Repair work recommendations and advice

[bassgoalie]

I have an approx 14 year old Romanian Carved top bass that is in rough condition. This is partially due to the extremely dry climate that i live in (Whitehorse, Yukon) and partially through neglect as I am an elementary school teacher and have had little time or opportunity to have this bass properly cared for. The bass was also repaired in the past by a very unskilled repair person and they did more damage than good. Originally, I never cared for the sound or feel of this bass and thought of it as a stop on the way to a nicer bass.
Here is a list of the work that need to be done.
-There is a long crack in the top from the tail to underneath the bridge (It is a carved top bass). This is the biggest part. The top or back will have to be removed.
- There is also a smaller crack on the top that has been repaired before but seems to be peeling at the edge.
- The metal corner piece that the tailpiece wire sits on is lifting.
- The finger board needs to be glued down
- Wooden end pin holder needs to be replaced
- The back has come unglued in a few places.
- The bridge needs to be re-seated on the top.
- There are a few seams and corners that may have become unglued.
I am unsure whether this would be considered a repair or a restoration.
The problem is that over the last couple of years I have really noticed an improvement in the sound of the bass and I have become much more attached to it even in it's rough condition. I think it has a nice sound. I am at a point where I need to make a decision over what I should do. I am playing quite a bit more and need a reliable instrument. I am considering these options.
1- Get the most basic repairs done and risk the damage that can happen in this dry climate. I also have the problem that I need to ship /transport it somewhere down south for repairs (Edmonton or Calgary Alberta, Canada). The repairs will be done in a different climate. Will this just lead to more problems?
2-Have someone take this bass apart and repair it properly. The climate problems still apply. Would the bass end up sounding very differently? Finding someone in Western Canada capable and willing to do the repairs in a reasonable amount of time could be difficult as well. If i went this route, I would also like to have the cosmetic appearance worked on as well if this is possible.
3-Give up on this bass and buy a plywood bass that would be more stable in our dry climate. I don't really want to go back to that "New Bass" sound but it might be the most problem free solution. I like having a carved bass but it might not be practical for me. I am guessing that the repairs will be quite expensive and it may be just as cost effective to replace the bass.

I am looking for advice or experience if you can help me. As well, can anyone suggest any good repair people in Western Canada , preferably in Edmonton or Calgary? Does anyone have experience shipping their bass somewhere for repairs?
Thank you for any knowledge or advice that you can give.
Jon

[Eric Hochberg]

I'm not sure if climate plays a role in this if it is always dry where you are located. I think it's usually a changing climate that causes the swelling and shrinking of the wood that can lead to problems. What is the yearly range of humidity in your area? You know that you need to humidify the room the bass is kept in when the heat goes on and the room humidity goes down, I assume? But any bass will have to acclimate to a different climate than it is used to, including any bass you buy in the future.

My friend Mike Arnopol, who posts here, brought a new bass over from Italy last year and I was concerned about how it would make it through its first Chicago winter. He kept his home's humidity at 45% or so for a while, then lowered it a bit and didn't take the bass out until later in the season. It made it through fine.

It sounds like you will have a pretty large repair bill on this one, your option 3 might be the best solution. But I'm not convinced that a plywood bass is a necessity for you, although without a good luthier in your area, it may be a more practical option.