The neck is definitely sagging under the tension. If you can get the bridge recut, it might work okay for a while. If not, I'm in James' boat, sell it to someone who wants to to fix it up right. Preferably for cheap... 
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Double Bass Amateur neck repair?
- Thread starter chriscrob
- Start date
I'm not even thinking about that. It is the bridge. Because I'm fairly sure the neck isn't going to be adjustable...so it has to be the bridge? Please let it be the bridge.
- Jan 24, 2002
- 2,117
- 950
- Disclosures
- NS Design / AER Endorsing Artist
The neck angle is, unfortunately, highly variable when it's being reset. Given the quality of the repair, it seems highly likely that the neck angle was not properly set. That in of itself should be grounds for a refund.
Yeah, I know it COULD be the neck. I'm just hoping the new bridge will be enough. This whole thing just makes me sick to my stomach.
It is playable on the lower registers of each string though...it'll be fine for screwing around playing acoustic shows even the way it is.
The neck angle is obviously the problem. A bunch of crap got jammed into the neck pocket in lieu of a proper reset job. The back of the heel is too high and the front of the heel, near the fingerboard, is low. Period.
If you cut the bridge down, that will decrease the pressure the bridge exerts on the soundboard and decrease the response the bass is capable of producing. Period.
Those two facts are why folks are so disgusted with this alleged repair. And anyone who tries to play this bass as-is will wreck their tendons. It sucks, but it is what it is.
If you cut the bridge down, that will decrease the pressure the bridge exerts on the soundboard and decrease the response the bass is capable of producing. Period.
Those two facts are why folks are so disgusted with this alleged repair. And anyone who tries to play this bass as-is will wreck their tendons. It sucks, but it is what it is.
Ouch! I feel really sorry for the OP. This kind of situation makes a man wish that luthiers had a trade organization that could certify who is competent and weed out the hacks (who seem to be in the majority).
Look... all of this can be undone. Its gonna cost you some money, but, you will still be way ahead on the bass considering what you paid for it.
The neck will have to be carefully removed from the bass and all the crap that was used as glue removed.
This time around, do some detailed research on the internet about someone local to you that is a qualified luthier. If all else fails, contact someone from the Atlanta symphony and get a name of a repairman.
Take a look at http://www.stringrepair.com/ and see what a neck reset should look like so you know going in what needs to be done. Stay away from anyone suggesting screws into anything. That is a red flag. You are going to be in now for a new neck, fingerboard, bridge, and reset. Think 1K.
Good luck, take a deep breath, and go get it fixed correctly. You will still come out far ahead.
The neck will have to be carefully removed from the bass and all the crap that was used as glue removed.
This time around, do some detailed research on the internet about someone local to you that is a qualified luthier. If all else fails, contact someone from the Atlanta symphony and get a name of a repairman.
Take a look at http://www.stringrepair.com/ and see what a neck reset should look like so you know going in what needs to be done. Stay away from anyone suggesting screws into anything. That is a red flag. You are going to be in now for a new neck, fingerboard, bridge, and reset. Think 1K.
Good luck, take a deep breath, and go get it fixed correctly. You will still come out far ahead.
Dayum! I got a really nice fingerboard from Upton when I was there not too long ago. Eric picked it out and handed it to me and I paid $250 bucks for it.
Even if the OP does spend two grand, he can make an extra grand on top of that when he sells it. 33% profit isnt bad. Or he can play a very badass bass.
Even if the OP does spend two grand, he can make an extra grand on top of that when he sells it. 33% profit isnt bad. Or he can play a very badass bass.
- Jan 24, 2002
- 2,117
- 950
- Disclosures
- NS Design / AER Endorsing Artist
Here's a helpful link:
https://www.bbb.org/consumer-complaints/file-a-complaint/get-started
You need to get a refund.
https://www.bbb.org/consumer-complaints/file-a-complaint/get-started
You need to get a refund.
Honestly, I would just get the bridge recut and play on it. It is possible that the repair will fail over time so just monitor it. If you start noticing the strings getting higher off the fingerboard, that's a good sign that something is up. Until then, it's still a bass. There are way shadier repairs floating around and people are playing on them just fine.
