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03-05-2013, 08:19 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2012 Location: London, Ontario | | | Quoting a Repair
Hi everyone!
Recently in my travels, I have came across a rather nice fully carved bass. Perhaps not the best of the best; but being used makes it a temptation.
On top of that, because it has been "well loved" shall we say, the price is ridiculously low. But, with a low price comes an interesting dilemma. I have to pay to get it fixed, set up, and the strings probably need to be replaced.
Reason why I'm here; how much should I expect to pay to get the damage fixed in the below pictures?
The picture of the back is just for looking.
Edit: I can buy the bass for $850.00
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Currently in the process of building my own double bass.
Last edited by Ryker_M : 03-05-2013 at 08:39 PM.
Reason: Price of bass
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03-05-2013, 08:44 PM
| | Registered User
Setup and repair/KRUTZ Strings | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City area | | | The top has to come off to properly fix it. If you're up for that, go for it.
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You forget sometimes that you are playing music, not just playing jazz. ....Charlie Haden
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03-05-2013, 09:00 PM
| | | | What is it?
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"All of the poor people who started rock and roll are cool." -- Iggy
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03-05-2013, 09:11 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2012 Location: London, Ontario | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Clinkingbeard  The top has to come off to properly fix it. If you're up for that, go for it. | Well, the person who I'd be getting to fix it has repaired more than a few stringed instruments in his 40 year career as a musician and educator. If my school trusts him to fix all of their instruments, I trust him to fix this one.
@ KUNGfuSHERIFF
It's a Bellafina Prima I believe. Edit: It is indeed, a used Bellafina Prima fully carved bass.
Not the best of the best, but for $850 plus the cost of repair and setup; I'm not complaining.
__________________
Currently in the process of building my own double bass.
Last edited by Ryker_M : 03-05-2013 at 09:28 PM.
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03-05-2013, 09:41 PM
|  | Registered User
HPF Technology: Protecting the Pocket since 2007 | | Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Madison WI | | I'm not a luthier, but the pic seems to show two cracks, one along the bass bar and the other heading towards the sound post. From what I've read, those are two locations where cracks can be particularly difficult to repair. This is probably a situation where you should have a luthier evaluate it directly to make sure that it is even repairable. There may be a reason why the seller is selling it as-is.
A few hundred for the repair, a couple hundred for strings, and the likely need to adjust the bridge height when all is said and done gets this into the ballpark for a new Shen ply that might be a better bass.
Definitely read the stickies -- lots of good advice. Also there's a thread on this model of bass: BellaFina Prima anyone own or played is it good!!??? |
03-05-2013, 10:01 PM
| | Registered User
Setup and repair/KRUTZ Strings | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City area | | Quote:
Originally Posted by fdeck I'm not a luthier, but the pic seems to show two cracks, one along the bass bar and the other heading towards the sound post. From what I've read, those are two locations where cracks can be particularly difficult to repair. This is probably a situation where you should have a luthier evaluate it directly to make sure that it is even repairable. There may be a reason why the seller is selling it as-is.
A few hundred for the repair, a couple hundred for strings, and the likely need to adjust the bridge height when all is said and done gets this into the ballpark for a new Shen ply that might be a better bass.
Definitely read the stickies -- lots of good advice. Also there's a thread on this model of bass: BellaFina Prima anyone own or played is it good!!??? | OK. The crack on the left seems to be well outside of the bass bar. The other one may get into the soundpost area but I wouldn't call it a soundpost crack because it didn't start there. Semantics. My guess is the wood wasn't properly seasoned (wet) and you're looking at drying cracks. The top has to come off to relieve the stress and to do the repair.
OP, if you trust the guy to fix it, go for it but it looks like a gamble to me. It probably needs a total setup.
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You forget sometimes that you are playing music, not just playing jazz. ....Charlie Haden
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03-05-2013, 10:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Ryker_M It's a Bellafina Prima I believe. Edit: It is indeed, a used Bellafina Prima fully carved bass.
