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Double Bass Help! Serious damage. Is it repairable?

F

fivaras

Sep 13, 2009
50
0
38
Athens, Greece
#1
Hello everyone

I had an accident with my upright bass. It was laying on its side on the floor (in its case) and it was accidentally pushed so it feel on its front side. The bridge pushed against the wood so now it has a huge crack on its front side.Needless to say that I am desperate and depressed since it is my only instrument. It is a cheap instrument though, I purchased it for about 800 Euros from Thomann (it is a Thomann Kontrabass 22 3/4). I am wondering whether the damage is repairable and whether is it worth the cost (I have already sent an email to Thomann, waiting for a reply asking if they provide repair support). I am in no position however to purchase a good instrument right now. I will attach some pictures of the damage. Thanks for your help.

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#2
It is repairable, but it won't be cheap. The top will have to come off, the crack will have to be glued and cleated for reinforcement, and it should have a soundpost patch inlaid or overlaid on the inside of the top to provide extra reinforcement in that high-stress area.

Here in New York, it costs $1,000 to have a professional shop pop the top on a bass. You will have to weigh the costs of repair against the cost of replacing the bass.

Please slack the strings and drop the bridge and soundpost immediately. Keeping string tension on that top as it sits is likely to end in disaster.
 
#3
KUNGfuSHERIFF said:
It is repairable, but it won't be cheap. The top will have to come off, the crack will have to be glued and cleated for reinforcement, and it should have a soundpost patch inlaid or overlaid on the inside of the top to provide extra reinforcement in that high-stress area.

Here in New York, it costs $1,000 to have a professional shop pop the top on a bass. You will have to weigh the costs of repair against the cost of replacing the bass.

Please slack the strings and drop the bridge and soundpost immediately. Keeping string tension on that top as it sits is likely to end in disaster.
Click to expand...

Thanks i just did what you said. However the cost sounds too much. I'm located in Greece, so I will try to find a professional to assess the damage. From what you say it may be more beneficial to purchase another bass.. Damn, I'm desperate..
 
#6
No real practical way I know of to avoid the damage once it's pushed over. One just has to be ever vigilant about protecting the bridge area. +1 on contacting MIKMAN. He's extremely knowledgeable, a really fine person, and a good friend.
 
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#7
fivaras said:
Thanks kungfusheriff, I'll try contacting him. Does anyone now a relatively cheap way to avoid these kinds of accidents in the future? maybe put some protective pads in the case? or something similar?
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Always put the bass on its side on the floor with the bridge up against the wall/van/fence/stage. Its the only way to keep it safe.
 
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#8
I expect that if I was you, I'd seriously consider doing the repair myself. Because

1) you're short on cash
2) you're short on time
3) you currently have junk

But, I'm not you and you're not me. I'm very good at figuring out work that I haven't previously encountered, but you may not be. In your favor is TalkBass, YouTube, and the kind generosity of the TalkBass community. If you decide to make the repair yourself, I would make as much use of their expertise and guidance as I possibly could, and then, I'd expect that it might turn out okay the first time I did it and will likely require that I take all I've learned and do it a second time.
Given your stated resource constraints, location, funds, access to experienced luthiers, etc, none of that would, personally, stop me from trying.
 
#9
Tom Lane said:
I expect that if I was you, I'd seriously consider doing the repair myself. Because

1) you're short on cash
2) you're short on time
3) you currently have junk

But, I'm not you and you're not me. I'm very good at figuring out work that I haven't previously encountered, but you may not be. In your favor is TalkBass, YouTube, and the kind generosity of the TalkBass community. If you decide to make the repair yourself, I would make as much use of their expertise and guidance as I possibly could, and then, I'd expect that it might turn out okay the first time I did it and will likely require that I take all I've learned and do it a second time.
Given your stated resource constraints, location, funds, access to experienced luthiers, etc, none of that would, personally, stop me from trying.
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That is an option that i have not yet considered. It sounds terrifying since i have never bothered with setup and repair issues on my instruments (even on my electric bass), so i am not familiar neither handy with this things. I will get a luthier's opinion here in Athens first and then I will start ro consider it. I actually have nothing to lose from this if the cost of repair is too much, that's for sure. Thanks.
 
#10
I have noticed over the years that some folks are comfortable tackling projects that they're completely ignorant of, and others are not. Sometimes, the *do-ers* confidence is seriously over-confident and the result is an absolute disaster. The house falls down, or the car doesn't work. In my case, I find that in the absolute worst case, I have to do it twice, and most times, the first time is acceptable. In 80 percent or so of the cases, I'm happier with my results than someone I would have hired to do the work because their standards are FAR lower than mine. In the rare case when I hire someone who truly knows their craft and has high standards, I recognize that it would require many, many iterations for me to achieve their level of competence. As I said, that's a rare case.
 
