HELP!! DOUBLE BASS DAMAGE!!

blah148 · #1 01-13-2009, 05:57 PM

So I was on vacation over the break, and because of that, I was not able to maintain my bass's humidifier. It was once I returned that i discovered a sort of dent going across the body of my bass.

I'm not exactly sure what should be done (if anything) because I'm actually a guitar player and thus, new to damage-dealing with basses.

Here are the pictures

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34341233@N03/3195675354/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34341233@N03/3195679204/

IrishBassLad · #2 01-13-2009, 06:02 PM

That's really odd..... Did someone melt your bass while you were away?

Those cleaning ladies like to take revengence ya know.

reedo35 · #3 01-13-2009, 06:27 PM

If that's the Bass I'm thinking of, it is going to cost more to fix than you paid for it. The wood was obviously not seasoned enough, and the seams were glued tight, so the pressure went where it could, causing it to bend. If you do want to try to have it fixed, the top will have to come off, and it will have to be pressed into a mold to get the shape back. On the other hand,
maybe you could use a suction cup to pull it back into shape...Just kidding, I'm sorry your Bass is messed up.

blah148 · #4 01-13-2009, 06:43 PM

Do you think it would be possible to leave it in that state?

EggyToast · #5 01-13-2009, 08:16 PM

Possible, sure. Normally, the bass bar is in a bass to prevent exactly what happened to your bass. I don't see how humidity could do what happened to your bass (as in, I don't think your lack of humidifier did this). Usually humidity causes cracks, either from contracting (the wood gets too dry) or expanding (it cracks along the seams). A dent means the wood was soft and there was too much pressure.

I think reedo's point is that, in order to get it out of that state, you would probably have to pay a significant amount of money. You usually can't "un-dent" wood, ya know?

blah148 · #6 01-13-2009, 08:31 PM

Haha yeah i know.

So you guys think itll be fine if I just leave it like that?

kevinmoore73 · #7 01-13-2009, 08:35 PM

Care to share what kind of bass that is?

**Matthew Tucker** · #8 01-13-2009, 09:54 PM

I agree I don't think it has much to do with humidity. My guess is that the top has just been carved way too thin and the string pressure has simply caused it to "fold" like that. In my opinion that dent will only get worse until a crack develops. And unfortunately I don't think there is anything you can do other than an expensive repair to the top. If its a new bass you MIGHT be able to claim some sort of warranty, ie that the bass was badly made. But good luck with that ...

Gearhead43 · #9 01-13-2009, 11:13 PM

I'm sorry, but is that even a carved top instrument? I was looking for the "lip" around the top edge and don't see one.

If it isn't , why would it need humidifying?

Phil Rowan · #10 01-14-2009, 09:53 AM

If the top is indeed carved thin (which is likely the case), you could opt for some low, low tension strings in hopes of slowing/preventing further denting.

dchan · #11 01-14-2009, 10:59 AM

I agree with Gearhead - the bass looks like a plywood bass to me. Correct us if we're wrong here.

blah148 · #12 01-14-2009, 01:49 PM

thanks for all the input guys

with regards to the bass itself, i bought it off of musician's friend for $450 including shipping so i wasnt very surprised when i saw the fold. hopefully ill be able to get an exchange for a better instrument.

Phil Rowan · #13 01-14-2009, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blah148

bought it off of musician's friend for $450 including shipping

Oookay, that says it all. Good luck with exchanging it. Personally, I'd try to get a refund and, if you'd like to get another upright, I'd say save up (could rent one in the meantime) and look elsewhere for something truly worth the $.

EggyToast · #14 01-15-2009, 09:18 AM

You also may not want to humidify the next cheapy one; you may have been keeping it too wet. Those cheap basses use wood that's so fresh, sometimes it's still green by the time it gets to the customer. That stuff needs to dry out (although, usually when it's dry is the time that they start imploding, but, whatever).

anonymous02282011 · #15 01-15-2009, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Rowan

Oookay, that says it all. Good luck with exchanging it. Personally, I'd try to get a refund and, if you'd like to get another upright, I'd say save up (could rent one in the meantime) and look elsewhere for something truly worth the $.

+1. Cheap basses with thin tops tend to cave under pressure of the strings. I've seen some of my friends Korean basses cave like that.

christ andronis · #16 01-15-2009, 10:41 AM

yikes....musicians friend=NOT!!

how long ago did you buy it? Assuming they REFUND your money (which, truthfully, isn't very hopeful), go to a place that has a staff who can let you try several basses and answer your questions based on their knowledge and experience. Good luck.

Gearhead43 · #17 01-15-2009, 10:37 PM

Yes, and please don't humidify your next plywood bass, it is not necessary or even a good idea really. Carved basses, if needed only.

Is that the "Florea" brand bass from MF? I think those are Korean made.

Take a cheap thin plywood bass and humidify the crap out of it with a soggy dampit (look at the pic) and that's what happens.

Wet thin plywood is not good.

salcott · #18 01-16-2009, 07:48 AM

A dampit can not possibly put out enough moisture to cause this sort of damage. BTW, I treat my LaScala (plywood) like any other bass; I keep it at 35-40% during the heating season. Also, not all carved basses have a "lip" around the edges.

akmusicfreak · #19 01-16-2009, 01:01 PM

drurb · #20 01-16-2009, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gearhead43

Yes, and please don't humidify your next plywood bass, it is not necessary or even a good idea really. Carved basses, if needed only.

Quote:

Originally Posted by salcott

I treat my LaScala (plywood) like any other bass; I keep it at 35-40% during the heating season. Also, not all carved basses have a "lip" around the edges.

I gotta go with salcott here. Although maintaining an optimal range of humidity isn't nearly as crucial for a ply bass, there is no harm in doing so and I suspect there is benefit. After all, a ply bass still has glue-joints and still expands and contracts. That said, I never did anything to control humidity for the Kay I had from 1967-2002. There was never any problem-- the neck even remained intact throughout it's entire tenure with me. If I had a ply bass today, I would not let humidity go to extremes. I doubt I'd maintain the tight control that I do with my carved bass, but I'd still be careful. I don't think I'd want to let the humidity fall into the 30s (%, that is).