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Double Bass What's going on here? (neck joint)

Mikey3

Mikey3

Aug 8, 2007
163
36
Ontario
#1
I wasn't sure if this was the paint/finish peeling off with some string tension, or if there was damage to the wood, weak joint etc... anyone ever see something like this before?

Thanks
Mikey

Edit: Here are some links to bigger pictures

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[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#3
No blows to the scroll that I am aware of. Its basically brand new, just got strung up, and then this happened, I imagine was due to tension. The neck seems stable though, bass doesn't go out of tune, just a bit flat when sitting for a while, and I thought that was due to new strings. I can send it back, but I do like the look/feel/sound of the bass, just don't wanna have the neck fly off on me.
 
#4
Any chance it is just a change due to humidity changes? It looks that way to me, but those are pretty tiny pictures. You have not filled out your profile, so I have no idea where you live, but if it is either drying a lot, or more humid than before, I can see where it could crack the finish in a way similar to that.

I had a friend who bought an instrument in Brazil and brought it with him to school in Michigan. It split, and the gap just got wider and wider, as the wood continued to dry out. That's a pretty major shift, though, from Manaus to Jackson, Michigan.

I would not worry about what I am seeing on your bass, personally, but I might retouch it after a while, once it had stabilized.

Chet Bishop
 
#5
Well, more detailed pictures might help. Still, unless your bass did take a blow, there's no way that should happen to a properly humidified instrument that hasn't endured rapid changes in temperature and/or humidity. Actually, I would worry about it. The best course of action is to visit a luthier and trust what he/she says.
 
#7
Some people pick up or move their bass holding just neck and fingers around the end of the fingerboard! Are you one of them?

When you pick up your bass by the neck, you have a big heavy object wiggling around on the end of a stick, held on only with glue and a tight fit. This can cause stress at that joint and could easily cause that varnish cracking.

Be careful to move your bass left hand on the neck and right hand under the upper bout.
 
#9
Wood is always expanding or contracting, its a natural material that reacts with its environment. Looks like the wood is doing its thing. but, whatever that " varnish" is, it's not flexible enough to move with the wood. I've seen this mostly on the cheap asian candy apple finishes, where it is so brittle it cracks if you look at it funny. Esp where the paint is bridging over two different pieces of wood. But it is not exclusive those basses. any bass where the "varnish" is thick and brittle, and bridges the pieces.

Stop looking at it funny ;) and pay attention to your humidity, which is good advice for anybody. i'd like to see some more room between the neck and the plate mortice. looks too tight on this one.
 
#11
I love the size of your pix - you can actually see what's going on! :D

I don't think you have anything to worry about. Like Darren, I think your woods are adjusting (which they will continue to do for many, many years) and your thick finish can't keep up. Check it occasionally but keep on playing. :)
 
#13
Actually, now that I look at the full-size photos, it seems to me that there is some sort of white filler underneath the varnish in that joint, and either the wood or the filler or both have shrunken just a little-- the varnish was not able to move with it. Just my opinion.

Chet
 
#15
1st Bass said:
Actually, now that I look at the full-size photos, it seems to me that there is some sort of white filler underneath the varnish in that joint, and either the wood or the filler or both have shrunken just a little-- the varnish was not able to move with it. Just my opinion.

Chet
Click to expand...

I think it may be the lighting in the first pic. In the second one, it looks like you can see bare wood. In any case, they're really great pics and if Jake (a bona fide luthier) says not to worry, then I think the OP can rest pretty easy.
 

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