Is this fixable ?

Session1969 · #1 12-01-2011, 02:11 PM

First time this has happened and I didn't drop it although, I left it in my car overnight and it got below 40. Other than that, I don't know how it happened. My brother is a cabinet maker and mentioned a strong German glue and a clamp. Anyone know this to be o.k.

tdub0199 · #2 12-01-2011, 02:13 PM

1st off.... WTH are you talking about? a amp, a cab, a bass.... more info please.....

mooreon131 · #3 12-01-2011, 02:19 PM

I'm guessing, a snapped headstock? If that's what you're talking about, it is very fixable, but probably best left to the experts. A very strong industrial glue along with clamps will do the trick there. But again, this is a try at home at your own risk situation, and you should probably take it to a luthier.

stflbn · #4 12-01-2011, 02:25 PM

40 degrees is not going to hurt your instrument or cabinets or cause non player created problems. I've had basses in the 80s and 90s live all week in below zero weather and be yanked out of cases before gigs and have frost form on them, with no problems at all.

mongo2 · #5 12-01-2011, 02:32 PM

If it ain't broke don't fix it.

If it's broke, either explain or show us what your talking about.

onosson · #6 12-01-2011, 02:36 PM

I've left gear overnight in MINUS 40. I don't recommend it for instruments or electronics, but speakers shouldn't come to any harm.

Rockman · #7 12-01-2011, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onosson

I've left gear overnight in MINUS 40. I don't recommend it for instruments or electronics, but speakers shouldn't come to any harm.

The electronics shouldn't be affected, in fact cold temperatures generally allow electronics to work better. This issue is using a cold device in a warm room where condensation builds up and then shorts something out

Session1969 · #8 12-01-2011, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Session1969

First time this has happened and I didn't drop it although, I left it in my car overnight and it got below 40. Other than that, I don't know how it happened. My brother is a cabinet maker and mentioned a strong German glue and a clamp. Anyone know this to be o.k.

A pic would help, huh ?

onosson · #9 12-01-2011, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockman

The electronics shouldn't be affected, in fact cold temperatures generally allow electronics to work better. This issue is using a cold device in a warm room where condensation builds up and then shorts something out

That's why I wouldn't recommend it, as it's easy enough to overlook especially if you're in a rush.

I can say that from experience ...

mongo2 · #10 12-01-2011, 03:28 PM

Picture helped.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Session1969

My brother is a cabinet maker and mentioned a strong German glue and a clamp. Anyone know this to be o.k.

I don't think the country of origin of the glue matters but glue and a clamp would be useful. It's up to you if you want to let your brother take a shot at fixing it.

walterw · #11 12-01-2011, 07:12 PM

maybe it's a trick of the light, but that crack looks greenish, like it's been absorbing finger gunk for a long time.

are you sure this just happened? cold may have had nothing to do with it.

Session1969 · #12 12-01-2011, 07:47 PM

It must be from the flash because it just happened in the last week or so and there's no green funk. I'm just looking for a temp repair tip. I just bought a new rig so a new bass is out of the question.

Session1969 · #13 12-01-2011, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mongo2

Picture helped.

I don't think the country of origin of the glue matters but glue and a clamp would be useful. It's up to you if you want to let your brother take a shot at fixing it.

Do you fix basses ?

**jmattbassplaya** · #14 12-01-2011, 08:12 PM

I don't think the weather caused that crack. I've left a number of different pieces of gear in my car over nights in below 20 degree weather without any harm ever coming to anything.

**SamanthaCay** · #15 12-01-2011, 08:33 PM

Take the E tuner off, get a clamp and dry clamp it too make sure it closes the crack, if it doesn't you may need to make a caul to apply even pressure.

Now once you've figured out how to go about clamping it, take some wood glue (tightbond is good and
make sure your not getting the water proof kind)
and dilute the glue in a small container with water, thin it out too about the thickness of milk, it should look like tan milk.
Get a few water dampened sponges and some dry cloth handy, and start working in the watered down glue.
Be liberal and get a lot of that glue worked in there over about five or so minutes, then wipe away the excess with a sponge and then the dry cloth, clamp wipe again and then let dry for a day.

That will fix the crack in the wood and make it stable, if you want to fix the crack in the finish that's another process.

Best of luck,
Samantha.

walterw · #16 12-01-2011, 08:41 PM

there you go!

the idea is to get as much of that wood glue in there as you can; use the thinned-out stuff to get way down in the crack, then blob regular glue on top and work it in, too, in hopes of getting thick glue in where it can do some good.

use plenty, enough so that it goes everywhere and makes a little mess. wipe off, then clamp. if you see glue squeeze out when you tighten the clamp, you're golden.

the other method is to use superglue (buchananbass's sig makes me think she agrees), but that's a riskier, "one chance only" method best left to experienced pros.

**SamanthaCay** · #17 12-01-2011, 08:48 PM

Here's another one, probably not best suited in this case cause it doesn't go all the way trough and is on a curved surface but it's fun to watch none the less.
Headstock crack glue up - YouTube
Oh and I like your idea of throwing a little full strength on top before ending.

walterw · #18 12-01-2011, 09:09 PM

glue line plunger!

shoves full-strength glue right through a long, tight crack!

awesome!

**SamanthaCay** · #19 12-01-2011, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

glue line plunger!

shoves full-strength glue right through a long, tight crack!

awesome!

Hehe thanks, it took me about a month of deep contemplation to come up with that.
It's made of pickguard material and plastic dip.

I'm still waiting on my royalty check from stewmac lol.

georgestrings · #20 12-01-2011, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buchananbass

Take the E tuner off, get a clamp and dry clamp it too make sure it closes the crack, if it doesn't you may need to make a caul to apply even pressure.

Now once you've figured out how to go about clamping it, take some wood glue (tightbond is good and
make sure your not getting the water proof kind)
and dilute the glue in a small container with water, thin it out too about the thickness of milk, it should look like tan milk.
Get a few water dampened sponges and some dry cloth handy, and start working in the watered down glue.
Be liberal and get a lot of that glue worked in there over about five or so minutes, then wipe away the excess with a sponge and then the dry cloth, clamp wipe again and then let dry for a day.

That will fix the crack in the wood and make it stable, if you want to fix the crack in the finish that's another process.

Best of luck,
Samantha.

Solid advice right there...

- georgestrings