Double Bass Broken Neck - 1/4 size plywood

[robobass]

Well, I did it. I just couldn't get the clamps to hold the joint properly. The head always wanted to slide away from the neck. When I set something up to keep the head down, it would always twist. I don't like that I did it, but I ended up using two screws. I finally got a good clean join, which I think will hold.

Since I was using hide glue, I was able to wash it off and try again when it didn't work the first time. I don't know that I agree that no modern adhesives are as strong as properly used hide glue, but they don't give you second and third chances. That's pretty important!
Robobass

 

[Bob Branstetter]

i have 30min.tops for violin,viola....bass and cello 1hr +/- all sizes.
bridge,sp,strings, clean/adjust,any glue ups etc.
true test is when i can play it a child can play it
run these numbers.. 8 of us doing 16 instr/per man/per/day
x 200 working days yr. and i'm still having fun!

I once interviewed for a string repair position with a large school oriented music store company. I was told during the interview that they knew that I did first class work, but that wasn't what they were looking for. They wanted someone to do quick and dirty repairs - nothing more. After I started seeing examples of the work coming out of this shop I was glad that I wasn't offered the job. I wouldn't have lasted very long.

 

[forester]

you can run but you can't hide
well meaning rookie doing his best to clean up the string tripe force fed on the boards of education." don't be hatin' the playa" you are dead on about the quick and dirty but they are for the most part.. repairs. Trust me..you or someone of similar skills and background wouldn't have been happy there or is it (here).. It's a corporate thing...thank heavens they know nothing about stringed instruments....the plus+side: i'm snapping up the kills...repair and GIVE them to kids or adults who want to learn to play,..i'm sure if i'm found out it's" hit the bricks "time.
any similarity between me and a craftsman is the smell.. but i do feel i can make a valuable contribution to efforts of getting playable pieces into the hands of the young.i reserve the privilege to further comment on the..er.. TalkTrashBass forum.
BB no harm done..got to go i have to unload a container of 1/4 bass necks and ebony FB's in the morning

 

[Bob Branstetter]

any similarity between me and a craftsman is the smell.. but i do feel i can make a valuable contribution to efforts of getting playable pieces into the hands of the young.i reserve the privilege to further comment on the..er.. TalkTrashBass forum.
BB no harm done..got to go i have to unload a container of 1/4 bass necks and ebony FB's in the morning

Forester - My comments were not meant to derogatory toward you. Shops similar to the one you work for are located in just about any large city. As you pointed out, it is a corporate thing. Many, if not most school districts have small string budgets that seem to get smaller every year and the administrators in charge frequently are not even string players (and sometimes not even musicians). Unfortunately, the cheaper quick and dirty repairs frequently turn out to false economy in the long run since quick and dirty repair methods frequently make future repairs impossible. This translates into either having to buy new instruments out of their already small budget or having one less instrument for the kids to learn on.

 

[forester]

my own guilt/denial kicking in...come to think of it the words quick and dirty were in bold print on the job description.
i'll try to pry some sources out of the bossman for 1/4 necks/FB..being low man on the scrotum pole i am not privy to that side of the buisness yet.

 

[Bob Branstetter]

my own guilt/denial kicking in...come to think of it the words quick and dirty were in bold print on the job description.
i'll try to pry some sources out of the bossman for 1/4 necks/FB..being low man on the scrotum pole i am not privy to that side of the buisness yet.

Thanks, I would appreciate the information.

 

[Silversorcerer]

While I totally respect everything in Bob Branstetter's experience here, I think it couldn't hurt for Robobass to try a flake hide glue repair. Nix on the epoxy or anything else. Usually it makes a bigger mess that is impossible or at least very difficult to undo. Worst thing that can happen with hide glue is that it will come apart again and then other options, such as a new neck, could be explored. Hide glue does come in different strengths. I bought the flake type in 480 gram strength (really strong stuff), and three weaker varieties from Luscombe Violins. The weaker varieties are for things where you want the glue to fail before the wood, like seams.

Just saw that robo went ahead. Good for you. You can remove the screws once it sets up good. And the real lesson here is that hide glue gives you multiple chances if something goes wrong. I use it for almost everything now.

 

[Bob Branstetter]

While I totally respect everything in Bob Branstetter's experience here, I think it couldn't hurt for Robobass to try a flake hide glue repair.

I wasn't aware that I ever said he shouldn't try it. I just stated that I don't happen to believe that this type of repair is going to be "permanent".