Double Bass Advice needed on Kolstein Guarneri model neck angle repair

[luisraulmunoz]

Hello, last year my bass suffered an accident upon arriving from a flight from San Juan to Orlando, a crack developed on the lower scroll area. Was recommended a shop in Tampa where I was told I needed a neck graft (later some people have told me it would have been better and cheaper just to do a new scroll but who knew), they ended up taking almost 7 months and when I got the instrument the guy had changed the neck angle and position of the neck, increasing string length by 2 inches
Don’t get me started on the fingerboard…

This bass I bought it precisely because I had never found a bass where I found the intonation to be so easy (I noticed this on other copies of this model and some of the other Kolstein basses I tried back in 2019) the instrument and setup fit me like a glove and I had tried many instruments at the time.

I thought I’d get used to the changes but though I can technically play the instrument it feels like a totally different instrument and is not as ergonomically helpful, needless to say it’s incredibly annoying to know it used to be so much better

I thought to go to the Kolstein luthiers since they’d know how to correct the neck placement but given the situation at the moment I’ve been advised to hold off on that

Also I don’t have the previous measurements myself so hard to describe to a luthier what I’d want.

I really loved this instrument particularly for solo playing and still has a very good sound but I’d give anything to restore it even if it might not be a "good investment" given it’s not such an expensive instrument.
Any advice would be appreciated.

LM

 

[lurk]

Increased the string length by two inches!?!?! Yikes. If this is true you might consider sharing the name of the shop so everyone can avoid it. I'm really sorry that happened to you. A good luthier can put it right I'm sure, but it's gonna cost. Kolstein may not even exist these days - there's a thread about that - but if you let folks know where you are you'll get good suggestions.

 

[RSBBass]

How did they increase the length? Depending on how they did it, it may be fairly easy to reverse. Also, have you tried talking to them about it?

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

This is malpractice, and I would have refused to pay until they got the job right. The easy way is to cheat it with the longest false nut you’ve ever seen. The right way is another neck graft by someone who isn’t drunk at work.

 

[dperrott]

First off I think people are too quick to scroll graft or replace a neck. It is a very hard job. There are ways to fix a crack. That repair sounds completely over kill for what it was. There are many areas of a scroll that can easily be repaired. You will probably need the neck removed and then reset. The neck and or neck block may have to be altered. Worst case you may need another neck. Probably will need a new bridge and a new board or atleast dressed. Sorry to hear about it. What a mess

 

[eh_train]

... a crack developed on the lower scroll area ...

Hi Luis,

Do you have pics of the original problem, pre-repair?

Curious because, as others have suggested, the repair may have been way more than what was necessary. You might be able to make the case that they over-did the repair, and actually diminished your bass. Then they'd owe you money, instead of vice-versa.

A neck graft is kind of like open heart, triple bypass surgery. Unless you're very lucky, it's difficult to get back "my exact bass, in every way, only with a new neck"...

 

[luisraulmunoz]

They did it

How did they increase the length? Depending on how they did it, it may be fairly easy to reverse. Also, have you tried talking to them about it?

They did it by installing the neck differently in the block

 

[luisraulmunoz]

This is malpractice, and I would have refused to pay until they got the job right. The easy way is to cheat it with the longest false nut you’ve ever seen. The right way is another neck graft by someone who isn’t drunk at work.

You are right, I didn’t realize at the moment how different the string length had changed, hard to describe the circumstances

 

[luisraulmunoz]

First off I think people are too quick to scroll graft or replace a neck. It is a very hard job. There are ways to fix a crack. That repair sounds completely over kill for what it was. There are many areas of a scroll that can easily be repaired. You will probably need the neck removed and then reset. The neck and or neck block may have to be altered. Worst case you may need another neck. Probably will need a new bridge and a new board or atleast dressed. Sorry to hear about it. What a mess

Other people gave told me the same thing after the fact. The cheaper and more logical solution was to do a new scroll since it’s not an old instrument

 

[luisraulmunoz]

Hi Luis,

Do you have pics of the original problem, pre-repair?

Curious because, as others have suggested, the repair may have been way more than what was necessary. You might be able to make the case that they over-did the repair, and actually diminished your bass. Then they'd owe you money, instead of vice-versa.

A neck graft is kind of like open heart, triple bypass surgery. Unless you're very lucky, it's difficult to get back "my exact bass, in every way, only with a new neck"...

 

[luisraulmunoz]

I realize absolute exactitude may not be possible but some luthiers I spoken to since say you can get very close if the measurements are taken carefully

 

[RSBBass]

I personally fixed a far worse scroll break than that without replacing the neck and I am not a luthier. At this point I do think it would be appropriate to name the shop so they don't victimize anyone else.

 

[luisraulmunoz]

This is malpractice, and I would have refused to pay until they got the job right. The easy way is to cheat it with the longest false nut you’ve ever seen. The right way is another neck graft by someone who isn’t drunk at work.

I just wish I had an exact measurement of the angle and position before

 

[luisraulmunoz]

First off I think people are too quick to scroll graft or replace a neck. It is a very hard job. There are ways to fix a crack. That repair sounds completely over kill for what it was. There are many areas of a scroll that can easily be repaired. You will probably need the neck removed and then reset. The neck and or neck block may have to be altered. Worst case you may need another neck. Probably will need a new bridge and a new board or atleast dressed. Sorry to hear about it. What a mess

I believe they copied the actual neck as such but altered the neck block quite a bit here’s photo before and after (sorry the before photo not good quality had to do a screenshot from a video)
Also the fingerboard was altered very poorly, I have to raise the strings unusually high in order not to get rattle if playing orchestral excerpts on the g string

 

[eh_train]

That’s a ply Shen, if I’m not mistaken. You can buy a similar entire replacement neck from Eastman, with fingerboard and finish taken care of, for $350. Lower cost and a better result for what you needed.

 

[luisraulmunoz]

That’s a ply Shen, if I’m not mistaken. You can buy a similar entire replacement neck from Eastman, with fingerboard and finish taken care of, for $350. Lower cost and a better result for what you needed.

What’s a "ply Shen"? Not sure I understand what you’re referring to

 

[AGCurry]

What’s a "ply Shen"? Not sure I understand what you’re referring to

A Shen bass, laminated (plywood) wood.

 

[luisraulmunoz]

A Shen bass, laminated (plywood) wood.

Yes but it’s not a Shen and definitely not plywood, I’ve played plywood and carved Shen basses and I believe I can tell the difference

 

[Don Hergert]

Here's the description of the Kolstein Guarneri model double bass from the Kolstein website.

Is there a question about what brand or build the OP double bass is?

 

[luisraulmunoz]

Here's the description of the Kolstein Guarneri model double bass from the Kolstein website.

Is there a question about what brand or build the OP double bass is?

Thanks, that’s the exact description. t’s very odd that someone would confuse my bass with such different models when I’ve stated the facts, perhaps someone cross posted by mistake