Double Bass glue on steel strings

[uttermike]

Ok, I bought a repaired bass this week for a great price to see if I can transfer my single string double washtub skills to the “real” world of musical double bass :{) My project is underway… I have re-positioned the sound post (scared the crap out of me when I heard something rolling around in the bass on my way home) and I’m now working on raising the bridge with wedges. I need to bevel and shape the wedges to fit because the present bridge feet do not sit flush anyway. (remember I’m a newbie and I’m cheap/frugal/poor) Evidently when the neck was fixed/glued, glue got on the strings. Does anyone have a suggestion of how to get the glue off the strings? Steel wool? Denatured alcohol? Sharp knife scraping? There is also glue that oozed out along the neck repair that I may address later. The repair seems to be well done, the finish is beautiful, and I’m learning much from reading the posts here. Can I get some advice and/or encouragement? I’m eager, excited, but broke. Be kind.

 

[TroyK]

Can I get some advice and/or encouragement?

Yikes. I think the answer is yes and no...we can be a tough crowd and you're pushing all the buttons. Let's start with:

* Can you fill out your profile, please?
* Where do you live?
* What are your goals? What type of music, etc.

We can assume some things based on your washtub history, but...

I can't resist, who glued the neck with the strings on the bass?

 

[kurt ratering]

if glue is oozing out the repair i doubt it was done well. use caution when stringing up

 

[dchan]

I'd go with steel wool. I'm not sure if alcohol can get off the glue, but you have to be very careful with using it - if you get any alcohol on the varnish, it will damage it.

Also, the strings might be old and/or dead. Broke or not, you don't want to play on dead strings.

 

[uttermike]

:{) I'm an ole fart, 30 years teaching alternative ed program for hardcore students. I know my blues/bluegrass/americana background will not impress many here but the kids I teach in rural NC appreciate my making music out of the trash I find in dumpsters. I have no idea how the strings of my "new real" bass got glue on them, 'twas a slack "professional" that did the work without removing the strings, but this is what I've got to work with. dchan, I 'preciate the steel wool advice and will be very careful if I try the alcohol. The repaired neck seems to be strong, although messy. I'll let you know when I get the bridge raised and tighten 'r up. I'm having fun with it so far. I do hope the membership will not drop the b in these bASS forums and automatically assume all washtub players are dumb no talent hicks and start flaming... we tubbers love the music and most of us do play "real" instruments too :{)

 

[Marcus Johnson]

:{) I do hope the membership will not drop the b in these bASS forums and automatically assume all washtub players are dumb no talent hicks and start flaming... we tubbers love the music and most of us do play "real" instruments too :{)

Let's hear some of it!

I heard some pretty wicked bass playing down in Tahiti.... from a guy playing a bass made out of a plastic bucket, a stick, and a rope. Sounded great to me.

 

[TroyK]

I do hope the membership will not drop the b in these bASS forums and automatically assume all washtub players are dumb no talent hicks and start flaming... we tubbers love the music and most of us do play "real" instruments too :{)

Certainly not what I meant. I was just concerned for your instrument about some of these repairs. I'm not so sure about shimming the bridge feet either. The type of music you want to make matters for a few reasons including how high you are likely to want your strings set up. You'd be better off shaping the bridge feet to the top if it would still be tall enough. It's tough to fake your way through these repairs. I'm very careful with what I do to mine and what I leave to the pros. I understand being on a budget, I think you'll find that we all just want everyone to have a playable instrument in the end.

 

[Jake deVilliers]

I think you'll find that we all just want everyone to have a playable instrument in the end.

Ain't that the truth.

If you were to share a little more about the bass, including some pix, it would be easier to help you with your project.

Its also polite to share a little bit about yourself in your Profile when you are asking for help.

 

[forester]

welcome..and congrats for steping (up) into the family of E,A,D and sometimes G..... what you're doing for the kids is commendable. feel free to pm me (i don't bite) for a quick and dirty set up. (did i say cheap?)

 

[shadygrove]

I know my blues/bluegrass/americana background will not impress many here but the kids I teach in rural NC appreciate my making music out of the trash I find in dumpsters...I'm having fun with it so far...

Hey Uttermike, welcome to Talkbass! Having some fun is what it's all about and if you can turn a few kids on to music in the process that's great!. I play mostly bluegrass, old time and celtic with a little folk and swing jazz thrown in for good measure and have to say although I'm pretty new to it and don't post a whole lot here I have learned a lot from all the professional musicians and luthiers that frequent this site.

