Custom Onboard preamp help

[ckulasekere1]

Hello All
I'm new to this side of the forum so please bear with a newbie and I would appreicate any help anyone can shed on this topic.

I got an upright bass today. it is hand built south of the border and during trasit it acquired a hole on the side facing the player if right handed. This is my first experience owning one of these instruments and I was wondering if instead of having that section fixed with wood, if I could install an onboard preamp of some kind similar to what would be found in an acoustic/electric in the hole.

Any help will be awesome in ways of either pointing me to an existing thread on this topic (i searched) or if anyone knows of a specific item or combination of items that would work for this applicaiton. Thanks in advance

[fdeck]

I suggest having it fixed. But I admit to having an emotional bias towards keeping a bass pristine if possible. People often try different preamps in the process of getting the right sound -- a process that can take months or years. Once a preamp is installed in your bass, you're stuck with it. Also, the wiring has to be firmly attached inside the bass or it will rattle around, and you don't have a convenient sound hole like a guitar to gain access to the inside of the bass.

[bolo]

That's a shame it was damaged in transit. Ouch.

I agree w/ fdeck. Probably the best thing to do is to have a decent luthier repair it properly.

[ToneRanger]

The gents above have a good point, but maybe there's a compromise. If you can shape a panel that covers the hole, and attaches by screwing to a similar panel on the inside (without putting screw holes in the bass), perhaps you can install a preamp in the panle without messing with the bass. Then at a later date you still have the option of a full repair if you so decide.
K&K will sell their preamps without the case if you want one for install (or you can just buy one and remove it yourself).

[ckulasekere]

thank you all. yes it wsa a big bummer it got the hole in the side because even tho it isn't anything fancy it is still a beautiful hand-crafted instrument.

Thanks all