Bass in need of repair

[Oraflora]

I am consedering buying my first double bass, I have played electric for 20+ years.

There is one on C-List for sale, cheap.

Seller states that the bridge is broken, and the back is "loose" from "storage" in a gig bag.

I am pretty sure it is a very low quality instrument, but I am planning on just using for my own practice/learning for a while....like a year or two, before venturing into any live setting with one.

Are issues like the bridge and back being loose things that can be repaired by a luthier for a reasonable price? (I know, I know.....talk about an open ended question....)

But if the bass can be had for under $200, is it possibly worth it? (For a beginner, not that worried about the overall tone, etc.)

Here is a link to the sellers ad.

Cheap must go

[Matt Ides]

new bridge and getting it fitted $300 and gluing the back on. What the real question is cracks, neck joint, end pin, ect.Usually these CL basses need $500-700 worth of work. If it is low quality most likely not worth the full investment.

You got Scott Jensen and John Michael Smith in town, I would try and get it to one of them to evaluate.

[Oraflora]

Thanks Matt

Bump.

[Nagrom]

Keep looking.

[chris1125]

Originally Posted by Oraflora

I am consedering buying my first double bass, I have played electric for 20+ years.

There is one on C-List for sale, cheap.

Seller states that the bridge is broken, and the back is "loose" from "storage" in a gig bag.

I am pretty sure it is a very low quality instrument, but I am planning on just using for my own practice/learning for a while....like a year or two, before venturing into any live setting with one.

Are issues like the bridge and back being loose things that can be repaired by a luthier for a reasonable price? (I know, I know.....talk about an open ended question....)

But if the bass can be had for under $200, is it possibly worth it? (For a beginner, not that worried about the overall tone, etc.)

Here is a link to the sellers ad.

Cheap must go

Hello and welcome to the double bass side! While that bass does not look like it needs TO much work that wood glue and some clamps can't fix for a bridge you are talking a minimum of $300. Since the back is lose, I would assume the soundpost is non existent which would add money and all said and done you probobly looking at around $1000 total put into the bass if you have a luthier do everything. If you can do some yourself (glue the back, etc) then you would be saving a couple hundred but would still be looking at some major cash for a bass that you could probobly find in new condition for under $1000. I would suggest looking into a high quality Chinese plywood bass. You can get a solid shen 80 for 1400 I believe? If you look around, you can probobly find something more enexpensive with simialer quality. If this was a fully carved instrument it. Might be worth the investment, but it does not appear to be one. Good luck with the bass search!
Chris

[hdracer]

I saw that too. I figured it would cost more to fix it than it would be worth, just as people here have said. I am tempted to get and fix it up myself just to make it look good & lean it in the corner of my den. Sure would look cool even though it would not be playable.

[Oraflora]

Originally Posted by hdracer

I saw that too. I figured it would cost more to fix it than it would be worth, just as people here have said. I am tempted to get and fix it up myself just to make it look good & lean it in the corner of my den. Sure would look cool even though it would not be playable.

That was a thought too -- but I am not in the market for a piece of $200 art at the moment.

Thanks for all the replies, they were a great help. I think I will let this one go.