Double Bass Can I do this myself?

[off-topic]

My teacher has a broken bass she was thinking of trading for something.

I examined the damage. It's a low-end bass, but has a carved top, not plywood. The fingerboard isn't ebony.

All signs indicate that the bass has suffered a direct hit on the bridge. The soundpost fell, the top has sunk a bit under the bridge on the treble side so that the G string is touching the fingerboard. The back has a nasty crack, about 15 inch long, going up and down from where the soundpost was touching it. The back is loosened from the sides at the bottom.

A pro repair could probably cost more then the bass itself. I was thinking, this could be a neat project. Do you think it's doable? Worth the effort? I just want to bring it to playable condition.

 

[swamprocker]

sounds fun. give it a shot

 

[Mirios]

Probably not out of the realm of possibility for you to do it. At the very least would be a good learning experience.

 

[tdub0199]

I say go for it bro!!!

 

[Bass Barrister]

Are you interested in learning bass luthiery? Are there any DB luthiers in your area? If the answer to both questions is "yes", I would suggest you approach a luthier and offer to do some basic work for him (or her) in return for help in fixing that bass and learnign some skills. You might learn something and luthier will get the value of some free labor. Just a thought.

 

[off-topic]

Good idea. There's a good bass luthier 10 minutes drive from where I live.

 

[gbaker]

My teacher has a broken bass she was thinking of trading for something.

I examined the damage. It's a low-end bass, but has a carved top, not plywood. The fingerboard isn't ebony.

All signs indicate that the bass has suffered a direct hit on the bridge. The soundpost fell, the top has sunk a bit under the bridge on the treble side so that the G string is touching the fingerboard. The back has a nasty crack, about 15 inch long, going up and down from where the soundpost was touching it. The back is loosened from the sides at the bottom.

A pro repair could probably cost more then the bass itself. I was thinking, this could be a neat project. Do you think it's doable? Worth the effort? I just want to bring it to playable condition.

Welcome. It sounds like a interesting and doable project especially if you have had any woodworking experience. Well worth the effort.

The luithers and mechanics on this forum are very helpful with such projects. A contact with a local luither will prove valuable when things like the 50 clamps you will need to reattach the back come up. Get the thing, get some hot hide glue, and ask some questions. Also please fill out your profile.