Pics of 100 year old bass

[Matthew Tucker]

Well to play it just as it is, and if you wanna ignore all the "problems", you need to take the strings off and

1. the bottom of the tailpiece should be close to but not touching the saddle. This means shortening the wire or buying a synthetic tailgut, something like the "clef tailgut" about $15.

2. the bridge should be centered between the centre nicks of the FFs. It needs to be oriented correctly and perpendicular to the top of the bass when strung up and in tune, and the feet should be snug with the top and no gaps.

3, make sure the sound post (inside) is in the right position. This is tricky, you need a special tool, and you need to get a luthier or at least a knowledgeable bass player to help you, cos if its not in the right spot or fallen over you can damage your bass top (think: Cracks)

4. string it up again and tune up carefully

If it doesn't collapse, this is how the bass should be. Playing it the way you did won't tell you much. The scale length is actually 2" longer than the way it was when you played it on the clip. Point to the bridge and use the side of your finger plucking across the strings to get a better sound.

Step 3 is particularly critical, get someone to help you.

[Kevin Hsieh]

Originally Posted by jbonny

Well worth it. Bad repairs will cost you big time short term in the playability and long term in the value of the instrument. Sooner or later you will take it to the best luthier you can find and if he's gotta undo a bunch of bad work it'll cost you a whole lot more. You're lucky you have that many good ones only 5 hours away. I know a guy in northern Canada who travels 12+ to get his worked on.

Playing the big bass is a huge commitment in so many ways and if you don't want to start off right by doing what it takes to get a playable bass maybe it's not the right thing for you to be taking on.

+500

this bass has the potential to be a VERY nice bass (it's old and it's fully carved), but it really needs to be in the right hands. It should not have been refinished by a guy who does some woodworking but an actual luthier. Please don't follow in the tradition of the previous owners and think that you can get problems resolved with a little experience in the (real) woodshed.

if you REALLY want to get into DB, contact one of those luthier's listed, make an appointment and drive it over. Talk to him and see what he says about the instrument. Tell the lady that's selling it to you that you want to bring it over to a professional to get it checked out before you make any final decisions, only then will you really now what you're getting into. We can't really see much from the pictures, but we are SURE it needs work.

Even if you do end up not sending it to the luthier, I'll pretty confidently say that you'll want to send it in to a luthier if you keep going with playing this instrument. Once you start playing for real, you'll notice that there are things you want change. Maybe the string height is too high, or the fingerboard needs to be replaned eventually. It'll be a good idea to begin having a good relationship with a luthier ASAP.

just my .02

cheers

[steve2]

Thanks if you all will I have added 2 new photos that should show the refinish better. (I think the lights and flash made it look worse than what it is). They are the top 2 pics on the page, (By the way matthew your bass project looks awsome). I have a former teacher who taught me some music theory that graduated from Berklee and teaches band instruments along with upright. He also played in a USO Jazz band when he was in the Navy. He will be my instructor. If I do get it which I think I will I will also get the upgrades and setup as mentioned. But please check the 2 new pics.

Thanks

[Dave Martin]

In your position, I'd take it to Dustin Art Williams or Jim Ferguson; I was very pleased with Distin's work on my bass (and admired his honesty when I asked about refinishing mine...). While I've never taken my bass to Jim, I've seen his work on other folk's basses. I'd trust him, too. It's been years since I took a bass to George, though I assume that he's still living on Donelson Pike and working on basses...