Not the best of the best, but for $850 plus the cost of repair and setup; I'm not complaining. | It's a piece of $h!t. You will be complaining if you buy it. Run away now.
I have less money in two of the three fully carved, circa 1900 Germans in my basement. Keep looking. Better deals are out there.
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"All of the poor people who started rock and roll are cool." -- Iggy
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03-06-2013, 05:55 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2012 Location: London, Ontario | | Quote:
Originally Posted by KUNGfuSHERIFF It's a piece of $h!t. You will be complaining if you buy it. Run away now.
I have less money in two of the three fully carved, circa 1900 Germans in my basement. Keep looking. Better deals are out there. | While I respect your opinion, (as you're probably several times more experienced than myself) but I don't have the means or resources as a seventeen year old to drive to the ends of the Earth in the pursuit of a similarly priced German bass.
And because I'm curious, what is your experience with Bellafina basses? I'm not disagreeing that it's probably a horrible instrument, I'm just interested.
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Currently in the process of building my own double bass.
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03-06-2013, 07:31 AM
| | | | That was very harsh. I apologize. I was dead tired and in a rotten mood when I wrote my post, not that that's any excuse.
But as a matter of simple economics, that bass is a dog. I checked Woodwind and Brasswind's site, and that bass sells new for $1900 (and SHIPS FREE! That's gotta take a $300 bite out of their profit, but that's another discussion.) My experience with Bellafina basses is nonexistent, as I heeded the warnings of people who DO have direct experience with them, and gave them a wide berth.
Say you drop $850 on that bass. I don't see any competent bass luthier charging you less than $1000 just to pop the top and see what's going on. Who knows what they'll find, and what it'll cost to repair. Now you're $1900 into it, at a minimum. You still have no idea what it sounds like or how it plays. And what happens the next time the weather shifts and the cheesy wood cracks again?
I have no idea what the doublebass scene is like in London, but I know you're not far from Toronto and Detroit, and there are decent basses available there. There's a very nice looking Shen 150 listed right now on Rochester Craigslist for $1500 or best offer with all the accessories you may need. I exchanged text messages with the owner last night, and it looks ready to go. In my experience, that is a very nice bass for the money, and it's only three hours away.
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"All of the poor people who started rock and roll are cool." -- Iggy
Last edited by KUNGfuSHERIFF : 03-06-2013 at 07:34 AM.
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03-06-2013, 07:32 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Chicago | | | If it is a Prima model as it seems, they go for $1900 at big box stores. $850 is not a good deal considering it needs top off work that will cost more than the bass is worth if done right. Is that bass constructed with white glue? If so, there will be a real problem getting the top off and also may lead to more problems ahead. Pass on it, IMO. If you have a limited budget, order a Shen SB80 and call it a day. |
03-06-2013, 07:36 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2005 Location: Forest Grove, OR | | Ryker M;
consider this: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/orche...t?src=3WWRWXGP
By the time you get the repairs done, you could have bought that bass brand new. That is probably what the other poster is getting at. Do a search for bella fina double basses on google or whatever, and you will find the collective experience of lots of people.
(Edit: sorry, I see others already told you all this. :-) too slow... |
03-06-2013, 07:43 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Georgia | | | It would be best to have the luthier use a mirror to look at the inside before taking the top off. My bass has a couple of cracks that look bad form the outside, but don't go all the way through.
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John T. Crosley
Lewis & Sons Double Bass; Spirocore Weichs; K&K Bass Max; MXR M-80; Ampeg BA115
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03-06-2013, 08:08 AM
| | Registered User
Setup and repair/KRUTZ Strings | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City area | | Quote:
Originally Posted by 1st Bass Ryker M;
consider this: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/orche...t?src=3WWRWXGP
By the time you get the repairs done, you could have bought that bass brand new. That is probably what the other poster is getting at. Do a search for bella fina double basses on google or whatever, and you will find the collective experience of lots of people.
