Crack in my daughters Bass, please help.

VondaP · #1 12-27-2009, 09:15 PM

My 16 year old daughter has been playing Bass since she was in the 5th grade. She loves it. She plays in high school and also plays in our local youth symphony.

Earlier this year we bought her a Wan Bernadel Bass. The sound is awesome. Today, after she returned from rehearsal she unpacked her bass to find a big crack in the bottom. She has no idea when it happened. It wasn't there this morning before she left. Anyhow, she is extremely upset. I know absoutely nothing about Basses and have no idea what to do. We are located in West Texas, El Paso. We purchased it in Phoenix, Az - the gentleman that sold it to us is not a luthier.

Please give me advice on how to proceed. Albuquerque, NM is 4 hours away, however I don't know if their is anyone there that can fix it quickly.

I am attaching pictures.

Thank you so much,

Vonda

bassteban · #2 12-27-2009, 09:23 PM

Vonda-
1. a HUUUGE thank you for encouraging your young one in music- please continue.

2. A good luthier should be able to address this issue*- I'm confident a fairly local TBer will chime in soon.
3. Welcome to TB.

*While in Disneyland several years ago I struck up a conversation w/a DB player on a break- he casually mentioned that he'd had his bass reassembled several times; the neck had been broken off by unruly kids more than once, IIRC. This guy had played w/Chubby Checker.

Andrew McGregor · #3 12-27-2009, 09:32 PM

Well, it's not a disaster... cracks there are well repairable, the repair will be hard to see unless you're looking for it, and it's OK to play it in that condition. Just be very careful handling it so nothing snags on the edges and makes it worse. But it does need repaired fairly soon, as the repair gets more difficult the longer it is left. Someone will point you at a reputable local luthier fairly soon, I'm sure.

longfinger · #4 12-27-2009, 09:41 PM

Cracks happen..

Until someone in your area chimes in with a name, here's a list to consult...

http://www.gollihurmusic.com/luthiers.cfm

There may be others luthiers in your area not on this list...

blendermassacre · #5 12-27-2009, 09:53 PM

Can I ask if you had any drastic weather changes? If so that may be the culprit of the crack...

salcott · #6 12-27-2009, 11:49 PM

No cause for panic- basses will crack; just get it fixed as soon as you can. The travel to Albuquerque (Robertson's, I assume) is a drag, but a quality repair is worth it, even if you have to leave the bass for a week. They may have a loaner if you need it. My old Tyrolean bass survived MUCH worse.

VondaP · #7 12-28-2009, 11:16 AM

Thank you all for the kind words. She is calmer this morning. I plan on taking the bass to Robertsons in Albq very soon. They are closed on Mondays, so I will call tomorrow.

Is their anything that I can do now to prevent any further damage? Does anyone have an idea of how long it would take to fix? Fortunately, she has another bass to use for now, but competition is coming up and I know she wants her "baby" fixed. She worked very hard to pay for half of the cost. It sure makes a difference when kids become financially responsible.

Thank you all again so much,

Vonda

WookieeForLife · #8 12-28-2009, 11:20 AM

I read that title wrong. I thought you ment your daughter was on drugs.

reedo35 · #9 12-28-2009, 11:26 AM

Loosen the strings a whole step, Get a Humidifier for the room that she keeps it in. Robertson's is a great shop, I'm sure they will have a loaner if you need it. From the looks of it, it could take anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks to fix, depending on how busy they are. 'Tis the season for Basses Cracking. Sad but true.

Ed Fuqua · #10 12-28-2009, 11:30 AM

Basses are wood, wood cracks. It's just a fact of life. I've been pretty lucky over the last couple of winters; no cracks and no loose seams. But this is your/her life from now on. Constant humidity helps, as much care as you can give moving it around helps but if you look at the basses in any orchestra section, they are ALL going to be full of repairs. Check in DFW, Houston etc. if they're closer to you than Albequerque.

bobalew · #11 12-28-2009, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

Check in DFW, Houston etc. if they're closer to you than Albequerque.

She's actually closer to Los Angeles than DFW! But it would be hard to do better than Robertson's. Lotsa miles is just a fact of life out here in the west.

El Paso is a pretty dry place. Any recommendations for humidifying? Kettle on the stove, maybe?

Ed Fuqua · #12 12-28-2009, 09:03 PM

Yeesh. I actually used to live in El Paso, but that was a LONG time ago.

VondaP · #13 12-28-2009, 10:22 PM

We decided to drive up to Albuquerque, we will take her her bass in the morning to Robertsons. She was using a humidifier, but i don't think it provides enough humidity. Any suggestions for a humidifier, she keeps her bass in her bedroom?

Thanks so much,

Vonda

Eric Rene Roy · #14 12-29-2009, 03:34 AM

I'm not saying not to take all the humidification advise here...but...that looks like trauma to me. The multi-micro cracks at each end of the main crack, as well as the central point of the main crack is under one edge, are the give away...

Quote:

Originally Posted by VondaP

Any suggestions for a humidifier, she keeps her bass in her bedroom?

Any wicking style will be best and pickup one of these to monitor it separately.

1st Bass · #15 12-29-2009, 07:14 AM

"but...that looks like trauma to me. "

Same here-- in both photos the impact points are clearly visible. You can get that sort of a whack without really knowing it-- a closing door, bump against a chair, etc. Humidity might still be an issue, but that looks like impact to me.

A friend's son bumped into the side mirror of his dad's car and knocked a teaspoon-sized piece right out of the lower bout rib (same place as yours, almost). They never found the piece, either, so it was necessary to match grain as best I could, bend the patch, apply a backing from the inside, etc. and replace the wood entirely. It was a very clean break, and I can only imagine it must have required an odd grain structure. There was no other evidence of impact-- just a missing oval of wood.

Anyway-- all that to say--it is a pretty easy repair, and one you can expect to do again, sometime, in another location. It happens... :-)

drurb · #16 12-29-2009, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1st Bass

A friend's son bumped into the side mirror of his dad's car and knocked a teaspoon-sized piece right out of the lower bout rib...

Okay, I'm working on the physical contortions involved here...

1st Bass · #17 12-29-2009, 09:04 AM

Walking toward the house, carrying his bass in a gig bag; bass-neck on his shoulder, lower bouts high, to avoid a hedge beside the driveway, etc. --ran into the corner of the rigid mirror-housing on the car.

I never thought to ask whether it had been daylight, but I expect it was dark out. Middle of the school year, here in Oregon, it is frequently dark by the time kids get home. It was good practice, though, as another came from the school with similar damage.

VondaP · #18 12-29-2009, 09:11 AM

I also believe it is some type of trauma as well. We are leaving for Robertsons in a bit. I will still buy a better humidifier.

Vonda

standupright · #19 12-29-2009, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VondaP

I also believe it is some type of trauma as well. We are leaving for Robertsons in a bit. I will still buy a better humidifier.

Vonda

might want to contact steve. he has a warranty with all of his new basses.

http://www.stringemporium.com/new-up...s-warranty.htm

Square Bear · #20 12-29-2009, 01:54 PM

i own a wan bernadel as well. fantastic instrument. best for the price in my opinion, and i applaud your decision to buy one. steve is great, but probably will not be willing to assist with this. it definitely looks like the bass was banged against something to cause the crack. steve will honor his warranty only for cracks caused by "normal shrinkage" i.e. weather-related causes.