Urgent Question - Seam!

Kevin Hsieh · #1 09-20-2007, 04:14 PM

If you've been following my escapades on this forum, you'll have known that I've been having weird vibrations on and off. Well i finally found the source of it. It's a pretty big seam on the lower left bout of my bass.

Probably about a foot in length..haven't really measured it. Have it covered and secured with some gaffer tape. Its playable... and will probably drop it off at David Gage's sometime next week after my lesson in the village.

Does anyone have an idea of how much this would cost? I called them and they estimated 80 an hour... Is there a cheaper place where I can get a low profile repair done. I'm on 116 and broadway.

Thanks

Mark Carlsen · #2 09-20-2007, 04:19 PM

You might of made the repair more expensive by using the gaffers tape...Nice and sticky on the Varnish.

toman · #3 09-20-2007, 04:25 PM

Last time I paid someone to glue a seam it was like thirty bucks, I think. It doesn't take much.

Kevin Hsieh · #4 09-20-2007, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Carlsen

You might of made the repair more expensive by using the gaffers tape...Nice and sticky on the Varnish.

this got recommended by another TBer. I've seen another instructor do the same before a clinic he had with us. iono... i have two lessons and a couple gigs and rehearsals to play before i have the time to bring it to the shop :[

milomo · #5 09-20-2007, 04:25 PM

BILL MERCHANT. He's only in NYC on Tuesdays and Thursdays (29th between 7th and 8th, right by Penn Station and the 1,2,3,and 9 trains), but he'll do a great job, and it'll cost you a fraction of what it would at Gage's. Email him, or PM me and I'll give you his phone numbers.

toman · #6 09-20-2007, 04:30 PM

I don't hink gaffers tape would be a problem, the main point of it is that it's less sticky and doesn't leave a residue. Also, you could just glue the seam yourself. I think you can get hide glue in a bottle at most hardware stores. Not permanent, but it might get you by...

MingusAmongUs · #7 09-20-2007, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toman

I don't hink gaffers tape would be a problem, the main point of it is that it's less sticky and doesn't leave a residue. Also, you could just glue the seam yourself. I think you can get hide glue in a bottle at most hardware stores. Not permanent, but it might get you by...

He would also need to buy or build about 12 clamps...

Gage gave you the hourly rate but it may not actually be an hour's work. I would hope they wouldn't charge you a full hour, but ask before you buy. In any case, do take care of it ASAP, as it will only get worse. You'll only need to be without the bass overnight while the glue sets up.

milomo · #8 09-20-2007, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MingusAmongUs

He would also need to buy or build about 12 clamps...

Gage gave you the hourly rate but it may not actually be an hour's work. I would hope they wouldn't charge you a full hour, but ask before you buy. In any case, do take care of it ASAP, as it will only get worse. You'll only need to be without the bass overnight while the glue sets up.

This from Gage's website - "There is a $50.00 minimum bench fee for repairs." So even if they don't charge for the full hour, it's gonna cost.

philip sirois · #9 09-20-2007, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milomo

BILL MERCHANT. He's only in NYC on Tuesdays and Thursdays (29th between 7th and 8th, right by Penn Station and the 1,2,3,and 9 trains), but he'll do a great job, and it'll cost you a fraction of what it would at Gage's. Email him, or PM me and I'll give you his phone numbers.

+1 excellent luthier , especially for a young student on a budget -he's very sensitive to cost and will never get happy spending your money for you. A very nice guy. I bet he'll fix that pretty cheap. Well worth getting to know him if you'll be in the city.

toman · #10 09-20-2007, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MingusAmongUs

He would also need to buy or build about 12 clamps...

Or a bag of dog food, flour, sugar etc... I am the ninja woodworker.

Also, rubber bands are handy for clamping, as is, again, tape of various sorts.

Kevin Hsieh · #11 09-20-2007, 07:00 PM

Thanks guys. I shot an email at Bill Merchant. I'm excited to work with him.

Mark Carlsen · #12 09-20-2007, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toman

I don't hink gaffers tape would be a problem, the main point of it is that it's less sticky and doesn't leave a residue. Also, you could just glue the seam yourself. I think you can get hide glue in a bottle at most hardware stores. Not permanent, but it might get you by...

You would hope....believe me I have worked on alot of basses who's owners thought they might TAPE it up as a tempory repair...BAD IDEA>>>>

shostkontrabass · #13 09-20-2007, 10:26 PM

I had a seam split once. The repair kits from Lemur work great, you can do it yourself. But if you need it soon and you don't think you could do it right, sending it to a Luthier sounds like the best idea, although more spendy.

toman · #14 09-21-2007, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Carlsen

You would hope....believe me I have worked on alot of basses who's owners thought they might TAPE it up as a tempory repair...BAD IDEA>>>>

Well, I'm not really talking about gaffer's tap as a repair, just as a temporary solution or clamping solution. Given that most basses in question are probably finished in poly, (i.e. plastic) tape is probably not going to hurt anything. In my experience, you'd have to be dealing with the most delicate finish out there to have a problem with gaffers tape over a short time. That said, i'm no luthier, just a guy who likes to fix his own problems. On the short term. To me, varnish is varnish. If it gets a little messed up as the result of a temp. repair, well... oh well. People will probably do worse things to the bass after I'm dead.

arnoldschnitzer · #15 09-21-2007, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Hsieh

Does anyone have an idea of how much this would cost? I called them and they estimated 80 an hour... Is there a cheaper place where I can get a low profile repair done. I'm on 116 and broadway.

