Double Bass Bass bummer. What would you do?

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Bobby,
I remember how excited you were to find that 'beloved' bass. Fix it and be thankful that nobody got hurt.

Still, sorry for the loss.

 

[Jazzdogg]

Sounds like Dustin is giving you a heck of a deal on that repair. I'd fix it.

+1

 

[bassics1975]

That isn't all that much to put an old bass back into good stead. If we all just moved-on rather than tending to broken basses after bumps, bruises and accidents, we wouldn't have any old basses left!

 

[moles]

Yeah, I'll throw my lot in with the "fix it" crowd. Even if it isn't "the same bass" after it's fixed, it'll still feel familiar under the fingers. If it's too different aftwards, you should still be able to recoup the repair cost by selling it to help fund something else.

Glad everyone's okay!

 

[Matt R.]

The fact that you refer to it as beloved answers your own question. Fix it. And best of luck!

 

[bejoyous]

Sorry, bejoyous, I've always considered the following to be double bass myth #644:

If this were so, then we should all have the tops and backs of our carved basses popped every so often.

Like I said, "In my own experience..," not, "I heard somewhere..."

 

[Uncletoad]

Fix it before he changes his mind about the rate.

War stories from scars on your bass are cool.

 

[drurb]

Sorry, bejoyous, I've always considered the following to be double bass myth #644:

...an instrument usually sounds better after a major repair of a fully carved instrument as whatever built up tensions in the seams, etc., are released.

If this were so, then we should all have the tops and backs of our carved basses popped every so often.

Like I said, "In my own experience..," not, "I heard somewhere..."

I have no doubt that, in your experience, when an old bass has work done by a qualified luthier, it sounds better afterward. That sure squares with my experience as well. I just don't believe that the reason for that improvement is the release of built-up tension. I think it's more likely the result of whatever else the luthier did. Otherwise, as I said, we could gain improvements by simply popping the top and back now and then.

This really is OT, given that the OP is asking about fixing vs. buying new, although the situation is likely different with a ply bass. In any case, his bass might just end up sounding better than ever if he chooses to go the repair route.

 

[Paul Warburton]

Being an ex-Jacobus Hornsteiner player/owner, I heartily suggest you do it. Mine was destroyed in a club accident and wasn't repairable.
To this day, that was the loudest, most sustaining pizz DB I ever played.

 

[Bobby King]

Thank you all for your suggestions, advice and encouragement!

All of you in the "fix it" camp have persuaded me and I gave Dustin Williams the green light to operate this morning! We're hoping Irmgard (her name) comes back strong!

As they said to Ted Kennedy, "I'm glad you're OK, sorry about the blonde"

 

[boylebass]

Dustin does excellent work. He restored the Juzek I now play. He knows what he's doing.

I have an 'all-peril' policy for my equipment. I bought it after one of the local DB guys got t-boned. The accident totaled his car, his bass, and his shoulder, and he had no insurance for any of them. (I offered to loan him backup bass, but he had to decline on account of his left shoulder was totaled and required extensive bodywork. Slab only for a year is my worst nightmare.)

Your wreck reminds me of one I had in my old blazer crossing the I471 bridge from Cincy>NKy. The interstate was fine but the bridge was solid ice. I spun 540 degrees in slow motion and hit the side of the bridge backwards going 50-60 mph. I had enough time to grab my coffee (didn't spill a drop- it really was slow motion) and that old tank of a truck had only a small dent in the rear bumper.

We're all glad you're all OK and share high hopes that your bass will be, eventually, too.

 

[Biggbass]

A new bass that meets all the criteria for tone, volume, and projection will costw you much more than a couple of thousand dollars. However you might locate a good (old) Kay bass in that range as well. Right now you've already spent the $800 so that's history...you're looking at $1250 out of pocket. You can't find a good bass for $1250 that will please you as much as this one does. For that reason I'd fix it.

 

[longfinger]

Thank you all for your suggestions, advice and encouragement!

All of you in the "fix it" camp have persuaded me and I gave Dustin Williams the green light to operate this morning! We're hoping Irmgard (her name) comes back strong!

I'm glad you're ok.

So if you're getting it fixed, have you asked about removable neck options? It will make traveling in the future much easier, and safer for the instrument. Converting a normal bass to a RN one costs a lot of money for all the labour, but since yours is already going into operation anyways, the extra costs over $1250 might not be big at all.

Ask about it, this crisis is a strong opportunity for you and for this bass. A good sounding, easy playing, plywood bass with a removable neck could easily sell for $3K or more on the used market once you're done with it. IMO, it's value would increase as RN basses become more of a necessity in the future.

