Double Bass Restoration Questions

[Ron Plichta]

I've read various ads stating that a bass has been restored and started thinking about doing that to my bass, but wanted to find out the pros and cons beforehand. From what I can gather, cracks are secured, holes patched, edges repaired, general maintenance done and the bass revarnished. The question I have is the cost/benefit of having it done.

I suspect I'd spend a good bit of money depending on the work that needs to be done and to what level I want the work done. Here's where I start looking at cost comparisons. My bass was about $4k (excluding bow and bag). I've not gotten any estimates on restoration yet, but I'm guessing several thousand $$$ easily. It looks like I'd spend about $8k - 10k at the lower end to order a new carved bass and so I'm using that as a gauge. That's the balancing act I'm trying to achieve.

On the plus side, I like the neck on my bass and am getting used to using an Eb neck. Its tone seems to get compliments from those who play it, so it may be worth hanging onto (and I've played several in its price range that I thought didn't sound as good). And I'm still developing my skills, so there's probably not much need to sell it at this time.

However, if I decide to sell it sometime in the future, will a restoration help its resale or am I just spending money i don't necessarily need to spend?

Here are some pics of it:

And here's what appears to be a similar bass that had a restoration done:

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[Eric Hochberg]

The first thing you have to do is take it to a couple of good bass luthiers and get their estimates for work that needs to be done. Just like you would with car, or home repair. When you get the numbers, you'll know what you will have in it including the purchase price. Then the question is, have you found a bass you like better than this one for a similar price, or how much do you need to spend to get a step up or two? If after a good search, and this should be more than a couple of basses, you'll either find a better bass at a price you can live with, or your current bass will be "the one", at least for now.

Your bass definitely needs the edge repairs we discussed in another thread, and a finish touch up is in order. If there are cracks that are not open, probably not necessary to address, unless the top is coming off for something critical.

You paid $4k for it, can you get that now in it's current condition? Won't know until you try. One good thing you have going with your current bass, is that you know it well. If it's working for you now, it will be nicer and more inspiring to own after you fix it up. It could end up sounding better and playing easier, depending on what is done. With another bass, you may have a learning curve getting used to it, and a period of luthier tweaking to get it to play well for you.

Of course, you would prefer not putting more money into it than you can get back should you decide to sell, but even if you overspend a bit, it will buy you more quality time with it until you find the next bass. Your bass may not need that much done though, and when fixed up, pride of ownership shows and means something in the selling process, IMO.

 

[Ron Plichta]

You raise a good point about the quality of ownership, Eric. One aspect I didn't really consider is the peace of mind I'd get knowing that any issues would be addressed. That could be a selling point if I decide to move on to another bass in the future.


The one thing I believe I have going for me with this bass is that it compares quite well sonically with others I've played in its price range (and a few higher priced ones, too). It's a known entity to me.

Regarding the edges, I'm still in favor having them repaired, but will do that job when the top has to come off for another reason.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

Regarding the edges, I'm still in favor having them repaired, but will do that job when the top has to come off for another reason.

I'm not a luthier, but I believe the edges can be cosmetically repaired with wood inlay and touch up. Should not cost a lot. If the top ever has to come off, then they could be structurally repaired if needed.

OK, I just looked at your previous thread on the subject and see that you were quoted $400 per bout for cosmetic edge repair and touchup. That seems high to me, and the top off estimate seems low... A second luthier opinion is in order, I think.

 

[Ron Plichta]

I plan on getting more than one opinion on what needs to be done beyond the edge work. It appears that a C exension was mounted on the bass at one time and I was considering getting the scroll modifications fixed. And as you said, I can secure any potential cracks if the top is coming off. I'm also thinking about new hatpeg dowels from Lemur Music which won't do much sonically, but IMO will improve the cosmetics over the sawn-off ones you see in the photo.

I found a repair tag dated 1993 inside it and I'm assuming that was to cleat an open seam on the back. I don't know any more of its history and the "peace of mind" apect is gaining favor in my decision.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Rather than replace the machines altogether, you could have nice ebony pegs turned.

 

[Ron Plichta]

Rather than replace the machines altogether, you could have nice ebony pegs turned.

That's what I meant. Lemur sells the pegs in either ebony or rosewood. The current ones are rosewood, as is the tailpiece. My luthier can tweak them to fit.

 

[Phil Rowan]

I have a hybrid bass I paid $4k for. I sometimes get into daydreaming about the grass being greener, which of course it always is, right? Thinking about how I could maybe save up a few grand, sell my bass and get something for $6k or $7k if I can, because I go e-window shopping and oh wow, look at all those basses out there, they look so awesome and probably sound 10 times better than mine. But then I remember that I auditioned several $6k and $7k basses and wound up going with the one I chose (of course, my price range was $5k but I could've possibly had some help if I found one that really grabbed me, which in this case was that $4k hybrid.. go figure). Who knows, maybe if I were at the level I'm at now things would've gone differently, but I remember why I bought the bass to get me out of the whole "grass is always" greener thing, which can be kind of distracting.

I'll get another bass when the time comes but until then I'm fine with what I have and I try to focus more on improving my playing and technique, learning new music, learning how to really get a great tone out of what I have, etc. I wouldn't worry too much.. if there are small things with your bass's set-up that can be done to further improve its tone/playability, go for it. I had my bridge inched southward to increase the string length a little and it made a pretty significant difference with things. I've thought of trying out an ebony tailpiece to try to darken things up but with its current strings (Kaplan A, D, G, Stark E) it seems plenty dark as it is. Maybe I'll look into replacing the tuning machines someday too because the ones on there are kinda meh (not the worst but perhaps could be improved).

Anyway, just my 2 cents there.