BUying a bass in need of repair

[ondaone]

Hi guys

I am looking to buy an Upright and I have a guy that responed to my ad with a fullsize 1942 kay he says "the neck is off of it but it can be repaired " and it come with a new set of machine heads aswell as the originals for 700 cnd. now I have a general ideal of what a 40's kay is going for but will the repair even if done buy a luthier effect the value so greatly it wouldn't be worth the headache,?
I would hate to miss a chance at a decent bass in my price range but I don't want to get a pile of junk either,

anybody had similar experience ? any help would be apperciated,


thanks
jimi

[kurt ratering]

if the neck is out there is a chance that the neck block is cracked. if thats the case it would probably cost more to fix it properly than youd be willing to spend. but if the block and the button are fine and the joint just failed then fitting and gluing might work. i think it all depends on the condition of the block.

[Jake deVilliers]

Its a good deal if you have a good DB repairman on your side.

Neck/block work can be tricky - the alignment variables need to be addressed by an experienced bass luthier.

Good luck!

[fdeck]

From what I can tell, basses don't have a "collectible" market that deducts authenticity points for correctly done repairs. With that said, Kurt's advice is backed up by my own experience -- the Kay that I got for free had a loose neck, and it turned out the neck block was split.

[ondaone]

THanks for the advice guys,

I am going to pass on it , with what you guys have said and what my local luthier said its not worht the trouble.]




thanks
jimi

[Tejano Bass]

. . . from another luthier would be worthy of your consideration?

Old Kays with broken & repaired necks are quite common & even very well may outnumber those with original unbroken necks. If properly repaired, the neck should be stonger than original and have no negative impact on the value.

imho, it all depends on the cost of repair(s) and the otherwise overall condition of the bass as well as how it sounds, of course. Unfortunately, there's no way to know that until after it's made playable - huh?

However, just food for thought - OK? . . . let's just say, for example - 700 base price + 1000 (max - maybe less) in repairs = 1700. If it sounds decent at all, it could very easily be worth twice that . . . in any case, you won't lose your investment - if for no other reason than because it's a playable Kay . . . Hhhmmmm? . . . just think about it before you write it off - OK?

btw, I recently sold my '42 Kay for considerably more than the potential cited in the example above.

[wineaux]

Tejano,

Why didn't you tell me that BEFORE I bought it from you.

Just joshing. I'd buy it again for the same price. (No, that doesn't mean I'll you again!)

[Tejano Bass]

Hey, Wineaux - the big difference being that we (you & I) both knew & agreed what it was worth to the both of us . . . however . . . poor ol' ondaone is dealing a potential "bet against the come . . ."

P.S. - (No, that doesn't mean I'll (what) you again!)

[ondaone]

Tejano,

I get what saying but I am not really looking for a project that could be some time until I get to play it, I want some thing I can get to playing as quickly as possible . That, and ths fact there aren't that many guys one that is , that I would trust to do a big repair on an instrument around me which also adds the the p.i.t.a factor.

perhaps if I knew more about older acoustic instruments and repairing them I would say yes, but as it sits electrics are my thing, I think I will hold off on a project investment and just get what I can play now for what I have. The forewarning of possible larger problems That I can't see or don't know of is enough to say I not ready for that kind or purchase yet.


thanks though

jimi