(Edit: sorry, I see others already told you all this. :-) too slow... | Add a few hundred for a fingerboard dressing, nut adjustment, etc to really get it setup properly. I'm not making any recommendation regarding the purchase of this instrument. I have no experience with this brand but have seen bargain Chinese basses with poorly fitted blocks and linings which can cause problems down the road. I'd be skeptical of a fully carved bass at the <$2k pricepoint. Do your homework and make the decision based on good information.
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You forget sometimes that you are playing music, not just playing jazz. ....Charlie Haden
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03-06-2013, 10:27 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2012 Location: London, Ontario | | | Thanks for the responses guys. I'll probably take a look at some of the stores around here. But the biggest problem with me is the huge price margin I'm dealing with. I have to buy it myself with my money. Trying to get something that'll last but won't require a bank loan.
__________________
Currently in the process of building my own double bass.
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03-06-2013, 10:45 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Finland (Northern Europe) | | Hi.
First of all, I love CCB's.
Very good bargains for the money, especially if damaged/broken like that one in Your pics.
Great way to get into DB repairs and setups as well as playing them.
BUT, the price of "Yours" is nowhere near the prices I've paid, or what others have paid, something costing that much I wouldn't even consider.
Or recommend.
Good chances are that it's indeed put together with PVA glue, and that's a major, MAJOR PITA to repair. Can be done, but requires drastic measures. Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryker_M Trying to get something that'll last but won't require a bank loan. | How about the already suggested ply basses?
BTW, just out of curiosity, if You're in the process of building a DB, why drop a load of money into one just this moment?
Regards
Sam
Last edited by T-Bird : 03-06-2013 at 10:47 AM.
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03-06-2013, 10:52 AM
| | Spruce dork | | Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: asheville, nc | | Pass on this one.....
Finding a broken up import bass like this is like trying to find a broken old volkswagon that does not run. They are everywhere, the owners all think they are made of gold, and they will usually cost you three times your worst estimate to get in running condition, only to wind up with something that needs additional regular maintenance and $ all of the time.
Be patient and you'll find a beautiful old bass for a fair price that will leave you with years of happiness. 
j. www.condino.com www.kaybassrepair.com |
03-06-2013, 11:39 AM
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Originally Posted by Ryker_M Thanks for the responses guys. I'll probably take a look at some of the stores around here. But the biggest problem with me is the huge price margin I'm dealing with. I have to buy it myself with my money. Trying to get something that'll last but won't require a bank loan. | Have you considered renting?
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"All of the poor people who started rock and roll are cool." -- Iggy
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03-06-2013, 11:46 AM
|  | Supporting Member | | Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Oak Park, IL | | | Well you could try a cheap glue / clamp repair and see if it holds... But cracks in those two locations are quite common. Usually occur there because of the square block of wood inside where the endpin is. So with that stressor there, it's tough to gauge how long that repair would last... Even if they open the bass and use cleats on the crack the stressor is still there... Many modern makers will carve a taper into that block to distribute some of the pressure.... But as most people have said, this isn't cheap and after all is said and done a new Shen would probably be the way to go. |
03-06-2013, 12:52 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2012 Location: London, Ontario | | Quote:
Originally Posted by KUNGfuSHERIFF Have you considered renting? | I have, but most rentals around here are very cheap ply student basses. Strunal usually.
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Currently in the process of building my own double bass.
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03-06-2013, 01:41 PM
|  | Registered User
Owner/The Bass Spa, String Repairman/L & M Vancouver | | Join Date: May 2006 Location: Crescent Beach, BC | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryker_M I have, but most rentals around here are very cheap ply student basses. Strunal usually. | The Strunals we have at L&M - plywood, hybrid and carved - are very decent sounding instruments. The setup is very important on them but Ryan at L&M in Windsor is a DB player and might be able to help you out with a good rental. | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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