Repair of Crack in Newer Double Bass - My Rant

[jgbass]

I have a chinese bass I bought less than two years ago. It was not used that much and is not my primary bass. But, after a year or so, it developed a crack in the lower bout about 4" long. To gauge the area, I can roughly say the quiver covers where the crack is. Was given info it is not a saddle crack.

I had it temporarily glued, but now I want it fixed. So, the latest estimate is $480.00 which involves loosening the seams and putting cleats in. Eight hours of work. I am hoping this is a reasonable price. If not, I sure would like someone to clue me in and I going to call around anyway.

I would like to know (the rant part of this) why a brand new bass is so bad off that I already have to pay for this kind of repair? Is this the deal on a new bass... buy at your own risk and if it starts to fall apart you are just out of luck. Nothing like bass warranties I guess? Or, should there be? If and when I ever sell it, the crack will have to be taken into consideration too at my loss.

[arnoldschnitzer]

You live in a dry climate. China is mostly humid. Your bass got dry and cracked. It happens.

[Ed Fuqua]

I was TOTALLY going to buy a Panormo, but when I saw those cracks I said TOTALLY no way!

[Ed Fuqua]

Or, alternately -
I see the wood in Chinese basses isn't the only thing green around here....

[kurt ratering]

"I had it temporarily glued, but now I want it fixed. So, the latest estimate is $480.00 which involves loosening the seams and putting cleats in. Eight hours of work. I am hoping this is a reasonable price. If not, I sure would like someone to clue me in and I going to call around anyway. " - as posted by o.p.

so your guys gonna open the seam and slide some unfitted cleats through? i would be concerened with the longevity of the repair. as far as a reasonable price, $60 an hour seams like a low rate at least for shops here on the east coast.

[bassbodger]

i have had success repairing cracks by using a long auger drill bit (6mm), and gluing 6mm dowels into the holes. drill the holes across the grain, dip a long screwdriver in glue and poke it down the holes to coat the inside, dip the cut to length dowels in glue, then drive them right into the holes. tried it with scrap piece of wood first. tried to split the wood using a hammer and chisel. that sucker just wouldnt split at all. if you push the dowel in a bit further into the hole, you can use filler to hide where the hole was, and its pretty much invisible. ive used this method on badly split neck pockets too, and its works well.

[arnoldschnitzer]

This is a joke, right?

[zeytoun]

he's a stray, loose from the BG forums, methinks...

[jgbass]

Kurt and Arnold,

Thanks for some helpful info here. At least it sounds like the price is about right. I am not overly concerned about longevity as I plan to consign this soon.

As far as dry climates, I do live close to the Beach in SoCal and have never had crack problems with other basses. However, I recently bought a humidifier, and anytime the humidity level gets below 50 percent, I use it.

Yeah, I was wondering too if I posted on the BG side by mistake or if this was such a stupid question it deserved no respect. Did not come across as a joke to me and I even asked a mod to close this thread going downhill fast thread.

But, thanks, guys, I have received some good info and you saved this thread. Sounds like the luthier's idea is OK, maybe not the best, but will get the job done.

[Cody Sisk]

Originally Posted by bassbodger

i have had success repairing cracks by using a long auger drill bit (6mm), and gluing 6mm dowels into the holes. drill the holes across the grain, dip a long screwdriver in glue and poke it down the holes to coat the inside, dip the cut to length dowels in glue, then drive them right into the holes. tried it with scrap piece of wood first. tried to split the wood using a hammer and chisel. that sucker just wouldnt split at all. if you push the dowel in a bit further into the hole, you can use filler to hide where the hole was, and its pretty much invisible. ive used this method on badly split neck pockets too, and its works well.

DNFTT

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by DallasStrings

DNFTT

Duh...I had to urban dictionary that. Do Not Feed The Troll.

Duh. Ok. I get it.

[cajunInExile]

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

Duh...I had to urban dictionary that. Do Not Feed The Troll.

Duh. Ok. I get it.

I came up with "Do Not Frickin Try This", which I think works better in this instance.

[Jazzdogg]

Originally Posted by bassbodger

i have had success repairing cracks by using a long auger drill bit (6mm), and gluing 6mm dowels into the holes. drill the holes across the grain, dip a long screwdriver in glue and poke it down the holes to coat the inside, dip the cut to length dowels in glue, then drive them right into the holes. tried it with scrap piece of wood first. tried to split the wood using a hammer and chisel. that sucker just wouldnt split at all. if you push the dowel in a bit further into the hole, you can use filler to hide where the hole was, and its pretty much invisible. ive used this method on badly split neck pockets too, and its works well.

Zero credibility and sinking fast...

[zeytoun]

Originally Posted by cajunInExile

I came up with "Do Not Frickin Try This", which I think works better in this instance.

+1

That's what I came up with too...

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by cajunInExile

I came up with "Do Not Frickin Try This", which I think works better in this instance.

ROTFLMAO

[kurt ratering]

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

ROTFLMAO

???

[Ed Fuqua]

Originally Posted by kurt ratering

???

Ripe
Orotund
Tomatoes
Flung
Largely to
Mash
Against
Onanists

[kurt ratering]

if i had kids i may have known that, it took a call to my 14 year old niece to figure it out!

[Ed Fuqua]

I tend to look at'em as Rorschachs...

[1st Bass]

Tomatos? Onanists? I guess a tomato, largely flung, and therein mashed could be seen as a Rorshach test...never seen it done that way.