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Double Bass How's this for a ghetto repair?

Gremson

Gremson

Mar 22, 2012
535
576
North-Leftern USA
www.commonlycourteous.com
#1
I bought my first upright from a friend. It's a Cremona. He's had it for 6 years, so I assume it's passed most of the issues I've read Cremona owners experience. While cleaning it up today I noticed a problem.. I've never owned an upright before, so I'm not sure if this is a common thing. But on the bottom, back, left side of the bass (basically the first part that hits the ground when you lay it down) it's worn quite a bit, and to the point of the back and sides separating a bit.
I don't want to take it to a luthier, because... It's a Cremona. I'd rather do the work myself. My plan is to paint some plain ol' Elmer's wood glue into the crack, and gently clamp it down overnight. I might even paint a little wood glue over a couple layers just as a protectant, and to prevent it happening again so soon.
So... My question for you, is if that's a decent idea, or is there a better DIY course of action... What do you guys think?

Here's the crack in question, if that helps..
Thanks guys!
IMG_0275_zps304b7349.jpg
 
#2
You would be much better off using hide glue... You want the bass to be able to separate at the seam, so it's better to have the wood be stronger than the glue joint... That big ol' body does a lot of expanding and contracting with the weather, so they are made to separate... Better to have a split seam than a crack in the wood... Elmer's kind of sells itself on "bonding stronger than the wood"...

When my bass had a major separation last summer, I picked up some hide-glue flakes at Woodcrafters, mixed it as instructed, cleaned all if the dead glue and debris from the seam, laid in the glue and clamped... Voila!! Plus, you'll have enough flakes to last pretty much the rest of your life!

I agree that you're capable of this fix... Kinda nice to get it back in shape yourself!

-robert
 
#3
Hi.

rllefebv said:
You would be much better off using hide glue...

-robert
Click to expand...

+1

Make Yourself a handful of "violinmakers" clamps while you're at it.
Easy to make, cheap, and 10 times more convenient when gluing tops/backs of DB's than any other clamps there is.
Just lengths of threaded rod, plastic tubing (to cover the unused threads), round wooden disks with holes in them, felt and wing-nuts is all You need.

Kudos for the DIY spirit.

Have fun.


Regards
Sam
 
#4
Cool. Thanks for the tip on the hide-glue. I found some tite-bond ready use hide-glue, and also a powder to be mixed with water through the wondrous and all-knowing and all-powerful Google... But I'm not sure what you mean by flakes.
Also, on the topic of preventing this from happening again... Are there any kind of "protectors" or something that I could stick on the left side of my bass so I'm not just setting finished wood on the ground?
 
#5
That's not a seam separation. The plate is delaminating. Depending on what glue was used at the factory, hot hide glue may or may not close it up, but it's the least invasive option so you should try that first.

Do NOT use bottled hide glue. Luthiers call that crap Liquid Evil for a reason. It's also loaded with formaldehyde, which is a carcinogen.
 

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