I returned the Kay school bass and immediately have another question. The next one is significantly better than most at the middle school. I think I can handle it but want to be careful.
These are no budget (my pocket for anything required).
It appears to be a 5/8 carved bass (~39 inch) made in Germany for US export.
The paper tag inside says:
Georg Anton Schuster
Geigenmacher
Wien Ann 1788
Made in Germany
In what is likely ink (hand marked), the number 1143 is also on the tag.
I'm thinking ~60 years old "factory".
Mostly curious (there is at least one old thread) but I don't want to misunderstand the value. If it is way over my head, I would give it back.
It has some rib and front cracks with previous repairs - many now open again. The back is two pieces and the center seam is opening, some cleats on the inside have fallen off.
Edge seams are apart all over which is what the teacher noticed. They took off the bridge and set the bass aside. Some get played until the end block breaks free.
Overall, it is not very beat up considering it is in a school (no student carvings, no holes punched through the ribs, ...).
One bout of the top is completely loose already. So, I think I can deal with the cracks/cleats with the front removed.
There is a horrible hard tail wire just twisted to connect the two ends and the bridge needs to be replaced. Big box store cable would be a cheap improvement?
Anyway, I'm running on here, the real question:
The problem I am very uncertain about is in the peg box.
There is a crack (with a small gap) on what appears to be only one side at the very top. It runs between near the corner and the upper peg hole (gear side). The top two machine plate screws may be holding it from opening more. I don't see any evidence that it was dropped like a big chip out of a volute.
The rest of the neck looks fine (nice figure but a bit thin with a glossy finish everywhere).
Attached is a close up picture but it is still hard to see the crack (string is still on)
This is not totally failed. Is it likely to get worse?
Should I just leave that alone?
Only push some glue into the crack?
Or do some more extensive repair, perhaps under the plate?
I did what I would call a "cheek graft" once on a violin.
As always, thanks for any suggestions.
-S
These are no budget (my pocket for anything required).
It appears to be a 5/8 carved bass (~39 inch) made in Germany for US export.
The paper tag inside says:
Georg Anton Schuster
Geigenmacher
Wien Ann 1788
Made in Germany
In what is likely ink (hand marked), the number 1143 is also on the tag.
I'm thinking ~60 years old "factory".
Mostly curious (there is at least one old thread) but I don't want to misunderstand the value. If it is way over my head, I would give it back.
It has some rib and front cracks with previous repairs - many now open again. The back is two pieces and the center seam is opening, some cleats on the inside have fallen off.
Edge seams are apart all over which is what the teacher noticed. They took off the bridge and set the bass aside. Some get played until the end block breaks free.
Overall, it is not very beat up considering it is in a school (no student carvings, no holes punched through the ribs, ...).
One bout of the top is completely loose already. So, I think I can deal with the cracks/cleats with the front removed.
There is a horrible hard tail wire just twisted to connect the two ends and the bridge needs to be replaced. Big box store cable would be a cheap improvement?
Anyway, I'm running on here, the real question:
The problem I am very uncertain about is in the peg box.
There is a crack (with a small gap) on what appears to be only one side at the very top. It runs between near the corner and the upper peg hole (gear side). The top two machine plate screws may be holding it from opening more. I don't see any evidence that it was dropped like a big chip out of a volute.
The rest of the neck looks fine (nice figure but a bit thin with a glossy finish everywhere).
Attached is a close up picture but it is still hard to see the crack (string is still on)
This is not totally failed. Is it likely to get worse?
Should I just leave that alone?
Only push some glue into the crack?
Or do some more extensive repair, perhaps under the plate?
I did what I would call a "cheek graft" once on a violin.
As always, thanks for any suggestions.
-S
