first bass question --- repairing a used bass or buying a new one?

[elgranluis]

Greetings everyone.

Ive been playing in a rockabilly bass using my electric basses. Yesterday, one of the band members came to practice with a bass for me to try. The bass is not playable as of right now: the action is super high, the neck is coming off where it joins the body, the bridge is not in position, someone painted the bass with what seems to be acrylic lacquer so I dont know if there are any hidden repairs in there. Also, the back seems to have been replaced, the scroll looks like it broke off and was glued back together. The machine heads look ancient as well. The F holes aren't Fs. It does have what looks to be a carved top, and the owner of the bass says it's at least from the
50s,

I tuned the bass, and the thing sounds pretty good actually. Also, the size and shape suit me perfectly. I like the bass, really.

However, it seems to me that repairing it would run close to the same price of buying a beginner bass and having it properly set up. So basically, should I try and rebuild this one or am I just daydreaming?

This is the bass:

[Steve Swan]

Is this one of those small, light basses from mexico that mariachi players use? This really isn't the kind of bass that rockabilly guys should use. It's going to feed back at lower volumes, won't take riding like a horsie, and will constnatly be inthe shop for another broken thingie.

[Jason Sypher]

The good news is that it's a very interesting bass, I'm not sure I've seen one like it, ever. I can't tell but it looks like it is possibly a carved instrument, perhaps a Bohemian. Even the tuners are new to me. That said, you are talking a few thousand dollars at a bare minimum to get that bass repaired. You would find something cheaper new or used that would suit your needs for less than that. In the meantime, you might take it to a bass luthier and see what they say about the bass. It might be a nice bass for you someday if you want to invest in a long-term project.

[fdeck]

What jumps out at me is: With those FF's so close together, where's the bass bar? Other problems might be repairable, but can that top do what it's supposed to?

This would really require a luthier to say if and how it can be turned into a bass with long term structural integrity.

[elgranluis]

Originally Posted by Steve Swan

Is this one of those small, light basses from mexico that mariachi players use? This really isn't the kind of bass that rockabilly guys should use. It's going to feed back at lower volumes, won't take riding like a horsie, and will constnatly be inthe shop for another broken thingie.

Steve, mariachi players use the "guitarron", it shares some similarities with an acoustic bass. The thing you are thinking about is a "tololoche", kinda like a 1/2 size, home-made bass.

An no, it's not particularily light. It doesnt feel flimsy either, it actually feels like I could ride it without any problems

[elgranluis]

Originally Posted by fdeck

What jumps out at me is: With those FF's so close together, where's the bass bar? Other problems might be repairable, but can that top do what it's supposed to?

This would really require a luthier to say if and how it can be turned into a bass with long term structural integrity.

found the bass bar! exactly where it should be lol...

[drurb]

Walk away... buy something else new or used.

[Steve Swan]

On Friday and Saturday nights in the mission district of San Francisco, I see guys carrying these around without covers to local bar gigs. They look fairly crudely made, but seem to hold up under what looks like pretty casual handling.

[elgranluis]

Originally Posted by Jason Sypher

The good news is that it's a very interesting bass, I'm not sure I've seen one like it, ever. I can't tell but it looks like it is possibly a carved instrument, perhaps a Bohemian. Even the tuners are new to me. That said, you are talking a few thousand dollars at a bare minimum to get that bass repaired. You would find something cheaper new or used that would suit your needs for less than that. In the meantime, you might take it to a bass luthier and see what they say about the bass. It might be a nice bass for you someday if you want to invest in a long-term project.

Jason, the top and the sides look carved, I can tell from the grain in the wood. The back has been replaced with what seems like plywood. The sound is very different when you tap the wood on the sides or top than when you tap the back.

About the repairs, I was thinking to just get the bass in playable condition, meaning a setup and a neck reset, play it as it is and then get the other repairs and a refin in the long run.

As much as I liked the bass, I'm feeling inclined to pass on the offer. I need something to play without breaking the bank.

And funny that you mention the tuners, they look like someone might have tampered with them to make the baseplate look like a heart. Apart from that, and I'm going to say this just goind by the pictures ive seen on the net, the tuners look like the stuff they used in very old french basses.

