Double Bass Repeated neck heel repairs

[Turnaround]

Does this dowel repair have a chance of holding with the break that "high" on the neck heel? I did read the threads concerning this type of problem but was considering routing a rather deep spline at the bottom.

I have three cellos in the shop right now with the same problem in precisely the same location. One was previously repaired by driving two long screws from the topside of the neck into the heel ( on one cello the screws were actually driven through the fingerboard - then plugged). The other cello was done with one large central dowel and four smaller peripheral ones - like your second photo. All have failed again at the same location.

Given that a cello neck is under less tension than a bass neck, my guess is that the longer-term prognosis is not good.

Then again, I cannot speak to the quality of the original repairs on the cellos - I didn't do them.

 

[layrepairs]

Well, I guess a year back in the middle school is the real test but I think it will hold together a while again.

My first try fixing the oddly cut bridge wasn't right and I'm not happy with the front lower bout touch up (funny light spot). A bit more work on each and then I will return it.

This one was certainly a learning experience.
Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[Heifetzbass]

Looks Great for a school bass!

 

[eerbrev]

Layrepairs:

As someone who used a ply bass that was falling apart for a while at the beginning of my bass journey, Thank you. You're doing something very special here that deserves merit.

eerbrev

 

[martinc]

The Kay neck may not have the best dovetail ...but at least it has one.
My Eberle ply (Musima-otherwise a well constructed and full-sounding instrument) has NO dovetail.
The flat bottom of the neck heel simply sits on top of the neck block with only the glue to hold it there! To make things worse the factory glue job was sloppy that not all of the heel was glued to the block.
In addition, the only support the back of the neck heel has, is the small bell-shaped button at the top of the bass's back which is glued onto the back of the neck heel.
I have now just finished my third neck repair in 5 years. The first time it was re-glued with hide glue...the second time we installed three dowels through the neck block and heel along with the hide glue. That did not stop the back side of the neck heel from coming loose and tilting the neck forward this past weekend.
So now there is a countersunk screw installed from the top of the heel through the neck block about a third of the way back. Also I installed a metal support plate joining the back of the heel to the back of the neck block because the button broke off when the neck tilted forward.
We'll see how that works.
I really don't care about how the the support plate looks ( but please don't ask for a photo!) because I am fed up with the neck heel coming loose so many times. I have covered the plate with a piece of leather.
This bass has to have the worst neck attachment design in the history of double bass-making.