Neck area he saw some edge build up underneath and pointed out that this is a clear sign of a 'cut-Bass'!

I never thought of this being part of the ID puzzle as the Bass is beautifully Purfled Top and Back with 5-layer Purfling or rather 'double violin' as they say in the trade with the center black line being slightly wider. When the Top came off the story was unravelled. The oxidation of the Rib and Back wood was clearly different than the Top. Also, there is a repair sticker from Alfred Meyer, Germany in 1929 or so (can't recall the exact date but will edit when I get it). The Style of the Gear placement was that of Meyer from his Basses I have seen but the plates did not follow the pointed Vieneese cheeks. This was strange to me so I asked Jeff to take off the plate on one side. There it was, single plate hat peg scars as seen on most old Vienees Basses filled in placed in the normal order with the 'E' being the lowest gear.

Then I looked at the Top and noticed that the Varnish hue and texture matches the Scroll but not the Back and Ribs. The Top is a rich Oil Varnish at least 50-100 years older than the Rib/Back Varnish which is a very nice German Spirit Varnish from the early 20th century.

The signs were now very very clear. Alfred Meyer cut the Top down inside the old Purfling line, made a back and Rib assembly, used this 5-layer Purfling throughout and re-made the Bass as we see it here. He also made the gear plates and used some old style Hatpegs to try and match the Bass. Perhaps these are the original Ebony Pegs re-used here or even re-rivited the original gears on the new plates?

In either case we now have this beautifully made old Vieneese Top on a healthy early 20th century Back/Rib frame by one of Germany's finest. The Scroll alone makes one believe it is a full Vieneese Bass but the design of the Back being round with an angle break is more German from the late 19th century and into the early 20th century, the period when this Bass was restored.