Double Bass Is this fixable?

[Yolo360swag]

A friend recently gave me this old upright to try and repair and I though it wouldn't be too bad but now I'm not sure I can fix it by myself. Any tips on how I could go about repairing this? It's been sitting in a garage for at least 5 years and the neck is able to move.

There is a little peg that fits into the hole on the back but I'm not sure how to get it back into place.

 

[Steven Ayres]

Trust your instincts and take it to a pro luthier. It won't be particularly hard to fix, but there's a lot to know about the necessary tools and how to get it right.

 

[GretschWretch]

This. ^ You are dealing with more than just an open seam. This bass has some alignment issues which are far beyond the skills of kitchen-table luthiers, and there are clamps, and probably jigs as well, which only a pro would have.

 

[SAlcott]

Almost everything is fixable. The question is whether the end result will be worth the time/effort/expense.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

You have a nice old Kay so it’s well worth the expense. Get it done right.

 

[Yolo360swag]

This. ^ You are dealing with more than just an open seam. This bass has some alignment issues which are far beyond the skills of kitchen-table luthiers, and there are clamps, and probably jigs as well, which only a pro would have.

Do you know how much a repair might cost if I take it to a luthier?

 

[GretschWretch]

Do you know how much a repair might cost if I take it to a luthier?

There are others far more qualified than me to answer this question. So far as I know, the bass luthier nearest to me lives three states away.

 

[turf3]

Well there's the damage one can immediately see, but there's also the probability of something we can't see from some photos.

Anyone mentions "epoxy" or "lag bolts" you'll want to run awy.

 

[RSBBass]

Your best bet is to take it to a qualified repair person who specializes in upright basses. There are several issues visible and the kind of accident that could do that much damage probably did internal damage as well. You should get a quote. Do some homework and see what the price for that bass in good condition would be in your area and use that to make the go/no go decision.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Do you know how much a repair might cost if I take it to a luthier?

Where are you?

 

[eh_train]

Where are you?

Looks like the OP has gone quiet. Hoping he didn’t run down to Ace Hardware for a gallon of carpenter’s glue!

That bass doesn’t look damaged to me, just deconstructed. Maybe they used half the glue necessary and it has all dried out and let go. It’s a not-too-difficult fix for a luthier if you’re gluing together undamaged pieces of wood.

Greg, I’m wondering about calling it a Kay. The purfling says Kay but the button doesn’t look the part to me. It’s a vintage ply bass for sure - maybe a Regal?

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

I didn’t initially see that insert in the neck heel, naming it a Kay based on the kerfed linings, keyhole mortise and color. Also, I recently repaired a Kay that had this very problem. Regardless, this is a repair most luthiers could do in their sleep and one amateurs will often ruin.

 

[GretschWretch]

Looks like the OP has gone quiet. Hoping he didn’t run down to Ace Hardware for a gallon of carpenter’s glue!

That bass doesn’t look damaged to me, just deconstructed. Maybe they used half the glue necessary and it has all dried out and let go. It’s a not-too-difficult fix for a luthier if you’re gluing together undamaged pieces of wood.

Greg, I’m wondering about calling it a Kay. The purfling says Kay but the button doesn’t look the part to me. It’s a vintage ply bass for sure - maybe a Regal?

This is the first I've heard that Regal even made DBs.

 

[Steven Ayres]

I’m wondering about calling it a Kay.

It's definitely not a Kay.

 

[eh_train]

This is the first I've heard that Regal even made DBs.

They did. I've only seen one in person and one on the internet, so they're pretty rare. The button on the one I saw in person was just like in the OPs pics (old school German looking).