Double Bass Singer snapped my neck!

[AZNBassist]

That does look like a weird angle for the neck to break, though I'm sure as you say being a "cheapo" bass may have something to do with it.

By the way, before I read the thread, I was wondering from reading the title why this was in the Setup & Repair section and not under Gig Stories

 

[jgbass]

If I remember correctly, my old, cheapo bass split around that area. This story is on the DB Train Wrecks thread.

This was my first bass, a cheap Becker bass. I did get it repaired and it was fine. I think they did a lot of gluing and put in some kind of metal reinforcement as well. Sorry, this was years ago, but it certainly did not break the bank, a couple hundred, maybe three, I think. The luthier assured me, especially with the metal reinforcement, that the bass would be fine and was not in any increased danger of splitting. Did not affect the sound negatively in any way either. There was just evidence of a crack where it split.

I also sold the bass a year or so later to a beginner who really did not care about this issue, and, sold it for much more than a couple hundred. Pretty much recouped my investment in the bass.

Certainly, get an estimate on repairs. If it is under what you think you might sell it for in the future, then get it repaired. Otherwise, maybe sell as parts, or give to And,student luthier forpractice.

if you cannot live with the fact that this happened, still get it fixed and sell it to a beginner.

 

[psycholalia]

Update:

I talked extensively to a luthier today; a great Irish gent in green Converse All Stars. He offered several options, bolting it or using an epoxy that he confessed he hadn't used, but was assured that it was an effective solution. I opted to for the latter being curious about it as well.

The cost was minimal for either option. About 150-200 dollars for the epoxy-only fix and about 300-350 for the bolt. So I decided to get a new bridge too. Estimated time: 2 months until we are swingin' again. Thanks for all your input and suggestions.

 

[fretlessman71]

My old upright broke AT THAT SAME PLACE - TWICE. My cost to repair was closer to $300. If you love the bass and the way it sounds, I'd get the work done.

And make the singer pay for it.

 

[Lou Cicconi]

What part of the country are you in...&...Probably forget most of the replies...If you don't want to make a major investment...You can pick up a decent Shen or Cremona or maybe even an Englehardt for around a grand...&...I've seen worst breaks than that repaired & functional again...Depends on where you are and how much the luthiers charge...And I agree w/the guy who told you that your singer has purchased the bass...He can buy you another with check he gets for liability insurance he has to have on his car...

 

[TroyK]

Psycho, if you don't have it with the luthier yet, I can attest that it is sometimes worth the drive to BC to have Jake work on it. If it's just the neck repair and you've got the deal you want, maybe no big deal, but if you want bridge work and overall performance gain, Jake's a country-woodworker-witchdoctor-luthier extrodinaire.

You're welcome to come play my bass to see what I mean. PM me if interested.

 

[psycholalia]

I just got my bass back from the luthier this weekend and wow! I decided to drop a good chunk of money on it and got a new bridge and some fingerboard work done as well as the repairs to the neck and body from the spill it took this summer.

The work for the snapped neck and a crack in the body which happened as a result of the fall came to a little under 300 dollars. I opted to have the luthier completely glue the neck as opposed to re-enforce it with some dowels. The luthier assured me that the glue would be fine and I took him at his word.

The other work; a new bridge, fingerboard shaping and nut filing brought the total bill to a little over 1000. Oh, and I got some new Velvet Anima strings too. The luthier didn't blacken the fingerboard and nut after his work, which is okay- I kinda like the mottled look.

To make a long story longer, the bass plays 100x better than when it was in one piece and it sounds amazing. I can't wait to bring it to a show!

 

[psycholalia]

some pics

 

[Eli_Upright12]

some pics

Maybe you could just strip the rest of the black paint or something, or just tell people you play so fast that the paint just blows off in the wind from your fingers.

 

[ivansc]

Bought a cheapo Czech bass with just the same sort of break, repaired by the luthier friend I bought it from for $250.
He has it strung with Rotosound nylons & was not sure if steels would be a wise idea.
Due to the extra tension involved I suppose.
Any thoughts on this one?
FWIW he did the repair with 2 screws through the fingerboard, neatly covered with plugs & sanded smooth, and another two screws down thru the heel into the body block.

Bass has other issues like an action you could drive a truck under, but sounds pretty nice for a $250 bass.

So.... Thomastiks or just put the money towards a proper bass when I play better?

 

[Gearhead43]

I just got my bass back from the luthier this weekend and wow! I decided to drop a good chunk of money on it and got a new bridge and some fingerboard work done as well as the repairs to the neck and body from the spill it took this summer.

The work for the snapped neck and a crack in the body which happened as a result of the fall came to a little under 300 dollars. I opted to have the luthier completely glue the neck as opposed to re-enforce it with some dowels. The luthier assured me that the glue would be fine and I took him at his word.

The other work; a new bridge, fingerboard shaping and nut filing brought the total bill to a little over 1000. Oh, and I got some new Velvet Anima strings too. The luthier didn't blacken the fingerboard and nut after his work, which is okay- I kinda like the mottled look.

To make a long story longer, the bass plays 100x better than when it was in one piece and it sounds amazing. I can't wait to bring it to a show!

You can get black fingerboard dye here that will work well:

Invalid Link Removed

That looks pretty crappy, I would either dye it, or finish stripping the black off.