Oh no! Can it be repaired? Broken Neck

MitchInOmaha · #1 10-09-2007, 10:04 PM

Oh man. Gosh, we made it a year and a half before it happened. My 10 year old son had their fall concert tonight. Made it through the concert, but afterward, while carrying the bass out, he tripped and fell on it, and broke the neck right at the base of the neck.

Can this even be repaired? Any idea whatsoever how much this might cost?

Thanks,
Mitch

drurb · #2 10-09-2007, 10:26 PM

Ouch! Really sorry to hear about this. Yes, it can be repaired. Exactly how it is best done is something for a competent luthier to decide. Depending on the bass itself, it may or may not be worth fixing. If you post some pix, some of the experts here (of which I am not one) may be able to offer some tips and tell you if it is even worth doing the repair.

Jake deVilliers · #3 10-09-2007, 11:38 PM

No big deal Mitch. It might be your first time for a broken bass neck but it won't be your luthier's.

Don't forget to breathe and don't let your child feel guilty - it happens to all kinds of people.

Take it in pronto and it'll be an easier repair than after the raw wood oxidizes.

Phil Rowan · #4 10-10-2007, 08:52 AM

Yes, it can be done. I speak from personal experience, having done the same thing to an old bass I was borrowing from my old teacher. He was more than cool about it, and I had to work my way to let me pay him even half the bill!

If the neck on this bass is beyond repair, the luthier can also replace the neck with a new one. Post some pictures, and like drurb said, you'll get some good help from the experts on this board.

bigbadbuck · #5 10-10-2007, 08:59 AM

you really need to post pics because it's not really clear how badly damaged it is. we know its broken but no how bad the joint is.

just hearing about someone breaking a neck makes me cringe. i couldn't imagine breaking one of my basses.

hope all turns out well

RCWilliams · #6 10-10-2007, 09:15 AM

all things can be repaired, is the neck itself broken or is it seperated from the bass? there are methods for repairing less expensive basses which are not as costly, but make sure that where ever you take it, they are used to working on them.

Don Higdon · #7 10-10-2007, 12:41 PM

First, allow your son to have whatever emotion he feels about this, and don't try to persuade him that it's invalid.
Many of us have had accidents.
Many a neck has been broken.
You say it's broken at the base. Are you saying that the glue failed and the joint came apart, or was a single piece of wood fractured?

drurb · #8 10-10-2007, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Higdon

First, allow your son to have whatever emotion he feels about this, and don't try to persuade him that it's invalid.

Can we move this to the TalkPsych forums?

Foamy · #9 10-10-2007, 03:13 PM

It can likely be repaired, and it can always have a new neck installed (if it's a bolt-on). Not to worry, it's just a slab of wood and wires.

1st Bass · #10 10-10-2007, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foamy

It can likely be repaired, and it can always have a new neck installed (if it's a bolt-on). Not to worry, it's just a slab of wood and wires.

???
I had assumed we were talking about an upright double bass of the violin family...not so?

Jake deVilliers · #11 10-10-2007, 03:19 PM

Me too 1st, but Mitch didn't bother to fill in his profile, so who knows?

Foamy · #12 10-10-2007, 03:33 PM

Crap! My apologies!!! I specifically try and stay out of the way of the DB'ers.
Apologies!

MingusAmongUs · #13 10-10-2007, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foamy

Crap! My apologies!!! I specifically try and stay out of the way of the DB'ers.
Apologies!

Hehehh.. I have an image of a scene from Night of the Living Dead, with Foamy running away screaming from a throng of foaming-mouthed DB players, arms stretched out front... we are scary!

hbarcat · #14 10-10-2007, 04:44 PM

Good luthiers routinely repair broken necks.

Iv'e had this Illinois luthier do work for me that was outstanding. Here's a few "before and after" pictures of repaired necks: http://guitarfix.com/repair.htm

Gene Liberty - The Ultimate Guitar Repair Shop

1st Bass · #15 10-10-2007, 04:45 PM

My very first repair on a double bass was a broken neck-- snapped off in the middle of the heel, and not a clean break-- bad wood at that point-- I had to rebuild the neck, as well as re-set it.

About a year later, the thing got knocked over at the school, and broke again-- different place. I repaired it again, but by that time the wood was getting fragile, and the joint failed after about six months. So, I rebuilt it again, and that monster is still out there making someone miserable. (It was a cheap plywood bass to start with, and not worth fixing, but a friend had it and it needed fixing, so...it was a good learning experience for me.)

clink · #16 10-10-2007, 05:14 PM

When my son, now eighteen, was seven he sat on his violin; smashing it to bits.

Top, ribs and back all broken.

Quickly realizing that it was a rental, I put it back in its case, returned it and asked for another one. The look on the guy's face was priceless. After a moment of collecting his thoughts, he gave me a new one. Lucky that it was insured.

Now a cellist, he has taken excellent care of his instrument. Have faith.
I imagine it happens quite a bit.

toman · #17 10-11-2007, 02:41 AM

Broken instruments are broken instruments. It happens, and there's no reason to feel bad about it. Now whether the bass justifies repair or not... that's another question. But even the best break things. I know a guy who has what is probably one of the most unusual ancient basses around, and he broke the neck just by being clumsy like anyone else. He also happens to be a world class performer, so if it can happen to him, a kid doesn't deserve any trouble! :-D

Kevin Hsieh · #18 10-11-2007, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clink

When my son, now eighteen, was seven he sat on his violin; smashing it to bits.

Top, ribs and back all broken.

Quickly realizing that it was a rental, I put it back in its case, returned it and asked for another one. The look on the guy's face was priceless. After a moment of collecting his thoughts, he gave me a new one. Lucky that it was insured.

Now a cellist, he has taken excellent care of his instrument. Have faith.
I imagine it happens quite a bit.

Back at orchestra camp in my former life as a violinist, I overheard a story about a cellist who's girlfriend jumped on his bed in the dark seeing some shape on the bed and thinking it's him. ended up to be the cello

Foamy · #19 10-11-2007, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Hsieh

Back at orchestra camp in my former life as a violinist, I overheard a story about a cellist who's girlfriend jumped on his bed in the dark seeing some shape on the bed and thinking it's him. ended up to be the cello

And then, one time, a Orchestra Camp, I took my bow, and.....

KSB - Ken Smith · #20 10-11-2007, 11:22 AM

Micth, you got everyone on the edge of their chair. Post some pics already so we can see just how the break is and what might be the remedy. Just so you are aware, most old Basses have had their necks replaced and some Basses multiple times. Yes it is a costly job depending on exactly what has to be done but in the end, the Bass is at least the same if not improved. Many new Basses have the neck set too shallow to the body or slightly off square in the line-up. All this can be corrected when the repair is done. Location and the individual who does the work may contribute to the price as far as cost goes. I have often seen Necks repaired no mater how badly broken and then again especially with newer less expensive Basses a complete new Neck may be the least expensive route. The concern here is the damage to the body/block area where the Heck sits and goes into the Bass. Often when re-setting the neck, it comes out better then when the Bass was made.

Show some pics if you can. Basses are big and they often get banged around. "The bigger they are, the harder the fall", kinda...