Fell on my bass!!!!

[tyb507]

Woops...walking out my front door, bass slung over my shoulder; slipped on that whispy, wet moss...feet went flying, landed armpit-wise on my bass.
Not too bad, considering. It's an 1860's German 5/8 flatback.
I think the worst of it was absorbed in a crack that was already forming on an upper corner. I think it might have saved it from furthur damage! The top is separating from the ribs at the corner, and a crack is forming along a grain, and also along some of the purfling.
Might have put a little crack in the outside lining, too.
It might be a sign that I should take the top off and get into a minor restoration...I posted a question about re-edging a while back...might be time to think about that again. I'm apprenticing with a fiddle/mandolin maker, and have access to good tools and knowledge.
I also might just glue the top back down to hold that corner in place until I get a little more settled and comfortable with a plane...
I'd post pics if I had a digital camera.
No real question I guess, just complaining...wah.

[Gornick]

I think about this every time I step down my stairs.

ouch...

you have access to a bass while the german is repaired?

good luck.

[toman]

Sorry, but I'm giggling as I picture this, guy slips on ice, goes down on top of bass Hulk Hogan style...

[Masters2010]

How could you possibly laugh at that, just the thought of it makes me cringe, but then again, I care more about my bass than a lot of people do.

[tyb507]

Heeheeheee...that kind of makes me giggle too...
And no, I don't have another bass to play while I fix this one, though I'm thinking of trying to talk my old high school out of an old Kay if they still have it.

[arnoldschnitzer]

Yesterday, a client brought in a fine French bass which had recently been fallen on. First time I've ever seen this: the fingerboard broke nearly in half where it leaves the maple of the neck. And the broken fingerboard stopped crashing abruptly about an inch from the bass' top! It was suspended there in space, and it took most of my meager strength to pull the broken end back up. The top of the bass sustained no damage other than a single crack, and the bass popped a few seams. The fingerboard essentially sacrificed itself to save the fragile spruce top.

Happy Thanksgiving, folks!

[Bob Branstetter]

Originally Posted by arnoldschnitzer

Yesterday, a client brought in a fine French bass which had recently been fallen on. First time I've ever seen this: the fingerboard broke nearly in half where it leaves the maple of the neck. And the broken fingerboard stopped crashing abruptly about an inch from the bass' top! It was suspended there in space, and it took most of my meager strength to pull the broken end back up. The top of the bass sustained no damage other than a single crack, and the bass popped a few seams. The fingerboard essentially sacrificed itself to save the fragile spruce top.

Happy Thanksgiving, folks!

I've never seen anything like that either. The owner of the bass must be living right and apparently is very lucky too!