Double Bass Unknown plywood flatback...

[Rayjay]

Cheers,

Just bought a bass, but it needs some work. First, wondering it anyone can help me identify - gamba shaped, enclosed tuners (look original), ebonized board.

There is some splitting on the front and back, and it needs a soundpost (doesn't have at all). It needs a new bridge, tailpiece, and gut wire. Maybe a better endpin, but now it has a wooden one that sounds ok and it non adjustable but correct height for me.

Bass bar, ribs, neck joint, all seem ok. Can't plane an ebonized board so no work there.

Anyone have any ideas as far as origin (no tags inside), or approx repair cost?

I bought it for $200, and yes the current homemade tailpiece is bolted into the top, see picture for a good laugh!

I bought it because it was steal and I heard a good tone in there somewhere

 

[drurb]

No soundpost but strings under tension?

 

[rolandm]

What you heard was not a tone, it was a moan, as in the top of that bass moaning for someone to take the tension off the strings until a proper soundpost can be fitted.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Repairing that cracks can get expensive. You might need about five times as much money as you paid for it. Bring it to a bass luthier as soon as possible and ask how much the repair might cost and if it's worth the money.
If it's a solid top and back it might be worth the money, but only the luthier can tell you what needs to be repaired and what the bass it worth after the repair.

There is always a risk, since you don't know how the bass will sound after you have thrown a lot of money on it.