 

[Ed Fuqua]

DRUBBERDUCKY - same thing happened with my teacher's Juzek, it got totalled when he got rear ended on the Cross Bronx on the way back from a gig. Insurance covered the repair and, in his own words, "the bass sounded better after the repair". A lot of old, bad repairs got cleaned up and it's a more resonant, deeper sounding and louder bass than it was before. So, no, it may not be a "cure-all", but it's not an isolated occurrence either....

BK - glad you pulled the trigger, like everyone said, the calculation should be "How much would it cost to replace this bass?" rather than "What did I originally pay for this bass?" I paid $2K for my bass when I bought it in 89(?), in 2005 I put $2.5K worth of work into it. But if I had to buy this bass now, it would be at least $8K

 

[Twocan]

Do you have homeowner's insurance? It covers your personal property anywhere in the world, and "vehicles" are a listed peril. The only concerns are going to be your deductible, the chance that your rates will rise, and whether this is considered "business property" to you, in which case, some financial limitations apply ($500).

Good luck.

 

[lnichols]

Where did you get your 'all peril' insurance? I've assumed that my homeowner's and/or auto insurance might cover a damaged bass, but I've recently heard that they won't cover it if I'm playing gigs. I'd be interested to hear about something better.

L.

Dustin does excellent work. He restored the Juzek I now play. He knows what he's doing.

I have an 'all-peril' policy for my equipment. I bought it after one of the local DB guys got t-boned. The accident totaled his car, his bass, and his shoulder, and he had no insurance for any of them. (I offered to loan him backup bass, but he had to decline on account of his left shoulder was totaled and required extensive bodywork. Slab only for a year is my worst nightmare.)

Your wreck reminds me of one I had in my old blazer crossing the I471 bridge from Cincy>NKy. The interstate was fine but the bridge was solid ice. I spun 540 degrees in slow motion and hit the side of the bridge backwards going 50-60 mph. I had enough time to grab my coffee (didn't spill a drop- it really was slow motion) and that old tank of a truck had only a small dent in the rear bumper.

We're all glad you're all OK and share high hopes that your bass will be, eventually, too.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

I got an attractive proposal from MusicPro that I'll probably take them up on later in the year after I get a few things settled.

 

[Twocan]

Where did you get your 'all peril' insurance? I've assumed that my homeowner's and/or auto insurance might cover a damaged bass, but I've recently heard that they won't cover it if I'm playing gigs. I'd be interested to hear about something better.

L.

A standard ISO HO-3 (the basic homeowner's policy) covers your gear due to listed perils (16). You can upgrade to a "deluxe" policy, which covers it against anything unless it's excluded (broader coverage). Your gear would be covered in this situation above, but may be limited to $500 (when away from your home) or $2,500 (at your home) if used "primarily for business purposes."

I'll leave that definition up to whoever is reading this, as everyone's situation is different. Generally, play for pay means business.

Your best bet is to seperately insure your instrument by way of a Scheduled Personal Property Endorsement under your homeowner's policy. It's not as much as you may think.

 

[THE SAW]

Hey man, sorry-here's some things:

When crap like this happens, emotions are all over the place. Let them play out, that's the first step. Secondly, it sounds like no human beings were harmed-the ONLY thing that matters. Thirdly, no matter how much any of us love our basses, they are ultimately equipment. Very important once the emotional part is over. Now it's time for business-deal with your insurance company, either repair or replace and move on.

I've been there- in a terrible scrape with mother nature a few years back. "You" will be back-bass and all.

 

[drurb]

DRUBBERDUCKY - same thing happened with my teacher's Juzek, it got totalled when he got rear ended on the Cross Bronx on the way back from a gig. Insurance covered the repair and, in his own words, "the bass sounded better after the repair". A lot of old, bad repairs got cleaned up and it's a more resonant, deeper sounding and louder bass than it was before. So, no, it may not be a "cure-all", but it's not an isolated occurrence either....

Honored to have such a nickname! Now, did you see what I said?

...I just don't believe that the reason for that improvement is the release of built-up tension. I think it's more likely the result of whatever else the luthier did.

You mentioned that, on your teacher's bass, many "old, bad repairs got cleaned up and it's a more resonant, deeper sounding and louder bass than it was before."

Makes sense! I just don't think there's much to suggest that it sounded better because tension was released.

When players have the tops of their basses removed, they're, of course, generally (if not always) having that done so that some repair can be made. When the bass ends up sounding better, it seems much more probable that the improvement is the result of the repair, rather than the removal of the top having released some tension. Some time back, someone here suggested that basses sound better after they've cracked because the tension has been released. I asked a luthier about that and his response was "poppycock." Okay, it wasn't actually "poppycock," but it was a form of that word.