Double Bass delamination cause

[juggle4]

I've seen some previous posts on this board discussing
delamination in regard to older ply instruments, but I
haven't seen a discussion of what causes it and/or prevents
it. If I missed it, I apologize for asking again, but what causes
delamination: excessive heat, moisture, dryness, age,
all of the above? How can you tell when a bass is delaminating, or just suffering from scrapes and
general wear and tear? Is there a way to stop or
reverse the process?

 

[Whit Townsend]

I think the maj culprit is dryness due to low humidity generated by home heating systems, over a long period of time. Then you take it out and play it in extreme humid conditions, kile at festivals and such. Wet, dry, wet, dry. You best friend would be a room huidifier. Sure wish I'd gotten one when I got my old 51 Kay back in 91 or 92. It was already really dried out. Been sitting on a stand detensioned in a bedroom, unplayed, for 15-20 yrs. Boy it sounded good. Had probs right away w/ lots of chipping around the edges, but didn't get serious untill 2 or 3 yrs ago, when top started falling. By then it was to late. It prob spent 5 winters with wood heat, and 2 ir 3 more w/gas furnace. Really stupid. Store your bass, and all your wooden instruments, at 50-60% humidity.

 

[juggle4]

Thanks for the info, Whit. I had read your previous posts
about this happening to your bass. I recently found a
51 Kay and the story sounds similar. This bass sat in someone's bedroom unplayed for the last ten years, and I
see signs of chipping around the the front. I took it to a local person who does a lot of fiddle and cello repair work, and he
thought it looked structurally ok, but I'm not sure how much
experience he has in these old basses. I keep all my instruments in a humidified room, but I'm wondering if it's too late to prevent further delamination in this bass.

 

[Whit Townsend]

The chipping dosent really hurt anything, just annoying and looks bad. I got a bottle of clear drying superglue type stuff from Stewart McDonald Supply that I used to glue the chips back on when I could salvage them.

If you hafd it looked at, it should be okif your careful about letting the house get too dry and you baby it as far as getting it wet and bumbing it around etc.

Id be careful about overpaying tho, cause the thing could continue to deterioate no matter how careful you are. The useful life is suspect. Mine lasted 13 yrs. If I'd kept it humidified, maybe it would have lasted 20-25, I don't know.

I don't really have any regrets buying mine. It gave me a wonderful sound for 13 yrs. It played a lot of gigs. What I regret is not keeping it humidified. I'm hioping I can come across a parts bass with a decent old top someday to swap out.