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Double Bass Crack - Repair

Gregmak

Gregmak

Oct 1, 2009
289
65
38
Toronto, Canada
#1
Hi guys,

I attached a photo of where my bass cracked. It's the white line that I drew on the photo at the bottom of the bass. The crack is 3-4cm, and it's like a thin crack, like a hair.

There is no bass luthier here so I took it to a violin luthier and he said he's gonna put glue and it's gonna be fine. I'm a little worried, about this crack not getting worse.

Do you guys think glue is gonna be fine? Could the crack spread more? I'm really scared because there's no bass luthiers in Cyprus, and it's a fully carved bass that I paid a lot of money for.

Any help appreciated,
Thanks,

Greg
 

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#2
The glue and some cleats/patches will work. The crack would only spread more if left unrepaired or repaired poorly.

Although he lives in Greece, MIKMAN may be able to help you, as he would be more involved in the area.

Lastly I would see if you could contact someone in the CySO, they have to trust their instruments with someone...
 
#3
A simple edge crack like that can be stabilized by rubbing hide glue into the crack and cleaning up any excess. If the top ever has to come off for another, major repair, the crack can be reinforced from the inside with linen soaked in hide glue or spruce cleats.
 
#5
The voilin luthier I took the bass to is actually the luthier for all the CySO musicians. When I had a talk with their main bass player he had told me that he shipped his bass to Germany once every 3-4 years for repairs.

Anyway, I'm gonna go pick up the bass today. I'll post some photos if that helps. I'm wondering if there is a book about cracks and repairs that I could get to learn some things, as I know nothing about cracks or repairing. Is there such a book? At least to grab the basics.

I did a search for this magnet method, but can't find anything on google.

Also, can the bass crack from extreme humidity? Or does it crack when the temperature changes quickly? In the summer here it can get to 100% humidity, I'm, guessing that could be the reason it cracked, but I'm not sure.

Thank you guys.
 
#9
Gregmak said:
The violin luthier I took the bass to is actually the luthier for all the CySO musicians. When I had a talk with their main bass player he had told me that he shipped his bass to Germany once every 3-4 years for repairs.

Anyway, I'm gonna go pick up the bass today. I'll post some photos if that helps. I'm wondering if there is a book about cracks and repairs that I could get to learn some things, as I know nothing about cracks or repairing. Is there such a book? At least to grab the basics.

I did a search for this magnet method, but can't find anything on google.

Also, can the bass crack from extreme humidity? Or does it crack when the temperature changes quickly? In the summer here it can get to 100% humidity, I'm, guessing that could be the reason it cracked, but I'm not sure.

Thank you guys.
Click to expand...
I'm sure that the violin repairman who takes care of the local symphony will do a fine job taking care of a small crack in the top of your bass.

Don't take this the wrong way, but I'd rather have an experienced violin guy taking care of my bass than a new DB player drilling holes in it! :cool::thumbsup:
 
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#11
DoubleMIDI said:
But using the magnets for a linen patch inside could be used even if there are no holes made!
Look at the end of the thread I referenced to!
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If you think its easy to drop a piece of glue-soaked linen through an f-hole and have it land where you want it to, you've never tried it!!
 
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#14
Jake deVilliers said:
If you think its easy to drop a piece of glue-soaked linen through an f-hole and have it land where you want it to, you've never tried it!!
Click to expand...

I know this is not an easy thing, but that's not the point.

Gregmak told us he couldn't find anything about the magnet method and I was showing him the reference. That's all.

And since it was not a megathread, I preferred to start with the beginning, even if the relevant information was on page 2 (what I wrote in the first place).
 
#15
KUNGfuSHERIFF said:
A simple edge crack like that can be stabilized by rubbing hide glue into the crack and cleaning up any excess. If the top ever has to come off for another, major repair, the crack can be reinforced from the inside with linen soaked in hide glue or spruce cleats.
Click to expand...

This seems like the most sensible solution put forward for a crack that size and in that location, right off the tail block. Why could not the rib seam be opened just a couple of inches either side the crack, the top wedged up enough to permit the glue-soaked linen strip to be worked into position and hide glue rubbed into the crack, then the sides of the crack aligned and the seam be closed and the top clamped and glued back into position? An edge crack should not require major top removal.
 
#18
Hey guys, thanks for all your help and replies. I contacted MIKMAN. I read the magnet way of dealing with cracks, but not something I would wanna try myself! I attached a photo of the crack. It was glued together. Everything is fine now, the sound is good as before. I'm just being a little paranoid and not taking the bass in places I usually took.

Trying to stay away from air conditioned rooms as much as possible, but every bar/club has AC now that it's summer. Any way to deal with AC? I have those plastic humidifiers you put in the bass, but those probably won't be enough.
 

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