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Double Bass Top Damage - - deal breaker? EDIT - Pics Added

Mikey3

Mikey3

Aug 8, 2007
163
36
Ontario
#1
So I found and older upright bass locally. It has a carved top, and I think the sides and back are laminate, but could be carved also. There is some major cracks along the top and a bit of the edges of the board are lifting, there looks to be some major sinking around the foot of the G and along that side, It has had some old cracks repaired (but not cleated) The bass does sound nice, but the top kind of scares me. Is this something that I should be running away from? Or is this something that might be repairable for not a crazy amount of money. It looks like the bass was very dry as the corners of the F holes are all out of wack. Sorry I dont have any pics of the damage, but I can try and get some from the seller. I think I will take this to a luthier to check out regardless, but just thought I would see if anyone here might have some insight
Cheers
Mikey
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#2
Photos? How much do they want for the bass? What is it?

Having the top taken off and the cracks cleated will probably cost you about a grand, plus whatever else is discovered once the top is off. If the cracks were closed improperly, they will have to be redone, which could add to the price.

The sinking top worries me more than anything else in your description. Some sinking isn't abnormal, and it can be stable, but if it's not stable it will cost real money to stabilize.
 
#3
Not sure what bass it is, there is no label, but would appear to be made in Germany from what I could guess. I can try to upload the pictures I do have, but nothing shows a view from the side with the sinking/warping. The tuning pegs where you would wind the strings are wood and have the ebony hat, which are attached to the metal tuning key.
 
#4
Regardless to what you can see as potential problems, getting it to a luthier and getting a professional opinion before you consider purchasing it is your best course of action. If you are seriously interested in the instrument, it is within your price range, it sounds good etc. and this is more than fleeting curiosity, that would be my first course of action.

The luthier is going to be able to give you a professional opinion and peace of mind. They will be able to tell you if any of the problems are bigger than they appear or if there are more that you are not aware of, if things like the sunken top are stable or need to be addressed, and an estimate on how much work needs to be done/how much that work will cost. They also should be able to give you an idea if the price the seller is asking for the instrument is fair, completely out in left field, or if the instrument is something you want to stay away from.

Depending on the relationship you have with the luthier, you will typically have to pay a "bench fee" for this service which is why I suggested it be used for serious interest instead of mild curiosity. If you frequently use that luthier for work, have a decent relationship with them and will be coming back to them in the future, they might give it a quick once over for nothing with the understanding that you have been and will continue to be a good customer. Ultimately you are asking for their professional opinion, which comes at a price. Establishing a relationship with a shop/luthier never hurts.
 
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#7
Here are some shots of the bass. I dont think that I can spot the damage in the picture as these angles do not show the warp. Any idea on what this is? or whether it would be worth the while to fix, or if it might be major. I am still working on getting someone to check it out.
Cheers
Mikey
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#9
Ding ding ding. Rich is the winnah!

You could buy those mail order from the Sears and Roebuck catalog for $25 back in the day if that tells you anything.

They were made on the cheap and generally need the full treatment...neck block, neck reset or neck graft, a real bass bar...which is expensive.

Personally I'd be interested for short money to see if I'm capable of all that work. You should probably look elsewhere for your first carved bass, unless you're the type of person who enjoys a high-maintenance and expensive romantic partner.
 
#10
I bought mine for short money in an unplayable condition just to bring it back to life. I'm about half way through the restoration... It's one of those projects where you do one repair and find five other things to fix. Like popping the top off I realized the end block was a full 1/8th inch wider than the ribs. There were little wedges and wood filler closing the gaps. The integral bass bar is beafy and crude, it will be planed out and replaced soon. It was pretty fun making and chalk fitting a new neck block though. By fun I mean extremely tedious; though it was pretty rewarding when it was finally glued to the ribs. It is a pretty big pain trying to remove the neck from the ribs without snapping them.

Ok sorry to hijack the thread. Really, if the bass is affordable and speaks to you, you may end up loving the thing; just be aware of the potential short-comings of this kind of bass. So take it to a luthier.
 
#13
Added some pictures. put them into the original post. Any one have any thoughts as to why the top might be warped/sinking at the G foot? could this be something like soundpost is out of position?/too small? This worth pursuing? or asking for a major problems. Im not so concerned on blocking the neck as I am on getting the top in healthier condition. Bass sounded good. What would be a good price for something like this?
Thanks everyone
 
#14
Soundpost could be out of position, top could be thin, strings could be too heavy...lots of possibilities. Whatever the cause, that top will have to be removed and re-arched in a mold. $$$$$. Then it will need a neck block fitted, possibly a neck graft as well. More $$$$. Many times these "cheap" older basses don't have a real bass bar, just an integral bar. Fixing that is a grand right there.

Then the center seam separations on the top and back will have to be dealt with, as well as those nasty saddle cracks and anything not visible in the photos or from the outside of the bass that becomes apparent with the top on.

Not counting the seller's asking price, you could be $5k into this bass before you know it. Go easy.
 
#15
There are thousands of old basses out there in this kind of condition. Unless it was your great grandfather's or your girlfriend isn't already causing enough headaches and frustrations in your life, pass on every one of them. Life is too short to bring home another rusted out old non running broken volkswagon parked in your front lawn for a dozen years. Have a little patience and you'll find the right bass in good running condition.

j.
www.condino.com
www.kaybassrepair.com
 

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