Double Bass Czech Ply ReFab

[powerbass]

I've started fixing up an old beat up Czech 5/8's ply bass and I thought I would do a work-in-progress thread. Actually I need a little pressure to keep me moving so I can actually finish it instead of staring at a heap of broken bass parts. This is my first bass, bought a year and half ago, it was not a good investment. It should have been laid to rest in a dumpster or burned in a ritual - the neck scroll snapped off and was reset crooked, there are bolts, screws and nails holding the pegbox together. The top was caving in, The sound post was making it's way through the top, loose seams and an ill fitting end pin. I purchased it knowing I would get a better bass then I could mess with this one and learn some bass repair skills along the way. Here are a few pictures of the ongoing mess

 

[powerbass]

Here are a few detail shots of the pegbox. You can see some of the bolts used to keep this thing together. Whenever I played it I expected an explosion.

 

[powerbass]

This is the tag from the inside of the bass. I brought this bass to a local luthier for some set up work, apparently Mr. Bevivino had a reputation of using screws and bolts for repairs

 

[powerbass]

Here's some photos of the bottom and endpin hole. When I got it the endpin tilted because the hole was oval and too large. As a temporary measure I used epoxy to create a gasket - you can see the black outline. I need to fix this area. I am thinking of making a whole new end block and doing something creative to fix the cracked veneer.

 

[powerbass]

I took the top off and made a makeshift form to stabilize the ribs. I cut cleats and hot (spot) glued them to the inside of the ribs then I screwed cross braces and a longitudinal brace. This inner brace system came in handy to clamp in a new neck block.

 

[powerbass]

Some detail shots of my clamping system. I was quite pleased how this worked. The refabbed bass will have a bolt on/removable neck. The top of the ribs covering the neck block will be a hardwood cap. The new neck block is 2" white pine. I purchased 2 large bookmatched 2" thick pine boards I will use for the top plate.

 

[1st Bass]

Good progress! Congratulations...I will look forward to seeing the finished project.

 

[powerbass]

I recently worked on repairing the joint between the C/Lower bout. I shaped cauls to fit the curves then hot melt glued them on, this made clamping pretty easy.

 

[Matthew Tucker]

How's the rebuild coming along?

That is the identical model I used to rebuild Link Removed. With new bottom block, belly patch and bassbar and a cut-down neck it ended up a great bass.

I have another on the bench right now for a spruce-up and some gut strings. But this one is still at 44"!

I like them. They turn out nicely for the price.

 

[powerbass]

Matthew thanks for checking in. Your Shrek looks identical to mine, even the tin foil like label. Progress is slow. I have an unheated basement workshop and a tiny space heater. I am replacing all the inner/outer bindings, it needs a new tail block and repair to the veneer in the bottom bout. I am going to make the neck removable and a porthole in the C bout for sound post adjustment. I am also going to make the neck scroll small and simple. We'll see.

 

[powerbass]

I've made some progress since my last posts. I stripped the finish, replaced the tail block, planed the neck/tail blocks flush and I've started replacing the rib linings.

 

[powerbass]

This AM I glued in another C bout lining