Double Bass Luthier's expert opinions sought!

[tomshepp]

Short story:

Playing in a theater pit and a dancer, who is being swung by another dancer, comes around and slams into the scroll of my bass. The crash was louder than the pit and chorus etc.

Took it to my luthier. The board is separating from the neck. The seam runs from the nut, about 6-8 inches down the neck, no break. However, the scroll/neck has a hairline crack right under where the cheeks jut out from the top heel of the neck.

I'm currently looking into it and have contacted all who would/should be concerned with this.

The theater has insurance, so my question is: Should I file a claim for a new neck? Would a "best glue job" make my bass "good as new?, or even better? This is my nice carved bass and I'd like to be "made whole" from this loss. I understand that an in hand inspection is the only true way to assess all of this, but just thought I'd see what the experts think.

Arnold...... help!

 

[Mark Carlsen]

Pictures ???
If the break is clean you might be able to use fresh hide glue injected and clamped real good, better and stronger yet West System epoxy. I have done many of those scroll hairline cracks w. good success using epoxy. The trick is getting it in to a shop before the crack gets contaminated and then injecting the glue and clamping/clean-up....

 

[tyb507]

Is your luthier not an expert who can give you advice on this? I would follow whatever advice they give, or if for some reason you don't trust his or her advice, bring it to one who you do trust. Off the top of my head I can think of 4 or 5 luthiers within a few hours of Maynard, the closest being in Boston, then Pawtucket, Mystic, Brewster, NY.

 

[tomshepp]

Thanks Mark! Regarding my luthier, I respect his opinion and am following up on his recommendation. That said, I'd like to hear what others may say about how structurally sound glueing the crack will be vs the option of replacing the neck. The theater is covered for this type of accident..... Just sayin'

 

[360guy]

If the original neck is salvageable I would recommend that as opposed to a new neck.

Besides the labor cost involved you should also be compensated by the insurance company for the depreciation that the repair will have on the value of your instrument prior to the accident.

 

[Jake deVilliers]

I don' t see any problem with a competent DB luthier gluing a cracked scroll. It might need a maple pin.

It won't have been the first he/she has seen.