Crack in my bass' rib... suggestions?

RIKODRIKO · #1 12-21-2008, 06:35 AM

Hi All

To my despair yesterday, I found a 2 inch crack in my nice new carved bass. Well, its a year old. Please see pics. I bought the bass new from Healey violins in London and was hoping to keep it as new for as long as possible.

I'm naturally very precious about it (cost the equivalent of a small country!), and super bummed that i found this crack, no idea how it got there, but i reckon I must have knocked it against something. boo hoo.

Can i just ask - how would this best be repaired? Should i bother even (maybe some might think it adds character). If untreated, will it get bigger on its own? Does it look more like its taken a knock, or could it be a stress split that may indicate another problem? I think at the moment im just gonna leave it and just sulk for a few months. Is this the best option?

Any and all advice accepted gladly. Many Thanks
Richard

Vincent P · #2 12-21-2008, 06:50 AM

I would contact the company and see if they would recommend someone in your area to repair this, or at least have a look at it.

I'm curious about the black mark, looks from the pictures to be a burn, almost as though it was place up against a hot surface?

Eric Hochberg · #3 12-21-2008, 06:57 AM

Take it to a good repairman and get it fixed. It's an easy repair. It could get larger if unattended. If you didn't knock it with something, it's probably from stress. The wood in new carved basses can move around a lot, and if the seams don't give out first, the wood can split. If the heat is on in your house now, you need to keep the humidity at 35-40% where you keep the bass so the wood doesn't dry out too much. This can be a cause of cracks.

BTW, I've played in Brighton a few times and loved it there. Wonderful town!

vejesse · #4 12-21-2008, 07:34 AM

Call up the place you bought it from and ask them to fix the crack. Is it Chinese?

Martin Sheridan · #5 12-21-2008, 12:21 PM

It's not unusual for shops to give a year warrenty against weather related damage. Sounds like you've had it about a year or more?

It will probably continue to open. You can mark the top and bottom of the crack very lightly with pencil. If the crack moves beyond the pencil lines you know it's spreading.

If you don't have the money now and it's not moving you can wait 'till the dough comes in.

Good luck

Jake deVilliers · #6 12-21-2008, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vincent P

I'm curious about the black mark, looks from the pictures to be a burn, almost as though it was place up against a hot surface?

I think those are ebony inserts inset into the top & back overhangs to be used as rub strips when the bass gets laid on the floor. That's one way to protect the edges.

Phil Rowan · #7 12-21-2008, 03:58 PM

I agree w/ Martin. Hopefully you'll get some xmas $ to help take care of it sooner than later.

Jake deVilliers · #8 12-21-2008, 04:34 PM

Sulking's good, but keep an eye on the crack while you're doing that.

MIKMAN · #9 12-21-2008, 11:29 PM

A respectable luthier can repair it by opening the top plate and glueing one or two cleats. Some experienced guys can repair problems like it working through the f holes. In any case the problem is common when the bass is constructed with not so aged wood. Properly repaired it doesn't affect the sound.

RIKODRIKO · #10 12-22-2008, 01:27 AM

Thanks everyone for yor suggestions, there seems to be a common theme, ie take it back!

I'll call the guy today and see if he can do something after christmas.

Ill explain a bit more to answer your questions too.

Yes its made in china, but with european seasoned wood. From a company in the netherlands called 'De Lille'.

The black mark is indeed an ebony insert to protect the bass while on its sidde. 10 points!

I beginning to think as well that its just a stress crack, if it was a ding i would have expected more damage. I did think of the pencil marks first, so have marked this already, ill keep watching to see if it develops.

I have been at university since september, and the bass has been kept in a tiny room in its cover at the university - but there may be some heating pipes just behind the wall and its always noticeably hotter in the room then everywhere else, maybe this is the culprit.

Lastly, Brighton is indeed a wonderful city, I would recommend anyone comes here if you ever come to the UK on tour!