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Double Bass Viennese bass disaster repair

#22
Gerald, when I look at the pictures on your pages and try to read, my understanding of German is broadened if not completed and I kind of like to do that with pages in foreign languages as long as the alphabet is the same. A page in English would be welcome if you have time to do that but don't do it just on account of me! One of Our German members here has put together an excellent DB info page (in English or German), but doesn't focus on repairs or making. I don't have the link on my laptop, (Now I see that is the link you just posted!).

I have the Wake book and have seen Bob Hitchings documentaries but I don't have his book. Some other good books in English are Henry Strobel's series of books. While he doesn't have a book specifically on DB, the series has a great deal of tips and methods that apply to whole family of orchestra stringed instruments. He is the fellow who published Traeger, I think.

I enjoyed your site and will be checking in. Keep up the good work.
 
#23
Welcome to Talkbass, GeriBass!

There are American luthiers that are secretive, and there are American luthiers that are not. Getting good, honest information in this trade is difficult.

Have you seen the Hans Weishaar Repair and Restoration book? It is written for violin, viola, and cello. Many of the techniques can be used for bass. It is around $400 U.S. Worth every dollar.
 
#25
GeriBass said:
Its a problem that in Europe the luthier business and bass building is not that public as in other areas as i think.
I have the feeling the luthier want to keep it an mystic handicraft.
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That's right, but I think it has started to change, a little bit. Until some years ago, only guitar- or violin-makers/restorers with diploma were allowed to run a shop – but this law has been changed in 2003 (?), accordingly to the European Union law. And I think there's already a younger generation of makers which isn't that close-mouthed anymore.

But despite the fact that you have such a strong tradition and still many makers in Germany or Europe, you can find much more new informations and ideas on violin makig and restoration in English than in German language (at least at the internet). I think it has something to do that violing making is treated less as a hermetism in the US or elsewhere, than in Europe.
 
#26
jonas said:
That's right, but I think it has started to change, a little bit. Until some years ago, only guitar- or violin-makers/restorers with diploma were allowed to run a shop – but this law has been changed in 2003 (?), accordingly to the European Union law. And I think there's already a younger generation of makers which isn't that close-mouthed anymore.
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The down side of this is that Europe may now become like the United States where anyone with little or no training can open a shop and proclaim themselves to be "luthiers". Buyer Beware!
 
#27
Bob Branstetter said:
The down side of this is that Europe may now become like the United States where anyone with little or no training can open a shop and proclaim themselves to be "luthiers". Buyer Beware!
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Right. But on the other hand, many traditional violin makers weren't at all interested in the specific needs of double bassists for decades, especially jazz double bassists' needs. We all know that setting up a bass for jazz is much different from setting up a violin for an orchestra player :smug: Fortunately, more and more violin makers take the (jazz) double bass for serious today.
Anyway, I know several dealers/restorers without diploma who deliver excellent work. And one thing hasn't changed: you still aren't allowed to call yourself master violin maker without having a diploma. So customers can choose - by title, workmanship, or both.
 
#28
jonas said:
I know several dealers/restorers without diploma who deliver excellent work. And one thing hasn't changed: you still aren't allowed to call yourself master violin maker without having a diploma. So customers can choose - by title, workmanship, or both.
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I did not mean to give the impression that all shops without accredited personnel are bad. However, I do think that lack of accreditation will lead to an increase in the number of poor quality shops regardless of whether they work on basses or any other instrument. While experienced players will know what to look for and ask about, I have to wonder if those with less experience will know the difference. I'm sure every (USA) professional luthier on TalkBass can tell stories of having to re-repair the work from one or more of these lesser quality shops at one time or another.
 
#29
Hello again friends,

now i got offer from the bass luthier where i brought the Vienna Bass for repair. Its an financial Desaster for me. I put in an "bad" translation from the german - i hope you understand all:

Back: Press out - edges under-feed - Linings regenerate - cleating cracks 3500
Sides: Linings of majority renew - cleating cracks - broken parts renew 2500
Top: gypsum bed - press curvature out (several ranges), remove Old repairs 4500
Various works: bass bar renew, cracks repair, Neck: new part for 5th string - fingerboard - scroll 2500
Further: tailpiece - 5te mechanics - bridge - strings - 1300

so in TOTAL: 14300,- Euros

That is definitely too much for my pocket :crying:

So my decision will be:

IS ANYBODY INTERESTED IN THIS BASS FOR PROFESSIONAL REPAIR ?
MAKE ME AN OFFER !
(i cant afford this work - see me crying)

Regards Gerald
 

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