The LA Craigslist Pedulla Rapture Restore!

[Sollie7]

Well thanks to Syxz_ML I was able to get this bass: http://www.talkbass.com/threads/busted-pedulla-on-craigslist-los-angeles.1108989/

In the original ad pictures it was hard to see but the seller had already tried to fix the broken headstock, rather unsuccessfully. For all of those who were wondering how this happened, my guess judging by the break and the condition of the hardshell is that it was either run over by a car or possibly dropped down from a pretty major height. The truss rod nut was also broken but more on that later. The neck is still straight as an arrow. I tried to stop working and take pictures as much as possible but I did end up missing some parts.

I focused on the neck first and if all is good once its refinished and setup on the body,the body will be getting stripped, veneered with quilted maple, stained green and refinished. Matching quilted headstock ofcourse.

Here is how I recieved the bass:

Yes I did take a mallet to a pedulla

heres the break after it was rebroken it broke on glue lines the "repair" sucked basically, no other wood was damaged:

Cleaned out all the old glue and started gluing pieces back together.

Fretboard was also lifting so that had to be fixed aswell:

here you can see broken truss nut:

I fixed by taking a dremel with a chainsaw sharpening bit and carefully grinding away at the remaining exposed threaded rod.

I forgot to take picture of the actual gluing of the headstock back onto the neck but after it looked alot better than before. there were a couple small gaps to fill. I used JB wood weld 2 part epoxy for that as you can see here:

 

[Sollie7]

The epoxy didn't feather out as much as Id hoped so I also used a thin layer of high quality wood filler in order to smooth things out even more. This is good stuff basically sawdust mixed with good woodglue which is used all the time in instrument making. It dries hard, doesn't shrink and is stain-able. This is NOT the same stuff you prob saw in A step toward's 70s p neck. Like I said it actually dries hard and no I didn't buy it just because it said that on the package, I use this stuff at work all of the time. I somehow forgot to take pictures of this step but heres the neck as it sits now:

The repair is now very smooth and not noticeable at all when playing, although you can of course still see it. Much better then it was and I care about playability more than looks. Plan on doing a few coats of poly today once the stain dries and will keep you all updated as it progresses.

 

[AGH]

Sub'ed

 

[Jonny5bass]

I'd like to see this one come back to life!

 

[A-Step-Towards]

That looks good and it really went to the right owner, yeah that repair is way better then the crap that was on my 70s P neck, I sold it to a local for $150 that explained how he was going to fix it, which sounded similar to what you did.

here is that terrible repair, the wood filler scraped out with a finger nail.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

That brings back memories......Some years back, a customer brought me an all-black Gibson SG guitar. During a minor discussion about feelings, his (now ex-) girlfriend had hurled it across the room, headstock first, into a block wall. The Gibson's feelings were definitely hurt. The headstock was snapped completely off, and the truss rod even partly peeled out of the back of the neck. A few other repair shops recommended throwing it in the dumpster, but I fixed it for him. Structural breaks can be repaired, as strong as original. The black paint covered the scars. And I heard that it did well in therapy...

I suspect that this poor Pedulla experienced a similar emotional flow.....and some brief air time.....

Anyway, congratulations on saving it and repairing it! I hate to see a good instrument thrown away. Structural repair work takes a little time and patience, but it isn't really that difficult. And saving a battered bass is good for the soul.

My only advice on your repair is that I wouldn't recommend the JB Wood Weld or similar hardware store tube epoxies. Next time, use a hard marine epoxy like West Systems or System 3. The thing about the tube epoxies is that they are too thick; they don't flow enough to really grab into the wood grain, and get down deep into the cracks. Also, they don't dry hard. They'll stay a little rubbery for years. If you were to paint this Pedulla, you'd find that after a while, the epoxy will shrink down or stick up. The hard marine epoxies dry hard, stay hard, sand well, and don't shrink or move.

This repair that you did will certainly be strong enough, and will be fine. I'm just offering the suggestion for your next repair project. Good work.

 

[Hopkins]

I would have used the lifting fretboard as an opportunity to get rid of that junk Pedulla truss rod and replace it with a double acting rod that isn't so easily broken.

 

[mtdkingstonheir]

Can't wait to see how your Pedulla turns out. Good karma for repairing this bass.

 

[Deleted member 261632]

Nice job! subb'ed as well.

 

[RedMoses]

Cool, Subd

 

[socialleper]

OUCH!!

That makes me want to go home and give my Rapture J5 a hug. Who would do that to a bass?

 

[bassrich]

Nice job I am in the process of doing the same I have it structurally sound just need t finish it paint will cover all flaws

 

[aproud1]

Very cool. Hate to see a bass beat like that but love to see it repaired. Certainly beyond my abilities.

 

[SirMjac28]

Very cool. Hate to see a bass beat like that but love to see it repaired. Certainly beyond my abilities.

+1

 

[Sollie7]

Thanks everyone this is my first repair like this. Next time I will use better epoxy and I chose not to replace the truss rod due to the neck still being straight and last neck I tried to replace the truss rod in I ruined. Finishing the final coats of spar urethane now, its looking good ill post more pictures later. Hopefully the neck will setup well when attached to the body under tension, but if not hopefully my temp fix on the truss rod will allow some adjustment. If not ill take it to someone to have replaced. Will keep you all updated.

 

[Sollie7]

Some cell phone pics:

 

[aproud1]

Hope it works out for you. Those are great basses.

 

[Hopkins]

Hope it works out for you. Those are great basses.

With absolutely terrible truss rods that the company does not stand behind, and charges an insane amount to fix.

 

[aproud1]

With absolutely terrible truss rods that the company does not stand behind, and charges an insane amount to fix.

Well, I didn't know all that. Only had three. They were all used and never actually needed to adjust the truss rod more than the initial setup.

 

[Hopkins]

Well, I didn't know all that. Only had three. They were all used and never actually needed to adjust the truss rod more than the initial setup.

The design of the rod is absolutely terrible, the part that receives the torque from the adjustment wrench is the weakest part of the rod and prone to break. From everything I have read Pedulla does not warranty their necks, and says when this happens it is user error and charges over a grand to replace the rod, repairing any finish damage that may happen during rod removal is not included. If they won't stand behind their product, then they should at least use a rod that wont break if you look at it wrong.