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Bass bar Detached - Screw it?

Discussion in 'Setup & Repair [DB]' started by Vin, Jul 3, 2003.

  1. Jul 3, 2003 #1
    Vin

    Vin Guest

    Jul 3, 2003
    West Chester, PA
    I was looking at a bass for sale. '53 Kay for 800 bucks. The site says "The bass bar is slightly detached and may be warped to the point where only screws thru the top will get it to hold." Ok so how much would it cost to replace the bass bar? I'd rather not screw thru the bass if possible. Thanks guys!
     
  2. Jul 3, 2003 #2
    Bob Branstetter

    Bob Branstetter

    Feb 7, 2002
    Stanley, KS (Kansas City)
    I can't think of a much faster way to make an instrument lose most of it's value that putting screws through the top. Loose bass bars on Kay basses is a pretty common malady and can frequently be reglued without totally removing the top. Repair prices vary greatly from one part of the country to another, so talk to your local luthiers for a ballpark estimate.
     
  3. Jul 3, 2003 #3
    Marcus Johnson

    Marcus Johnson

    Nov 28, 2001
    Maui
    Oh man, I've seen that "repair" on a Kay. There's a guy out here who has not only sunk a bunch of big screws thru the top into the bass bar, he's also screwed the soundpost on from the top and the back. He finished off the hapless beast with a few coats of white Krylon. Sheesh.
     
  4. Jul 3, 2003 #4
    davegr8house

    davegr8house Guest

    Aug 13, 2001
    Franklin, Tennessee
    The Bass Bar is warped or the Top Table?
    Dave
     
  5. Jul 3, 2003 #5
    Vin

    Vin Guest

    Jul 3, 2003
    West Chester, PA
    The bass bar is warped, not the top.

    Yeah I'm not crazy about the idea of driving screws into the thing. I can't imagine that would really help anything at all.

    So for 800 bucks though, the rest of the bass (1953 Kay M1) is supposed to be in great condition, is it worth it or is this going to be a major issue? is the repair cost to resale value ratio pretty good? or am i going to sink another 500 bucks into a bass that remains an $800 bass?

    i guess it's a non-issue actually because i have no cash, but in the event i should come across the money, i wanna be ready to go.
     
  6. Jul 3, 2003 #6
    Bob Branstetter

    Bob Branstetter

    Feb 7, 2002
    Stanley, KS (Kansas City)
    I would like to know how he was able to tell the bar was warped. My past experience with Kays tells me that is highly unlikey.
     
  7. Jul 3, 2003 #7
    Vin

    Vin Guest

    Jul 3, 2003
    West Chester, PA
  8. Jul 3, 2003 #8
    arnoldschnitzer

    arnoldschnitzer AES Fine Instruments

    Feb 16, 2002
    New Mexico. USA
    If the bass bar has only been partially detached for a short while, and the gap is small, it could possibly be glued up without top removal. If the top has to be taken off, the bar should be removed and a new one fitted. This could cost from about $750 to over $2000, depending on the location and the luthier. If the bass is great, you'll end up with a $2500-3000 instrument.
     
  9. Jul 5, 2003 #9
    Don Higdon

    Don Higdon In Memoriam

    Dec 11, 1999
    Princeton Junction, NJ
    Please tell me this was a do-it-yourself repair by the owner, so I know the a-hole got what he deserved.
     
  10. Jul 5, 2003 #10
    Marcus Johnson

    Marcus Johnson

    Nov 28, 2001
    Maui
    Actually, he's half of a very famous Hawaiian duo, brothers, who've become extremely successful and wealthy over the years.
     
  11. Jul 6, 2003 #11
    nicklloyd

    nicklloyd Supporting Member/Luthier

    Jan 27, 2002
    Cincinnati, Ohio
    wow, what a thread...
    .02-Skip the purchase of this Kay, unless you can get it cheaper :D There are other Kays out there with less problems.

    Marcus- I read in the past about a Hawaiian bass convention? Have you been to it? I'm trying to talk Jeff into going...
     
  12. Jul 6, 2003 #12
    Marcus Johnson

    Marcus Johnson

    Nov 28, 2001
    Maui
    Yup, it's an annual DB symposium in Honolulu that I always miss because I'm all booked up by the time I hear about it. I'm playing the Hawaii Int'l Jazz Fest over there on the 19th, and I'll be seeing a couple of the bassists who participate in the Symposium, so if I can find out anything, I'll post it here.

    Whoops, make that every two years, next one should be in '04. Here's an article on the last one.http://starbulletin.com/2002/03/22/features/story3.html

    Let me know if you're comin', I'll clear my sched. Save some time for Maui.
     
  13. Jul 8, 2003 #13
    Vin

    Vin Guest

    Jul 3, 2003
    West Chester, PA
    hey -- thanks for the advice on this. i emailed the guy at the shop and he said someone already put a deposit down on it anyway, so no biggie. i'm gonna just hold off for a while until i get some extra money together, whenever the heck that may be.

    anyone need a slightly used graphic designer???