Thanks

"The sting of poor quality lasts much longer than the pain of paying a fair price." (Or something like that, goes the proverb)

Seriously, have you considered what goes into that $80/hr price? Here's a short list:

Rent (in NYC , fuhggedaboudit)
Tools
Expertise
Health Insurance
Payroll Taxes
Facilities Insurance (Bend over!)
Administrative costs

Frankly, I think $80/hr in NYC is quite reasonable. I pay more to get my car serviced. I realize you are a student, and money is probably tight, but please don't skimp to get a "low profile repair". What does that mean, anyway?

KSB - Ken Smith · #16 09-21-2007, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arnoldschnitzer

"The sting of poor quality lasts much longer than the pain of paying a fair price." (Or something like that, goes the proverb)

Seriously, have you considered what goes into that $80/hr price? Here's a short list:

Rent (in NYC , fuhggedaboudit)
Tools
Expertise
Health Insurance
Payroll Taxes
Facilities Insurance (Bend over!)
Administrative costs

Frankly, I think $80/hr in NYC is quite reasonable. I pay more to get my car serviced. I realize you are a student, and money is probably tight, but please don't skimp to get a "low profile repair". What does that mean, anyway?

Arnold, you missed the 'commercial rent tax'. That is a tax on your annual rent PLUS your real estate taxes included. It's tax ON tax. That is one of the reasons I left NY. My butt was getting sore!

Cost of living is higher too and employees in NYC need more to survive than say like.. The subs in PA..

I am in business today and doing well BECAUSE I left NY.

Also, personal taxes are way up there for state and city if you live in NY. PA is a 2.8% flat rate no matter how much you earn (except stocks) and the local where I am was 1% and now about 1 1/4 or 1 1/2%. That was a huge raise for me and left some cash in my pocked drawing the same salary as I did before. I can also pass on savings (if I choose to do so) within my business. When you are in NY, you are paying out thru the nose. Sometimes with your nose as well..lol

Sam Sherry · #17 09-21-2007, 08:35 AM

Always nice to see you, Mr. Smith

MingusAmongUs · #18 09-21-2007, 08:44 AM

Yep, the City of NY takes income tax too if you live OR work there. When I did both, the percentage of my income that went to taxes (all tolled) came to somewhere around 45%, whereas here in CT it's closer to 30%. That's a big, painful 15%. Another 15% and we're talking Scandinavian numbers... the big difference being that health care is guaranteed to all there, as part of the bargain.

Of course, this applies to David Gage and Kevin Hsieh.

I do agree with Arnold -- $80 is reasonable for NYC, and frankly I would've thought he'd (Gage) charge more.
But I think David's tools are paid for! (I know I know, they need replacing and fixing too).

Kevin Hsieh · #19 09-21-2007, 09:10 AM

haha. you never know which thread will turn into a monster.

i ask for some recommendations on other luthiers that will be a little more forgiving on my wallet and then the big boys come in and look what happens

Just to throw it out there. I'm willing to shell out the 80 bucks an hour for a repair and I have no doubt in my mind that Gage will do an amazing job, but keep in mind that I'm going to an Ivy league college in New York that doesn't provide scholarship and I don't really qualify for financial aid.

my parents are more than happy to send money over (and they just did to subsidize my winter clothes purchases in the future), but i'm trying my best to limit my personal expenses (shows, dinners off campus, gear, CDs, instrument repairs) to the money i make from gigs, which quite frankly at the moment isn't really that much since i just got here and I just started gigging last week.

thanks for all your replies. it's starting to hit me that although i'm absolutely in love with the city, to stay afloat is very very difficult. I'm sure I'll be doing business with David Gage in the near future.

best, kev

1st Bass · #20 09-21-2007, 09:37 AM

Hang in there, Bud. The education you receive will be worth it. On the other hand, I have to agree that $80/hour in NYC is probably very reasonable.

Go to a Jiffy-lube, or whatever the local equivalent is called, and ask what they charge for shop-time for things outside their normal oil-it-and-go specials. I'll bet it is right at $80/hr for their time, too, and they are not exactly trained craftsmen.

All the other solutions mentioned are workable too-- I do my own repairs, but then I build instruments, and have the tools, the glue-pot, the clamps, etc. Depends on what you want to do with your time/money.