[Jason Sypher]

I've thought about it. Leave it alone. Get yourself a nice ply that rocks and forget about it.

[WilliamJames]

Buy a new one or a good used one. That is a serious issue with the neck there.

Get as far from that thing as possible....

[chris1125]

Sorry to ruin your thunder here but I have to agree. Get yourself a nice shen or equivelent plywood bass and put that one in your closet. Before you do that though, see how much work it really needs from a luthier. Keep the price in mind and save up for a restoration. Who knows, you could use the ply for a couple of years then by the time your ready for an upgrade, you'll be able to afford the restoration and you can keep the plywood as a backup in case the restored bass sees some time in the shop.

[fdeck]

Originally Posted by elgranluis

found the bass bar! exactly where it should be lol...

What I meant is... this bass can't have a bass bar of the traditional design, running the length of the belly under the bass foot of the bridge, because there's a hole where the bass bar is supposed to be. There should also be a sound post visible in the fifth pic.

The engineer in me wants to say: "This can't work." Of course engineers have been proven wrong, myself included.

[elgranluis]

Originally Posted by fdeck

What I meant is... this bass can't have a bass bar of the traditional design, running the length of the belly under the bass foot of the bridge, because there's a hole where the bass bar is supposed to be. There should also be a sound post visible in the fifth pic.

The engineer in me wants to say: "This can't work." Of course engineers have been proven wrong, myself included.

Yes, I agree that there's something un-traditional about this bass. Or everything lol! Note that the bridge is offset to begin with, and yes, the F hole placement would have meant a different bass bar location. There is a sound post in there as well, close to where it should be.

[elgranluis]

I really appreciate your advice, thanks for all your comments.

I think that I'm going to go by the general feeling about this bass and just steer away from it, and get a usable ply.

[PaulCannon]

Originally Posted by fdeck

What I meant is... this bass can't have a bass bar of the traditional design, running the length of the belly under the bass foot of the bridge, because there's a hole where the bass bar is supposed to be. There should also be a sound post visible in the fifth pic.

The engineer in me wants to say: "This can't work." Of course engineers have been proven wrong, myself included.

Exactly what I'm thinking. Looks like the bass needs a 1/4 or 1/8 size bridge.

I get a very "homemade" vibe from this bass. Kind of looks like a high school shop project gone weird.

[Matt Ides]

It also looks like some caving in on the treble side in your 5th pic.

[elgranluis]

yes, there is some caving as you mentioned. The top is not perfectly staight so I guess that would mean major (or more than major) surgery in the long run.

Fdeck:

The bridge is way oversize for the bass, that's what's giving the impression about where the bass bar is supposed to go. The bar is right next to the hole on the bass side.

[gaelmckeon]

Hi,

I looked over the bass and the comments briefly. I immediately thought 'Mexican'. The strings are Mexican. The machines look awful, as does the rest, though it has it's charm (my mother is Mexican, and I've seen great Mexican basses, but this one is a bad mexican bass). I don't see any real value in having this bass restored professionally. You could have at it yourself, if there's nothing to lose (seems there isn't). You could rip[ the neck out, and glue it back in with epoxy, and cut the bridge down to size. But the fingerboard WILL buzz. I've been repairing basses for thirteen years, and I've never come across a fingerboard that I didn't want to dress... I wouldn't buy this bass for more than $100.
If you go the cheap ply route, I would stay away from anything bottom market. I'm sure Steve Swan has a good selection of basses that are worth it, long term. I don't see anything on his website that rings alarms. I have noticed other basses for sale in the area that are scary (cremonas/palatinos) The bottom of the line basses are always more trouble than they're worth. They come apart, they're a nightmare to set up, and after the cost of a good set up, they're not far from the cost of a better bass. Don't give in to temptation, and hold out for something that will hold up. It's always painful to see the looks on people's faces when they find out how much they're cheap plywood 'really' costs. I'm moving from NC to start a shop in the Bay Area in June, concentrating on repairs/restorations/set-up. I don't know what basses are going for out there, but in my experience, if you spend less than $1,400 or $1,500 market value on a bass (including setup), you're asking for trouble. Hope this was helpful.

[Jsn]

Very glad to hear that you're taking the plunge and moving out here, Gael. Keep us posted; I may be one of your charter clients.