Affordable Bass Repair in NYC

[beanbass123]

Hello-
The above might be an oxymoron but I hope some people can shed some light for me. I live in Brooklyn and I need to buy a new bridge(it's totally warped) and fingerboard needs to be dressed(I'm getting some serious buzzing on the first 3 notes of each string).

A david gage bridge would cost $470(yikes!).

Any one have any recs for someone in the NYC area.

Please let me know.
Ben

[brianh]

Bill Merchant is good and usually pretty reasonable. I believe he spends a few days a week at his shop in Midtown. Just google him and find his info...

[Eric Hochberg]

Agree on Bill Merchant. He did a bridge for me almost 30 years ago and it's still going strong.

[Jumbotron]

I echo the above. Bill is great. He did some pretty extensive work on my DB last summer at a very reasonable price.

[Ed Fuqua]

Try Jeff Bollbach too. But I don't know where he stands in the STEEP to CHEAP pantheon. I just know he does great work.

But here's a question, I know pretty much every other kind of business charges at least a small percentage markup on parts. I can't imagine it's much different for luthiers. If a bridge blank costs EVERYBODY X dollars, could you just buy the blank yourself and just purchase the service of carving and installation? I don't know if that would be significant or if, in fact, luthiers just pass on the cost with no markup for the part...

[Mike Arnopol]

Dave Gage is good. He's cheaper than the repairmen here in Chicago and I've used him for 30 years.
Bill is great,too.

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

But here's a question, I know pretty much every other kind of business charges at least a small percentage markup on parts. I can't imagine it's much different for luthiers. If a bridge blank costs EVERYBODY X dollars, could you just buy the blank yourself and just purchase the service of carving and installation?

I'm only speaking for myself here, though I imagine it pertains to Bill Merchant, Jeff Bollbach and David Gage's livelihood too, but I probably won't carve your customer-supplied bridge and install adjusters in it.

There are two big reasons: the first is that my reputation is all that I've got, and when the spongy, lightweight, maple-like thing that you picked up off Ebay for next to nothing warps, what kind of position does that put me in?

The other is that, just like any other business, the markup is there to help cover the cost of carrying inventory. Instead of putting my spare $1000 into the stock market or paying down my mortgage, I put it into wood and wire, much of which I buy with my Canadian dollars from a company in the US in American dollars (ouch!) who has purchased them in Euros (double ouch!).

Will I discount my prices for poor, starving students/avant garde jazz musicians? Damn right I will, and if you can give me a plug with your audience or students, that's got value too.

If you don't support your local luthier, he won't be there next time you need him.

[dchan]

Damon Walker, AKA - Dr. Bass, lives around Prospect Park and did pretty good work for me several years ago. I got a new bridge, nut, soundpost, and fingerboard dressing for about $300 or so. I'm not sure of his rates nowadays.

I also went to Jeff Bollbach last week to get my bass setup. I didn't get anything as serious as a new bridge, but I got a new soundpost, a reshaped bridge and nut, and an endpin fitting (I had an endpin with me to replace my broken one). His price for the work was very reasonable, and his work is second to none IMO.

[Ed Fuqua]

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

I'm only speaking for myself here, though I imagine it pertains to Bill Merchant, Jeff Bollbach and David Gage's livelihood too, but I probably won't carve your customer-supplied bridge and install adjusters in it.
There are two big reasons: the first is that my reputation is all that I've got, and when the spongy, lightweight, maple-like thing that you picked up off Ebay for next to nothing warps, what kind of position does that put me in?
The other is that, just like any other business, the markup is there to help cover the cost of carrying inventory. Instead of putting my spare $1000 into the stock market or paying down my mortgage, I put it into wood and wire, much of which I buy with my Canadian dollars from a company in the US in American dollars (ouch!) who has purchased them in Euros (double ouch!).
Will I discount my prices for poor, starving students/avant garde jazz musicians? Damn right I will, and if you can give me a plug with your audience or students, that's got value too.
If you don't support your local luthier, he won't be there next time you need him.

Hear, hear! I have to also imagine that the percentage of markup is a fraction of a fraction of the cost of the carving and installation.

[Kevin Hsieh]

Bruno Dostoez - Does Larry Grenadier's work. He recommended Bruno to me, but I haven't been able to get a hold of him yet.

Been using Sprocket, who works at Gage's shop. Great guy, he works under David Gage's set rates (pricey for a college student like me), but I really like his work, which is clean and well done.

Used Bill Merchant quite a bit last year, but was constantly frustrated when there was excess glue on the seams that he had closed. He by far has the cheapest rates that I've seen, but his work sometimes seems cursory to me.

[salcott]

David, Mike Weatherly, and Sprocket have done my repair and setup work for 30+ years. I have nothing but praise for their work.

[Kevin Hsieh]

2 votes for Sprocket! WOOHOO!

[thombo]

there is also kolstein & son, only a lirr trip away. i've had luck w/ barry in the past.

[bassdoubler]

Bill Merchant made me an amazing new bridge in 2005 and I want to say he charged me like $300....

[emilio g]

Bill Merchant has done some great work on my plywood bass. Got it sounding the best its ever been and he's quick! For smaller jobs he'll do the work right away so you aren't stuck for a week or whatever without your bass.

I just bought a carved instrument which was set up at Kolstein's and its killer. Literally everyone at school (including my teacher) love the sound and how easy it is to play.

Never had bass work done at Gage's but I did buy a bow from them about a year ago. The plug slipped after 2 weeks which was annoying, but they were so cool about fixing it quickly I would recommend them.


Good luck!