Double Bass Bad Repair?

[Mikey3]

So would this be a deal breaker? Looks kinda rough, no clue what was done, but I am not a bass repair person so no clue. But is this something that you would run away from? try to fix better? or no big deal?

The pictures that were once deleted are back up online. I reported these as reference to the thread for purposes relating to my original question on whether this could be a deal breaker. Thank you to those who
Have helped by contributing your thoughts. When I removed the pictures it was not done to undermine your efforts and contributions as they did truly help. I roved them so that this would not become a bashing thread on shoddy repair work of someone else's bass, in which I did not play.

 

[Nathan Parker]

It depends on how much they want for the bass and how good it sounds.

But as a rule, yes, that is a deal breaker. That is a tragically awful repair job. Is that a Harley Davidson button glued in there? Altogether tragic.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Oh, ****.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

Personally, even if it was a solid repair, I wouldn't want it. Just nasty looking. I don't know what the rest of the bass is like, but if it is a nice carved instrument and you love the sound, a new neck would be a possibility. But don't pay too much for the bass…

 

[T-Bird]

Hi.

So would this be a deal breaker?

For me it wouldn't be.
More like a negotiation point.
A STRONG one .

It depends on how much they want for the bass and how good it sounds.

^This, and only this IMO.

IMLE that's very common BSO (box failure) repair method.

"Epoxy is STRONG, let's use epoxy" & "The more, the merrier" & "Let's put a few drywall screws there as well, just in case"


If the bass in question isn't a BSO or this repair effectively makes it one, then it's tragic indeed, otherwise it's just the nature of things.
Generally (over here anyway) it's an accepted line of thought that whoever owns whatever is free to treat their posession however they effing choose.

True, repairs like that makes repairing the abused instrument the correct way either very hard or even feasibly impossible, and most of us would probably buy that kinds of instruments for considerably more money if someone hadn't tried to repair it, but that's just the way it goes.

Please do keep us updated.
At least the price .

Regards
Sam

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

The bass, from the little we can see, appears to be German and decent. Maybe '50s, maybe '70s.

But that repair is absolutely a dealbreaker, at least in my opinion. If its a plywood bass, the cost to make that not suck would eclipse the value of the instrument. Even if it's fully carved, the repair cost would stop me in my tracks.

And of course people have every right to treat their possessions like crap if they so desire. I could drain all the oil out of the engine of my truck and dump a pound of sugar in the gas tank if I wanted to, but that would be stupid. I'd prefer to sell it and buy a better truck at some point, rather than destroy any value it has as happened to this poor, poor bass.

 

[Jake deVilliers]

Its an awful repair but it can be re-done. How does the bass sound? Show us the rest of the bass - and tell us the asking price!

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

$250.

 

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Price is shy of $800

OK.

No offense to the seller, but sounds like (s)he wants to keep it.
FOREVER.

If my untrained eyes or the camera angle, or both, doesn't decieve me, it looks like the neck angle has been reduced severely when the neck block failure has been repaired.

Could be a PITA to slap.
Could be impossible to bow.
And I do understand that when You're looking instruments like that DB there, bowing isn't the first thing you'd consider.
Believe me when I say that at some point You will .

$250.

If I didn't know the asking price, I'd probably offer 250€, but that's because these kind of instruments are like stray dogs to me.
Every single one should be rescued .

Regards
Sam

 

[tyb507]

This is one to walk away from! Unless you can get it for free or <$100 and know a good bass luthier to put a new neck on it. Who knows what else is wrong with it!

 

[petesenkowski]

What bass and repair are you all talking about?

 

[Arial Bender]

He removed the link.

 

[T-Bird]

Hi.

What bass and repair are you all talking about?

Yep, OP removed the pics.

Sad when that happens, really.
Probably had a good reason for it though.

It was a plywood BSO that had some questionable and ugly but probably pretty sturdy DIY repairs made to it.

Fortunately: "Once You post something on the 'net, it's forever there" .

Regards
Sam

 

[Mikey3]

I had removed the pictures as it is not my bass and not sure what benefit the pictures have anymore for us. The repair is terrible at best, and the community had answered any questions I had regarding the bass as to whether it may be worth the purchase to fix up or if it was too far gone. If the community wants them back, I still have them, but I did not think that having them here would be of any benefit to the community. Not sure how many times we have to say that its a terrible repair job, or what looking at how bad it is will do. I don't think that it gives us any more insight into basses expect maybe something to rag on. But if the community wants them as a reference or for a good reason, I can easily put them back.

 

[T-Bird]

Hi.

I had removed the pictures as it is not my bass and not sure what benefit the pictures have anymore for us. ..... But if the community wants them as a reference or for a good reason, I can easily put them back.

IMO that's the very reason I think it's sad when the pics that fueled the conversation are removed.

I still don't think those repairs on that bass weren't able to make the instrument playable for the person who owns/plays it, but then again, those kinds of repairs shouldn't be made in the first place.

The person who did the repairs, most likely didn't deliberately destroy what ever value that bass might have had in the first place, (s)he just din't know any better.
Or didn't want to sink more money into it.
Or...

Pretty easy reversible repair methods, even DIY, can be used on those kinds of damages, and the pics You posted are good reminders what NOT to do.
IMO at least.

Unfortunately I didn't take pics of my BSO when I did a similar pegbox-failure repair, but mine's somewhat reversible anyway.

Regards
Sam

 

[petesenkowski]

I had removed the pictures as it is not my bass and not sure what benefit the pictures have anymore for us. &#8230;.. But if the community wants them as a reference or for a good reason, I can easily put them back.

I don't have a good reason to have these as a reference, just a perverse fascination with bad repairs (as compensation for not wanting to see racing car wrecks, I guess); no need to put them back.

Thanks,
Pete

 

[james condino]

Often, images and feedback on self repairs add to the general body of our community to reinforce the message to potential DIY folks that, yes, you may be able to pull off something that will get you through an uncomfortable situation, but you should really try to do it in a manner that can be managed properly in the future or it will come back to you. If not, the only person you are foolling is yourself. That said, I'll be the first to encourage self reliance and a "can do" approach for your bass and life. Most people generally try to do a good job, but their enthusiasm is sometimes a bit ahead of their knowledge for the task.

j. (who never did get to see the original pics before they were removed)
www.condino.com
www.kaybassrepair.com

 

[Eric Hochberg]

I had removed the pictures as it is not my bass and not sure what benefit the pictures have anymore for us.

People spend their time and energy to post, so I think it is a matter of respecting that, and the photos, being an essential part of this thread, should remain.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

I would like to delete my contribution to this thread, but it's been quoted in another post so there seems to be no point in that. The OP should really consider that people sincerely wanted to help on what looks now to be a fools errand.

 

[Mikey3]

I would like to delete my contribution to this thread, but it's been quoted in another post so there seems to be no point in that. The OP should really consider that people sincerely wanted to help on what looks now to be a fools errand.

Could you explain how I did not appreciate the help of the community? When the pictures were removed it was because I had already received the help I needed to make a decision on a potential purchase. It was not meant as a slap in the face to those that helped me. I explain a few times my intentions and reasons for removal. Regardless the pics are back as reference.