It was a washtub bass player that inspired me to take up double bass. When he passed away a little over a year ago I missed the rhythm he provided to our old time fiddler ass'n jams and decided to get a double bass. I can't really replace him.. he was one sweet guy... but sometimes feel like I'm caring on his legacy especially when I'm keeping it simple and laying down a nice steady beat. There are many here that don't aspire to play in an orchestra or jazz solos in "thumb position" but enjoy double bass as a hobby with whatever skill and quality of instrument they happen to have.

I'd take "forester" up on that setup offer... IMO unless you have a lot of time, woodworking tools and skills and a burning desire to do it yourself your time is better spent learning to play than reinventing the wheel of how to make it playable.

 

[Gearhead43]

Also, check out www.rockabillybass.com, where the washtub is a respected bass instrument, and the "bluegrassbassplace" internet forum too.

Good luck with the project, and also check out the price on a new bridge blank, they aren't too expensive if you don't need a AAA quality bridge.

I shaped and fit my own new bridge, after doing alot of research, and managed to get great results and a much better sounding bass. I got a nice adjustable bridge from (all hail) Bob Gollihur. (www.gollihurmusic.com) He can also provide a nicely written instruction sheet on how to fit a bridge.

 

[Andrew McGregor]

If you're worried about what solvents will do to the bass (you should be), why not just take the strings off to clean them? Then you can use any old thing, and once it's clean you can put them back...

Personally I'd just soak them in denatured alcohol/methylated spirits for a while and scrub them with some steel wool or scotchbrite while they're wet, then let the alcohol evaporate off.

 

[TroyK]

Take a picture of the silks for us or tell us what they look like. I might have a set around here that I could send you if I knew what they were replacing. I might not, but let me know and I'll look.

 

[uprightben]

If the glue is hide glue (which is the "correct" glue for that repair), a warm, wet rag and elbow grease will get it off, but you probably want to take the strings off.

 

[uttermike]

Thanks for all the advice. I got the glue off the strings with a plastic sraper, reset the post, and bought a new adjustable bridge. I must admit I haven't taken the time to put the new bridge on. I had put extensions on the short bridge that came with the bass when I bought it and it plays ok except that the bottom string is too low and buzzes a bit. I just have too much fun with my double washtub bass to discipline myself to learn how to play the "real" bass. I take the washtub to festivals and haul it around to campfire circles, playing all night in any sort of weather. I'd never think of doing that with the "real" bass. Thanks for your advice and encouragement!

 

[owen_liam]

I want one of those!

 

[bigolbassguy]

I know my blues/bluegrass/americana background will not impress many here ... I do hope the membership will not drop the b in these bASS forums and automatically assume all washtub players are dumb no talent hicks ...

Edgar Meyer plays bluegrass bass, and he's one of best musicians on earth + nobody's going to assume you're talentless just because you're a hick

 

[sjd007]

I want one of those too!

Are they hard to build?

Anyway, I have done a lot of work on my bass, after reading all the threads I possibly could on TB. This is a great source of the combined knowledge of many talented individuals, and really helped me.

Don't be scared to have a go, but don't go in blind either. Even the "simple" jobs have a right and wrong way to do them.

Simon

 

[gbaker]

Thanks for all the advice. I got the glue off the strings with a plastic sraper, reset the post, and bought a new adjustable bridge. I must admit I haven't taken the time to put the new bridge on. I had put extensions on the short bridge that came with the bass when I bought it and it plays ok except that the bottom string is too low and buzzes a bit. I just have too much fun with my double washtub bass to discipline myself to learn how to play the "real" bass. I take the washtub to festivals and haul it around to campfire circles, playing all night in any sort of weather. I'd never think of doing that with the "real" bass. Thanks for your advice and encouragement!

Hey, umike! We talked at Clifftop - may have been two years ago. We were both playing instruments we built and talked bass construction quite a while. Your single-stringer double-barrel design was about 10x louder than my little teardrop. Loudest acoustic bass device I have ever heard. Fortunately you have the sense and good taste to use it well. Welcome to TB, if I can help, send me a pm.

 

[Wallyphonic]

I wanna know how that thing works! I can't tell from the picture what the operating principle is.