#13
They are reversed. And I just got an email from Thomann saying that the damage is irrepairable. Unless i find someone in Athens to repair it, i will have to purchase a new one. Damn, I always thought my second instrument would be a quality one. But I guess I will have to settle for something under 1000 Euros again. I only play jazz and pizz. Any ideas/suggestions? (I know it's off topic, maybe I will start a new thread)

Thanks guys
 
#16
I have had this very same crack happen to my first bass, cracked "all along the bass bar" (sung to the tune of Hendrix's version of "All Along the Watch Tower".

My bass sits, unrepaired, until a friend who builds guitars has time to help me attempt to repair it ourselves. Your bass is fixable, but do you have the time/money/skill – you'll need at least two out of three.

I say try to repair it yourself.
 
#17
No, the photos are reversed. It's a right-handed bass. So, given that I find someone to repair the instrument at a low cost, will it ever be the same? I guess such a huge crack on its body would definetely alter its sound right? The crack passes from the bass bar side since it it next to the E string.
 
#18
Feral Feline said:
I have had this very same crack happen to my first bass, cracked "all along the bass bar" (sung to the tune of Hendrix's version of "All Along the Watch Tower".

My bass sits, unrepaired, until a friend who builds guitars has time to help me attempt to repair it ourselves. Your bass is fixable, but do you have the time/money/skill – you'll need at least two out of three.

I say try to repair it yourself.
Click to expand...
Skill: I have never attempted to do any repairs ever so, no. Money: Definetely no. Time: If i was convinced that i was able to do it and that i have acquired the relevant information, i would give it a try.

Thanks
 
#19
Wishing you the utmost best of luck with it, fivaras, I wish I could be of more help to you.
I have neither the money nor skill, but I've got time — luckily I have other basses to play.
I'm convinced that you could do it if you decide to do so. Hey, we both decided to take up the instrument and learn how to play it, so I figure if we set our minds to it, then we can learn to repair them, too.
 
#20
Fivaras;

Take a deep breath and think again. The cost of the bass is already lost unless you choose to repair the bass.

  1. Look online and find a copy of Chuck Traeger's bass repair and set-up book, and buy it.
  2. Read all the appropriate parts until you feel more confident about the procedures involved.
  3. Buy or make the necessary tools and materials.
  4. Arrange to have sufficient space in an appropriate work environment.
  5. Take the job step by step...you can do this.
The book is about USD$80. Hide glue and a warmer of some sort, maybe $20, if you use a baby bottle warmer or can find a used crockpot or something, in which to put your jar of glue. Clamps will be your most costly tools, and you really should make them- you will need about 30 of them, minimum, probably more. They are usually made of threaded rod, cut to 12" (300mm) lengths, and equipped with blocks of wood on both ends, a nut on one end, and a wingnut on the other. They may cost you as much as $5 each to make-- or far less, depending on what threaded rod costs where you live. You will also need a thin-bladed fairly dull knife, to open the bass, but you probably already have something that will work. If not, another $2-5 at a resale shop should get you going.

So, you can expect $250 as a maximum, to get ready for major surgery. (I paid far less--I am giving high estimates because I don't know what things cost where you live. There are cheaper ways to do nearly everything.) You can worry about varnish retouching and so forth after the bass is back together.

If you are willing to read the book, think things through and take the implied risks, then I am confident you can make this repair. You might even enjoy it.

I knew a young man, years ago, who had a small accident in his car-- it was the other driver's fault, and their insurance paid the professionally estimated cost of the repairs. But he used the money to buy tools and books and did the repairs himself. It worked out well, so, when, a few years later, a similar thing happened, he repeated the maneuver...and ended up with more tools, and still greater skill and confidence. He eventually became a very proficient auto-body repairman. BTW, I saw the car-- you could not tell it had ever been damaged.

You are already out $1000. From a professional perspective, the bass is not worth repairing...but you are not a professional, and it is YOUR $1000 that is lost, if you don't take the challenge. You can do it if you choose to do it.

If you buy the book, and read it carefully, it may give you the confidence to move forward with the project. If you read it and decide you don't want to do that sort of thing, you are only out $80, and you could even re-sell the book, and lose less. But you don't have to buy tools or materials unless you decide to do the work.

You can expect lots of good tips and direction from folks here on Talkbass, too. :)
 
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