Is this damage a big deal for a double bass?

[liamisbass]

I’m finally buying my first double bass. I played it through school, but never bought one myself.

A parent of one of my music students is selling one. It’s an Eastman VB95GR 3/4 size. They’re selling it (with the case and bow) to me for $1500

It had a bit of damage to the scroll. The luthier told me that it “was fractured at the connection between the neck and the peg box of the instrument. It has been glued and reinforced with pins(screws). The repair is solid, we don't anticipate any issues with it, however if ever there were any problems, please do let us know and we're more than happy to fix it up for you.”

Would that present any issues with sound? I can attach an image of the repair.

 

[Don Hergert]

To get more double bass qualified answers, you might want to have this post moved to the TalkBass / Double Bass area.

To achieve that, just click on the Report button in the lower left side of your post and request a move to the Double Bass area.

(I am not a luthier but that looks like a very nice hybrid double bass at a very reasonable price, especially with the luthier standing behind his work.)

 

[jj.833]

I don't think the pegbox has any impact on the sound at all. That is, if something doesn't rattle there, which is easy to check by playing all semitones in the lowest octave. The repair looks solid to my eye, though I can't see what really was the problem.

 

[Guitalia]

The scroll was clearly manufactured as a separate piece and glued to the neck, so if that doesn't affect the sound detrimentally, I wouldn't worry about the repair.

 

[LaFaro01]

Perhaps it might help you to come to a decision, if you get an impression of attaching a new neck to the old double-bass of Martin Wind...

I think, that there is no problem attaching the box in this way...

 

[ole Jason]

Maybe a little unorthodox but I wouldn't have a problem with it as long as things seem solid.

 

[dperrott]

Sometimes breaks happen around there and a rod has to be put in. Aesthetically it would have been better if it was hidden under a wooden plug or placed under the gear plates (but depends where the crack is). Its a fairly common repair.

 

[Sam Sherry]

I say, "Why find out?"

It probably doesn't affect the sound.
It might not make the area weaker.
It will make the instrument harder to sell and worth less (not worthless) when sold.

There are thousands of basses which don't have this issue.
Consider buying one of them instead.

 

[LouisF]

The Eastman 95 is a bass that runs in the $4-5000 range ([Invalid or Expired Link Removed]). If you can get it for $1500, and have a luthier who has been up front about the repair and willing to stand by it, I say go for it. If you have a teacher or pro friend have him/her/they check it, but I think the odds are in your favor. (Also here: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...l-eastman-student-double-bass-outfit-3-4-size)

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Metalwork is never ideal because wood moves as the weather changes but screws do not. Over time that can lead to failure. The basic reasoning behind the repair is solid, if outdated. My old German bass had the scroll broken off the neck decades ago and reattached with maple pins through the pegbox cheeks. It held for who knows how long until a decade into my ownership of the instrument. I was able to recreate the repair using a hard maple pin and it’s still holding five years later. There are better ways to do this repair that are not cost-effective on a Chinese bass.

 

[utzb]

My DB seemed to survive some much more catastrophic events -- the neck had to be re-inserted into body, peg box cracked. That crack opened up when I got it out of my car (which I do at least once a week, but that very time I realized it was a bad move of the bass).
My luthier repaired the bass. It sounded really great before, and it sounds really great know. That is what counts. A lot of things can be repaired.

More important: how does the bass sound? $1500 is not much for a good sound (yes, if it breaks and you have to add $300 some day, it is more than what you wanted to spend. But do the maths over 10 years, and calculate what you pay for strings anyway). Yes, I'd check if the crack opens up when you try to move the peg box and if anything seems odd when knock on it etc.

 

[brianrost]

Any luthier who uses metal pegs like that is suspect. Does he specialize in fixing DBs or is he really a guitar or violin guy?

I’ve had pegbox cracks repaired that needed no pins at all, just glue.

 

[Keith Rawlings]

That’s not a big deal where that repair is. I tried out an Eastman V95 before I lucked into my carved bass and they’re nice instruments—especially for a great price like that. Go for it.

 

[dperrott]

Any luthier who uses metal pegs like that is suspect. Does he specialize in fixing DBs or is he really a guitar or violin guy?

I’ve had pegbox cracks repaired that needed no pins at all, just glue.

I disagree. Sometimes you have to use a metal for a repair. In most situations a wood dowel isn't strong enough. I've seen too many wooden dowels break, the grain direction will be wrong. Then the choice is some type of metal pin or carbon fiber pin. It should be hidden. This is why you should have instrument insurance. If it breaks then get a new neck.

 

[sean_on_bass]

if the bass kicks ass in every other way i'd not worry about this