Repairing cracks on the top at home/myself???

[sveinis]

Hi! I wonder if I can repair this myself without taking the top of! With tools like neodyn magnets, hide glue etc)
It´s an old 5 string. Not so important for my to not damage finish during repair on this one. I wonder if I can repair it so I can play it again or if I just make things worse....What tools do I need if I can repair it?
Best regards, Svein

See pics:

[bigolbassguy]

I'd leave it to a pro. It looks like to top needs to come off to do things right. You'd probably have to spend more money on the tools needed than you would pay a luthier.

[sveinis]

Originally Posted by bigolbassguy

I'd leave it to a pro. It looks like to top needs to come off to do things right. You'd probably have to spend more money on the tools needed than you would pay a luthier.

Well, the luthier is 5hours driving each way, and taking top of is and glue is 5000usd here....(Norway) what tools would I need to repair?


http://www.stewmac.com/
suggested to glue without taking off the top...

[Matthew Tucker]

No I would certainly not want to try to repair that top without taking it off, even with all the magnets in the world. And especially for a 5 string. Looks like a nice - perhaps bohemian - bass but no overhangs on the ribs means that it will be difficult to glue the top back accurately. Even for a luthier it is a bit tricky. So maybe $5000 for a complete repair job is worth it? Really depends on the bass. Is/was it a nice one?

What are the circular markings just under the fingerboard?

[sveinis]

Originally Posted by Matthew Tucker

No I would certainly not want to try to repair that top without taking it off, even with all the magnets in the world. And especially for a 5 string. Looks like a nice - perhaps bohemian - bass but no overhangs on the ribs means that it will be difficult to glue the top back accurately. Even for a luthier it is a bit tricky. So maybe $5000 for a complete repair job is worth it? Really depends on the bass. Is/was it a nice one?

What are the circular markings just under the fingerboard?

The circular markings: I´ve been told maybe this bass was a military bass (it´s quite old)
Yeah, a nice one, but quite thin top, I´m thinking of havin gut strings on it maybe, since I want less pressure on the top.
The neck is quite chunky...

[michaeln]

Originally Posted by sveinis

The circular markings: I´ve been told maybe this bass was a military bass

Did they use it as a target?

[sveinis]

Originally Posted by michaeln

Did they use it as a target?

No, as a weapon.

[bigolbassguy]

Is it a flatback? If so, could we see a full picture of the entire bass for identification purposes?

[Jason Sypher]

Tops got to come off. Maybe you can do that part yourself since it's already pretty cracked up. Do you have any clue how to release a top? Are there any places where the seams are already unglued?

[Matthew Tucker]

hope its not a valuable one