Double Bass Double bass heel

[Lionel Albert]

Hi !

I wonder if a lot of basses have got little cracks on the heel.
I've got a little thin one, I suspect the finish cracked.
It happened less than two weeks after I bought it.
Someone had the same crack or bigger, a luthier saw it and said it was nothing.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Is the heel one piece, or two pieces joined with a glue line?

 

[Lionel Albert]

Is the heel one piece, or two pieces joined with a glue line?

I think it's a one piece. The crack appeared early and didn't move anymore.
The instrument has always stayed in tune except with very light tape strings.
I suspect that the wood moved a bit the first days.
They maybe stock them without strings and let them like this before they sell them.
The instrument is maybe a bit surprised when someone strings it for the first time.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Sounds like a stacked heel, which is a cost-saving measure. Inexpensive bass? Got pics of the crack to post?

 

[Lionel Albert]

Sounds like a stacked heel, which is a cost-saving measure. Inexpensive bass? Got pics of the crack to post?

I'll take a pic when I can.
And yes it's a cheap bass, the crack looks like a scratch.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

It’s probably just the lacquer cracking. A photo will tell the story.

 

[Lionel Albert]

Here the pics !

 

[loukash]

I wonder if a lot of basses have got little cracks on the heel.

Mine has a big one:
https://talkbass.com/threads/about-to-buy-this-db-my-first-thoughts.1661336/
I bought it in this state one year ago, and apparently the crack – which is a glue line as mentioned above, not an actual crack in the wood – has been there since a few years while the bass was stored by the previous owner unused in a dry concrete basement.
My luthier has inspected the bass thoroughly last year and recommended to leave it as is for the time being, and just watch it how it develops. His thought was that it will cost less if he'll have to fix it after it breaks apart, rather than attempting to pry it loose now. (He did fix quite a few other issues nonetheless, see page 4 in my thread)

So far, one year later, the crack still looks the same to me. In spite of the neck taking several "careless hits" in the meantime, hehe…

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Oh, that’s unfortunate.

 

[Lionel Albert]

Mine has a big one:
https://talkbass.com/threads/about-to-buy-this-db-my-first-thoughts.1661336/
I bought it in this state one year ago, and apparently the crack – which is a glue line as mentioned above, not an actual crack in the wood – has been there since a few years while the bass was stored by the previous owner unused in a dry concrete basement.
My luthier has inspected the bass thoroughly last year and recommended to leave it as is for the time being, and just watch it how it develops. His thought was that it will cost less if he'll have to fix it after it breaks apart, rather than attempting to pry it loose now. (He did fix quite a few other issues nonetheless, see page 4 in my thread)

So far, one year later, the crack still looks the same to me. In spite of the neck taking several "careless hits" in the meantime, hehe…

I wasn't too worried until I read threads about it.
Now I feel better, thanks !
Everyone says my bass sounds good, not exceptional but good.