Joy To Sorrow In Less Then A Day

[thirtyhz]

So after much deliberation, looking and bugging folks here I finally picked up a very nice WCS fully carved bass yesterday. Sounded and played great, nice quality, even recorded it at drummers house to great satisfaction. Then tragedy. While cleaning, my wife bumped the bass while it was on its stand. Down in went, bridge flew off, fingerboard partialy detached, and there are several cracks in the neck around the scroll, plus scrtches and nicks. Had it less then a day. Keeping my fingers crossed on the homeowners policy.

[Jazzdogg]

Hopefully you'll be able to repair it affordably.

When it's fixed DO NOT keep it on a stand. Placing a DB in a corner, face-first, is fairly safe.

[pacojas]

maybe you should spend more time with the wife.

[Renaissance]

Your wife must feel terrible.

[Rebop]

We should have a sticky thread about the perils of leaving a double bass on a stand. I still don't know why they even make those.

[fingerbun]

Originally Posted by Rebop

We should have a sticky thread about the perils of leaving a double bass on a stand. I still don't know why they even make those.

Depends on the stand.

Having said that, I read this thread to my wife, concluding with "you have been warned". :-)

[drurb]

Originally Posted by Rebop

We should have a sticky thread about the perils of leaving a double bass on a stand. I still don't know why they even make those.

Because some are quite good-- especially the Hercules stand. There's extremely little risk involved if you place the bass in such a stand and back it into a corner. IMO, it's more desirable than risking edge-wear from placing the bass in a corner and far more practical than padding the wall to avoid such damage. You can't "bump" a bass out of the Hercules stand. It would take something more like an earthquake.

Look here and here.

[thirtyhz]

Thanks drurb, If I come out of this alive I will definetly get rid of the POS stand I have and look into the Hercules. I use to own a Base Cradle which was also very good, but the Hercules looks even more stable.

[Rebop]

True. I guess I meant the junky ones. The hercules is nice. I remember seeing one backstage at a show I played and being impressed.

[Stev187]

Originally Posted by drurb

There's extremely little risk involved if you place the bass in such a stand and back it into a corner.

Les nailed it here. It's a combination of stand and placement. I have a mediocre stand (Meisel) but it's in a part of the room with zero foot traffic. Lots of great discussion on stands here (search archives) but they are fine in the corner. If it were just me, I'd ditch the stand and lean it into the corner itself, but my family likes the way it looks.

I have yet to see a stand that could withstand a collision with a running child, a walking adult, or a large dog. If the bass is upright and a mammal walks into it, it's going down.

--Steve

[chris1125]

Originally Posted by drurb

Because some are quite good-- especially the Hercules stand. There's extremely little risk involved if you place the bass in such a stand and back it into a corner. IMO, it's more desirable than risking edge-wear from placing the bass in a corner and far more practical than padding the wall to avoid such damage. You can't "bump" a bass out of the Hercules stand. It would take something more like an earthquake.

Look here and here.

I used this stand for several years and haven't had any problems. It is in a corner and as long as you have it at the right angle it can take a fair share of bumps. Now that I am down to 1 bass I keep my favorite electric on it nice and high off the ground which is great because you don't have to bend down or risk stepping on or kicking your electric (I'm not the most organized of persons lol)

Anyways, that really really sucks. I would be depressed if I ever injured my bass. I freak out over a scratch let alone a war womb! I'm glad I'm no in your position, I'm not quite that forgoing of the murderer

[billyfalconer]

Originally Posted by Stev187

If the bass is upright and a mammal walks into it, it's going down.

Unless, as Jazzdogg said above, it's leaning face-first in a corner.

[bassist1962]

I have an Ingles stand. It seems stable enough, as there are three adults, two adolescents, two dogs, two cats, and various people of all ages in and out of the house on a regular basis. It is placed in a corner, with the bass in it so I can practice as part of my morning routine, or grab it and play something on a whim. The only time it is out of the stand when I am not playing, it is in the bag, propped up, with the bridge facing the corner. Usually the day of, or day after rehearsal or gigs

[nicechuckh]

I have a Hamilton stand, nothing elaborate but still would take a serious collision to make it fall over or out of the stand

[Marty Forrer]

Replace the wife?