Small Crack Questions

AaBass · #1 10-12-2009, 12:23 PM

Hey everyone. So I took my Bass out of its case at a rehearsal last week and I noticed this tiny crack thats starting to develop along the bottom edge (sorry I'm not sure what the correct term for that area is). I took some pictures:

Anyways, this is a brand new bass so i'm quite freaked out about this. I'm not sure what to blame for it because I never dropped it or anything so I don't think it was caused by an accident. Could it be due to humidity?

My main questions are:

A. Will continuing to play it make the crack get bigger?

B. Should/Can I take it to a luthier or other instrument repair shop and get it fixed?

C. How much would this cost?

Thanks guys.
Any comments, advice or stories of similar situations would be GREATLY appreciated.

Eric Hochberg · #2 10-12-2009, 01:32 PM

A. Will continuing to play it make the crack get bigger? It might.

B. Should/Can I take it to a luthier or other instrument repair shop and get it fixed? Yes, take it to a bass luthier.

C. How much would this cost? It is probably a simple glue and clamp job and won't be that expensive.

That's the lower bout rib area. It could have been caused by dryness if it wasn't knocked by something (you might see an indentation, too, if it was hit). Being a new bass, it may just be adjusting to being a bass! But if you start getting many of these and you are keeping the instrument in humidified rooms (as you should), somewhere between 35-45%, you may have a more serious problem with "green wood". Are you sure it's a crack and not a scratch?

AaBass · #3 10-12-2009, 03:25 PM

Thanks for the information. I'm planning to contact the company I bought it from as soon as possible and see if they can repair it. I am completely sure that its a crack, even though the picture looks a bit like a scratch. Also, since it first appeared it seems to have gotten slightly longer so I don't think I will play it again until I get it sent in. I guess at this point i'd like to know what I can do to keep it humidified. I'm going to college right now and I keep it in a locker in the music building at night. Should I purchase a humidifier? Any ideas?

Eric Hochberg · #4 10-12-2009, 04:39 PM

Make sure the room where the locker is has a humidity level as I described above. If it doesn't, then either have a humidifier put in that room or take it home and do it there. Heat on in the winter is notorious for drying out rooms and basses. If you do a search there are threads on this topic.

AaBass · #5 10-12-2009, 08:49 PM

Great. Thanks a lot for all the information.

Jake deVilliers · #6 10-13-2009, 12:31 AM

Hey Aa, take that bass to David Nerad pronto! He'll glue that crack before it gets any bigger and he'll cleat it if necessary.

Not strictly a DB guy but an excellent craftsman who builds award winning violas and repairs all strings.

You'll find him in the B'ham phone book.

AaBass · #7 11-06-2009, 10:08 AM

Wow a local name. Thats really lucky thanks alot.

Jake deVilliers · #8 11-06-2009, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaBass

Wow a local name. Thats really lucky thanks alot.

No problem - say Hi for me, would you?

wayne holmes · #9 11-22-2009, 11:20 AM

take it to a bass luthier ASAP before it gets worse. Good luck -thanks for the pictures- they always make the answers easier.