It has 6 strings...

[binky_bass]

Firewood or useable? 

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/electric-bass-viol-/165056438972?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

[TheGreek]

I saw this....too confusing for me.

Ad says "very good condition" yet it's filthy - check the nut. Also if it's in such good condition why only one photo which hardly shows it at it's best.

Suggests to me that it isn't something I should "invest" in.

[pst62]

I know someone who could make that a real player by converting it into a wide necked 4 string. 

[binky_bass]

The seller managed to take 3 photos of their other auctions, so why only 1 photo of what might be the higher value item? Red flags everywhere!

[Newfoundfreedom]

Is it my eyes, or are the "frets" just a bit of wire wrapped around the neck? 

[binky_bass]

I think it's really a fretless, err, thing... that someone has attempted to fret with some kind of chicken wire. 

[yorks5stringer]

They say it is 'never played', can't think why...?

[tauzero]

It looks like it's fretted in the way that medieval instruments were fretted, by wrapping gut or string round the neck. I recognise the maker - it's an Ergo bass. I had a 5-string Ergo EUB - sold it as I couldn't cope with 5 strings and 41" scale (I can do one or the other, not both).

[Hellzero]

It's a typical Viola da Gamba, a late medieval contender of the double bass, the cello, the violin and also the guitar...

 

The frets were made out of gut and movable to tune accordingly to the piece to play, like on a sitar.

 

There's indeed an Ergo look here, but no sure it is one.

[Hellzero]

Here's Jordi Savall, the master of medieval music playing a short piece with an acoustic one.

 

 

[tauzero]

12 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

There's indeed an Ergo look here, but no sure it is one.

 

This was my Ergo EUB. I'm pretty sure it is an Ergo.

[Hellzero]

I had an Ergo 6 strings too, and it is indeed very similar, except that this Viola da Gamba doesn't seem to have been made by a 5 years child pretending to be a luthier...

[binky_bass]

@Hellzero, @tauzero, There is only one way to resolve this... BATTLE OF THE ZEROS!!! (Spock vs Kirk rules).

 

[Hellzero]

He made one, at least, that seemed to "work".

Here is the Ergo Viola da Gamba.

That said the band name couldn't be more well chosen...

 

[tauzero]

I realise that descending to factual solutions is disapproved of, but I felt that desperate times call for desperate measures. So I messaged the seller.

 

Me: Is it an Ergo instrument?

 

Seller: Yes, it is.

 

Case closed without having to play rock paper scissors lizard Spock.

[TheGreek]

Collection from:

 

 

[binky_bass]

So who bought this for £103 then? 

[TheGreek]

A shrewd person (not me). It'll be back up for sale next week for £200 - you watch.

[binky_bass]

Just now, TheGreek said:

A shrewd person (not me). It'll be back up for sale next week for £200 - you watch.

I was tempted to do just that myself if I'm honest... Hoping it's gone to someone who will genuinely play it! 

[alyctes]

I'd have had it if it had been within range.  Ah well.

[tauzero]

I was thinking about it, but a 6 hour round trip isn't that great a prospect.