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What do you do with a bass that "died?"
- Thread starter hrodbert696
- Start date
Lots of things are possible, if you wanna invest in trying to revive it. Not that I'm a luthier by any stretch, but I'd think removing the fretboard and potentially reinforcing the neck and swapping the truss rod might be the most practical approach.
I actually did work on a similar neck thru bass .... This example was pretty much folding up at the neck/body joint ... I installed 2 carbon fiber rods from the back of the neck and filled them with maple skunk stripes ...worked like a charm and the customer plays it to this day with really low action ... I wish I had a photo of the back !! It looked and worked excellent !!!
Pm me if you want to give it a go !!!
-chop!!!
It's pretty. My vote is wall art. Either that, or turn it into an actual coffee table.
This thread could use a poll.
This thread could use a poll.
Contact Mr Toon and ask what he would recommend. Who knows, he might offer to get it back in shape.
My 'Trash Bin' for items such as this would be an eBay auction, starting at $1.
That looks to be about a $500-600 repair job by a competent Luthier. Rout off the fingerboard, new truss rod, new fingerboard. Not particularly complicated or difficult for someone who has the experience and tools.
If that's too much to spend vs its value to you, then sell it, being honest about the problem and what it will take to fix it. Someone will buy it.
If that's too much to spend vs its value to you, then sell it, being honest about the problem and what it will take to fix it. Someone will buy it.
I did this with a tele that had too many issues to fix
Fairy lights stuffed in all it’s holes. (Hey now!)
I should clarify with more details - removing the fretboard, heat treating the warp, putting in a new truss rod and reassembling was the solution proposed by the local tech shop. They estimated $600-800 for it. So yes, a lot of you guys are thinking along the same lines.
The reason I haven't done that is 1) although it's a fantastic bass, I actually only paid $800 for it originally so I have some hesitation about paying as much again to repair it, 2) money is tight right now for various reasons, and 3) as I said, this isn't the first time the neck warped and I'm wondering if it's a congenital issue, in which case I wonder if investing in the repair is just going to turn into a money pit that has to be done repeatedly.
The reason I haven't done that is 1) although it's a fantastic bass, I actually only paid $800 for it originally so I have some hesitation about paying as much again to repair it, 2) money is tight right now for various reasons, and 3) as I said, this isn't the first time the neck warped and I'm wondering if it's a congenital issue, in which case I wonder if investing in the repair is just going to turn into a money pit that has to be done repeatedly.
The consensus of the luthiers seems to be it would be expensive but not impossible to repair. So it’s not utterly hopeless.
And you did say it was a fantastic bass.
I’d suggest either putting it away or hanging it in a wall for now if you don’t need to make an immediate decision. Inaction isn’t going to cost you anything in this situation so there’s no need to be in a hurry over making up your mind about it.
I’m in a similar situation with a vintage guitar I own that needs a major repair I can’t responsibly afford to have done right now because we’re in the middle of some major home refurbishments. But I figure the money may eventually become available. And I already own it. So it’s not costing anything to continue hanging onto it. And nobody’s offering to buy it, therefore I’m not passing up an an opportunity to recoup some money off it either. So it sits in its case for the time being. No worries
And you did say it was a fantastic bass.
I’d suggest either putting it away or hanging it in a wall for now if you don’t need to make an immediate decision. Inaction isn’t going to cost you anything in this situation so there’s no need to be in a hurry over making up your mind about it.
I’m in a similar situation with a vintage guitar I own that needs a major repair I can’t responsibly afford to have done right now because we’re in the middle of some major home refurbishments. But I figure the money may eventually become available. And I already own it. So it’s not costing anything to continue hanging onto it. And nobody’s offering to buy it, therefore I’m not passing up an an opportunity to recoup some money off it either. So it sits in its case for the time being. No worries
Well, if you paid $800, and you put another $800 in it, you're still well ahead of the cost of having another made.
I know its not the first time the neck has moved beyond adjustment so maybe a stiffer fingerboard material would help and/or adding reinforcement rods while the fingerboard is off.
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