Double Bass Busted seam help!!!

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Another twist is this. Mix crystals and warm water directly into a 1 oz plastic squeeze bottle. When it’s fully mixed it is ideal for seams and minor repairs. I pull one from the fridge and drop in in a cup of hot water that has been nuked. It’s ready in five minutes.

 

[bassmanbrent]

Okay, I'm not a luthier, so please bear that in mind... If you only need to stop the spreading of the open seam, why not get your neighbour to drop his clamps at your front door and just clamp up your bass until it's okay to visit your local luthier? Assuming the clamps aren't huge and you don't over-tighten them, your bass should fine, and totally playable, for as long as you need.

 

[Don Hergert]

... just clamp up your bass until it's okay to visit your local luthier ...

For that matter, I've seen duct tape used successfully for more than one quick and dirty seam repair, and it often has ended up staying there for quite a few months.

 

[Don Hergert]

... Its a Shen sb150. About 13 years old. ...

Anyone know if in this vintage Shen used HHG?

 

[bassmanbrent]

For that matter, I've seen duct tape used successfully for more than one quick and dirty seam repair, and it often has ended up staying there for quite a few months.

If it were me, I'd only do that in an absolute emergency. If the duct tape doesn't take some finish with it during removal, it will likely leave a nasty sticky mess behind. Or maybe both... Just my opinion, as always!

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Anyone know if in this vintage Shen used HHG?

Sometimes. They also reportedly use some flour-based glue in certain joints.

 

[Don Hergert]

If it were me, I'd only do that in an absolute emergency. If the duct tape doesn't take some finish with it during removal, it will likely leave a nasty sticky mess behind. Or maybe both... Just my opinion, as always!

If the duct tape doesn't get baked on, it can be removed effectively with all of its adhesive, using WD40. Then, however, you have to find a way to remove the WD40.

If the duct tape gets baked on, you may wish you were trying to remove gorilla glue instead.

 

[JDBassist51]

Eric at Upton Bass has an excellent video on mixing, heating, and storing granulated hide glue.

John

 

[drwv]

I've got a similar ~6" seam crack and a few smaller separations at bout corners, from "old age and general wear & tear" on a 45-year-old plywood bass, that I'm repairing with Hot Hide Glue.

Does it matter whether I glue and clamp the seam with the strings tensioned or un-tensioned?

 

[Ruknrole]

 

[james condino]

......Lately I've gone back to dry crystals and a cheap tea pot for the road (leave the pricey glue pot at home)......

HOME

I'll secretly admit that I've used the instant coffee pot in my hotel room to cook hot hide glue many times while on the road.....

 

[drwv]

Does it matter whether I glue and clamp the seam with the strings tensioned or un-tensioned?

Well, as the saying goes, you've got to strike while the iron glue is hot. My seam is clamped, with strings at full tension. My thinking was that this would minimize stress on the glue later.

 

[Steven Ayres]

I'm no expert, but by advice would be to take the tension entirely off. The instrument works on the basis of applying tension to a solid box. While under tension that box is a subtly different shape, and I don't think it will respond as fully if glued together that way. Do it the way the builder did.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

View attachment 3982284

Only on the cheapest bass. Do a few repairs on anything glued with this in the past and you will change your mind.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

I don’t slack the strings to do a small seam repair.

 

[Ruknrole]

Only on the cheapest bass. Do a few repairs on anything glued with this in the past and you will change your mind.

Watch some of this guy’s build and repair videos. That’s all he uses.

https://www.youtube.com/c/RosaStringWorks

The last 2 repair videos he’s put out on a violin named “Chocolate” are impressive.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Watch some of this guy’s build and repair videos. That’s all he uses.

https://www.youtube.com/c/RosaStringWorks

The last 2 repair videos he’s put out on a violin named “Chocolate” are impressive.

Still, hide glue is very strong but it has two primary benefits in musical instrument repair.
1) It dries very hard and has no creep. In short, it is brittle. When there is stress, seams pop. Generally, wood doesn’t crack.
2) It is easily reversible. A bit of warm water is all it takes to completely remove, and then we can do the repair. Titebond and other PVA glues are very difficult to remove.

Another thing. It is virtually invisible, making it ideal for gluing cracks. Cracks glued with Titebond will show.

I know of some guitar and mandolin makers who use Titebond for things like blocks which should never require repair, but I won’t touch it.

 

[james condino]

Just because it is on youtube does not mean it is correct or anything we want to recommend!

 

[Don Hergert]

Wait! If it's on the internet, is has to be true, doesn't it???

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

I hear there is an election in a few weeks. Maybe I should spend a few minutes on a YouTube to see who to vote for.

Yes, it’s a joke. Lighten up.