How big of a problem is this separation?

jakedimmick · #1 02-25-2010, 08:07 AM

Hi,

First post here. I'm looking to buy my first upright bass and a friend of mine pointed one out to me for sale in Pittsburgh for $400 with a "gig bag and bow". I know this isn't the ideal way to buy a bass, but money is tight right now, and if this one would last me six month to a year, I'd consider it money well spent.

My friend has offered to look it over and play it to see if he can spot anything seriously wrong (I trust him implicitly). One of the pictures details a "problem" and I'm wondering if this is a deal killer. It looks pretty serious, but I don't know if this is something that will make the bass implode tomorrow, or if it's just ugly, and the bass would be playable for a year or so in this condition. Seller claims it has been like this for years.

Thanks in advance, and if there is anything I'm leaving out, let me know and I'll do my best to answer anything.

pathdoc2 · #2 02-25-2010, 08:43 AM

I am no expert but I have a feeling this is serious and would probably require the neck to removed and properly fitted. I would guess the repair would run several hundred.

LeslieD · #3 02-25-2010, 10:00 AM

What other info do you have on this bass? Do you know where it was made and if there's a label pasted on the inside? How long has the current owner had the bass and where did he/she get it? Do you have other photos?

The REALLY low price for this bass (along with the "neck separation") makes me think that the bass is a lemon...but w/o more info it's really hard to know. I had a neck refitted and re-glued about 5 years ago, and yes it was in the neighborhood of $180 to $200 for the work that it needed...but you'd first want to know if it was even WORTH getting the work done BEFORE you buy it!

Try to get more info, and then maybe we can give you some better ideas about this bass.

rusag2 · #4 02-25-2010, 10:54 AM

It's kinda like buying a car. If that's a Lamborghini with a dented door, it's a GREAT deal. If it's a 1996 Hyundai with a dented door, well, that's a different thing altogether.

Lots more info is needed before any really useful advice can be offered.

I will say this: For your first bass, I think it's generally a good idea to get a bass that you will play play play. If you spend your time worrying about catasrophic failure, or the bass is in the shop...well, that's likely to discourage you from the fun of actually PLAYING the bass.

Just my thoughts. Actual mileage may vary.

joehaven · #5 02-25-2010, 11:03 AM

Don't buy it. Especially if it is your first upright and you don't really know what you are getting into. Wait a little while longer and spend a little more money on something solid that will last you years instead of months.

jakedimmick · #6 02-25-2010, 11:05 AM

I'm not sure what kind of bass it is at the moment. I've got an email in to the seller, but so far haven't heard back from him.

Like you said with regards to the cars, if it's a Cremona or something of that ilk, I'll pass. If it's something else, I'll consider it.

Thanks for all your advice so far.

uprightbass.com · #7 02-25-2010, 11:42 AM

A separation/crack like that is a total loss in that level of basses, because the cost to repair exceeds the value of the bass. What I've seen time and time again is that beginners can't resist buying them with the idea that they can fix it themselves. They are what I'd call Zombie basses, the walking dead, cursed to roam from one place to the next.

They use wood glue (most of the time the previous owner already tried this).
It doesn't hold
They drive nails or screws into it.
It doesn't hold and now buzzes a lot
They try playing on it anyways.
It becomes too difficult/annoying to play on and they feel unsafe transporting it so it stays at home.
They lose interest and give up trying to play the upright and continue playing BG and it's listed for sale again to find the next victim.

Bass · #8 02-25-2010, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uprightbass.com

...They are what I'd call Zombie basses, the walking dead, cursed to roam from one place to the next....

That's not a zombie bass, this is a zombie bass:

Seriously Jake, that separation looks like a big problem to me, it should be repaired before you play it.

So for the cost of the bass, plus the cost of shipping, plus the cost of repair, you'd be very lucky if that bass was less than $1000. (Don't forget to add about 5% for currency conversion, the the shipper might even charge you a broker's fee!).

Does that sound like a good deal to you? Not to me (unless it is something cool like a King Moretone).

If you really want to play double bass you should probably think about saving up about $1500. And in the meantime do a whole lot of research on the instrument, so when the time comes your money will be spent wisely.

jakedimmick · #9 02-25-2010, 02:06 PM

Shipping of the bass would be minimal, being that my friend from Pittsburgh comes to visit frequently (and could bring it back for me) But I see your point all the same. I'll wait and get something better. Probably especially smart considering the a luthier in nearby Birmingham MI offers a rent to own with 0% interest which might be a smarter way to go for me.

Thanks folks, I think I've decided to pass.

LeslieD · #10 02-25-2010, 02:12 PM

Jake--sounds like a very wise decision!

And Bass, what the heck IS that nasty stuff on the "Zombie Bass?" Is that MOLD? Or is it gangrene?

uprightbass.com · #11 02-25-2010, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeslieD

Jake--sounds like a very wise decision!

And Bass, what the heck IS that nasty stuff on the "Zombie Bass?" Is that MOLD? Or is it gangrene?

I've read about that stuff in the bass journals, it's bass crabs, keep your bass far away from that bass.

The inside of the bass is way too bright and clean for that to be something naturally occurring, probably painted that way.

Is that a lefty or is the picture reversed?

Paul Warburton · #12 02-25-2010, 06:16 PM

Leslie, consider the source.....our Bass usually = Photo-Shop.

Bass · #13 02-26-2010, 08:18 AM

This bass is for real, you can read more about it here.

I seem to remember reading that the mold or rust or whatever grew while the bass was in storage and exposed to moisture.

It belongs to Geoff Firebaugh from Hillbilly Casino.

uprightbass.com · #14 02-26-2010, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass

This bass is for real, you can read more about it here.

I seem to remember reading that the mold or rust or whatever grew while the bass was in storage and exposed to moisture.

It belongs to Geoff Firebaugh from Hillbilly Casino.

Nah, It's graphics and intentionally done by King Doublebass who does a lot of specialty graphics on their basses.

There is no way that the inside of the bass would be spotless and white while the outside grew stuff from exposure.

LeslieD · #15 02-26-2010, 12:32 PM

Even if that's a specialty paint job, there's NO WAY I'd ever touch that bass! It definitely looks infected. Though I guess it's not a bad idea if it keeps people from stealing your bass. And if it's just a photo-shopped bass, I'd still recommend that everyone run their anti-virus software right after viewing that mess of a bass!

Dennybass · #16 12-26-2010, 11:37 PM

This is serious! I've had the neck off twice, and fixed the sides a few times but I'm not sure I can handle this myself.