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Double Bass Set up/Tweaking Costs

J

Jake

Dec 11, 1999
802
4
Florida
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#1
Hello Bass People,
I just got a new axe that is sounding really good. There are some issues with the way the bridge is cut and some buzzing (when played pizz) on the G string around C-Eb. What would be a good base rate to have moderate fingerboard dressings and bridge/nut shaping done. There is someone here in Gainesville that does beautiful work on violin family instruments, the thing is that he's a world renoun bow maker and from a financial standpoint, it's much more lucrative for him to make and fix bows than to work on basses. I would just like to know what a fair price for the type of work is before I hand the bass over to be tweaked.
Thank you in advance for your answers/suggestions.
 
#2
New axe? Where'd you buy it? If a pro is doing the work, then I'm guessing you're talking anywhere from about $100 to $400 depending upon what is really involved. That's just a guess based on prices in the northeast. I hope the luthier you're considering is facile with dressing DB fingerboards.
 
#3
+1 on Drurb's notes, and perhaps, even more...

If your board is already thin, you may need a new one. Maybe a neck shim. Maybe a new bridge and/or nut. Maybe a crack reveals itself or a loose seam. Need a new soundpost?

I have a new bass. While it is temporarily playable, I need a new bridge, nut, and board, too. My neck/board is now too thin/flexible due to some previous setup attempts by others.

I just dropped $600 on my bow so have postponed my setup corrections for a few weeks. After some preliminary pricing discussions with a great regional luthier, I am anticipating the work my bass will need to be set up well will be in the $500 - 1000 range, depending on fingerboard issues and whatever else may arise by the time we are done. I am happy/willing to pay whatever it takes to get the bass playing properly.

Only helpful experience I can share is find/use a top notch luthier! The final cost of an "almost good" setup is incalculably high in terms of lost time/fun, whatever the monetary price of the work.
 

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