Update:
The bridge the guy ordered came in and the action is workable. The bass is significantly quieter (I knew that would happen) but I can play every note on the neck which is my main priority for right now. I had considered selling/trading it so I could practice but as long as I'm playing in my apartment a quiet, playable bass is ok with me. It will take me awhile to afford the real repairs and I wasn't ok with not practicing beyond 2nd position until then. Before the bridge change, I put a set of Corelli 370Ms on to make it easier to play but I'm considering putting the Heliocore Hybrid Mediums back on to get back a little bit of pizz volume.
I've gotten a quote from Ronald Sachs in Atlanta to redo the whole thing for $2500. That for a new neck with the original scroll and new fingerboard/bridge/nut etc.
At both my instructor and Heifetzbass' recommendation, I've contacted Emory Clements in Atlanta and I'm in the process of getting an estimate from him.
Does $2500 sound right or could this be done cheaper? I'm not sure I can spend that much right now but I'm hoping someone can do the job for less than that.
Details for anyone who might be interested:
The neck is 2.5" off the body, the old bridge was 5.75" high and the new one is 4.5." The string length is 42.5" (which I think is short for an American Standard---is the bridge supposed to be directly over the soundpost?)
The bridge the guy ordered came in and the action is workable. The bass is significantly quieter (I knew that would happen) but I can play every note on the neck which is my main priority for right now. I had considered selling/trading it so I could practice but as long as I'm playing in my apartment a quiet, playable bass is ok with me. It will take me awhile to afford the real repairs and I wasn't ok with not practicing beyond 2nd position until then. Before the bridge change, I put a set of Corelli 370Ms on to make it easier to play but I'm considering putting the Heliocore Hybrid Mediums back on to get back a little bit of pizz volume.
I've gotten a quote from Ronald Sachs in Atlanta to redo the whole thing for $2500. That for a new neck with the original scroll and new fingerboard/bridge/nut etc.
At both my instructor and Heifetzbass' recommendation, I've contacted Emory Clements in Atlanta and I'm in the process of getting an estimate from him.
Does $2500 sound right or could this be done cheaper? I'm not sure I can spend that much right now but I'm hoping someone can do the job for less than that.
Details for anyone who might be interested:
The neck is 2.5" off the body, the old bridge was 5.75" high and the new one is 4.5." The string length is 42.5" (which I think is short for an American Standard---is the bridge supposed to be directly over the soundpost?)
That price is in the ballpark; it is a lot of work and you likely got an additional tax for cleaning up someone someone else's mess instead of going to him the first time around.
Even at those numbers, if done right, you'll wind up with a nice bass and be into it for about the fair market value. You could still sell it and recoup all of your money so far without much trouble.
Thanks for keeping the thread alive and letting folks see what it can be like out in the trenches....
PM sent with a few more ideas.
j.
Even at those numbers, if done right, you'll wind up with a nice bass and be into it for about the fair market value. You could still sell it and recoup all of your money so far without much trouble.
Thanks for keeping the thread alive and letting folks see what it can be like out in the trenches....
PM sent with a few more ideas.
j.
I don't know what you paid for the bass. You have to add up the purchase, what you've spent , and what you still have to spend, compare it to a realistic resale price, and make your own decision. You can buy a new bass for the same $2,500.
Frankly, I'd consider taking the first repair guy to Small Claims Court to get my money back.
Frankly, I'd consider taking the first repair guy to Small Claims Court to get my money back.
Jake deVilliers
Commercial User
- May 24, 2006
- 6,349
- 607
- Disclosures
- Owner of The Bass Spa, String Repairman at Long & McQuade Vancouver
The price is fair for the amount of work involved. You already found somebody who was willing to 'repair' your bass for less and it didn't turn out very well, did it? 
The price is fair for the amount of work involved. You already found somebody who was willing to 'repair' your bass for less and it didn't turn out very well, did it?
haha. I'll sell it before I try another "cheap" fix. but if somebody else can do a similar job for cheaper I wouldn't complain.
Scroll graft, neck set (including undoing that hack-job), repairing the block, fitting and planing the fingerboard, fitting a new bridge, varnish, setup, cost of parts...$2500 seems reasonable. Might find out if a pre-carved neck can be sourced and forgo the graft to save some $$ perhaps.
yeah, if I spend the money to fix it I'm probably not going to want to sell it---so even if the scroll graft increased re-sale value it probably wouldn't be worth it to me.
I'll look into the replacement neck option.
I'll look into the replacement neck option.
