stingrayPete1977 Posted July 16, 2016 Share Posted July 16, 2016 Just noticed some crazing on the rear of my Gedo, thought it was a nice bit of age related checking beginning then I realised it was directly behind the sound post! It's a solid top ply back bass so that must be tight as hell in there right? I'm hoping a shave of the post and possibly relocating it a tad will solve it our do you think this is really bad news? It's never had a pro set up so now might be the time for a full examination. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zbd1960 Posted July 16, 2016 Share Posted July 16, 2016 (edited) I'd get it straight to a luthier, sounds like the sound post needs adjusting. Position of the post is critical to the sound of the instrument. If it's just a sound post adjustment, it will be a quick and cheap fix. A full set-up with new bridge etc will be rather more. Edited July 16, 2016 by zbd1960 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted July 16, 2016 Author Share Posted July 16, 2016 Ta mate I've just dropped it off at Tim Tofts, bit like taking a Kia Picanto into a vintage Ferrari restoration specialists! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted July 16, 2016 Author Share Posted July 16, 2016 [URL=http://s997.photobucket.com/user/stingraypete/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-07/20160716_102806_zpslovuos3y.jpg.html][IMG]http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/af100/stingraypete/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-07/20160716_102806_zpslovuos3y.jpg[/IMG][/URL] She's going to shorten the post as we think it's too long now the body has started to settle, it's having a once over and some shellac in the crack after, fingers crossed it will be ok, not a cheap hobby though eh?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted July 16, 2016 Share Posted July 16, 2016 My Gedo has always had a hump in the back where the soundpost sits, I did mention it on here once but never followed it up. As I have no previous doublebass experience to compare it to I don't know if this is normal. It's not massive but it's definitely there and is visible. I'm using Innovation strings so relatively low tension but am probably moving to a medium tension steel string so am a little worried about the soundpost bump. I don't know of anyone within a two hour drive that I could take it to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted July 16, 2016 Author Share Posted July 16, 2016 I'll report back, she will be doing it this week all being well, has your wood cracked or just a gentle hump formed? Mine is quite isolated to the post area, must be really tight and this humid weather has not helped I bet. I'm going to let her show me the basses they have on sale when I collect it, could be an expensive mistake! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 No there's no sign of any cracking, just a hump which I didn't notice at first but we did a gig where the venue had a dancefloor that was lit from underneath, when my bass was lying down pre gig I saw it in the light. Now I know it's there I notice it more. It hasn't got any worse in two and half years since I noticed it and I've wondered if all doublebasses have it to a degree, but as I said I've nothing to compare it to. I don't get many issues with feedback and a tight soundpost could actually be helping this I suppose. My amplified sound is fine and I fear any improvement on acoustic sound, by having a proper setup, could give me more feedback when amplified due to a more resonant top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted July 17, 2016 Author Share Posted July 17, 2016 They are certainly delicate beasts aren't they?! I've no idea how normal a hump is so I'd be interested to know too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zbd1960 Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1468667367' post='3092500'] Ta mate I've just dropped it off at Tim Tofts, bit like taking a Kia Picanto into a vintage Ferrari restoration specialists! [/quote]TimTofts are good - that's where I bought my first cello. There's a really nice guy in Shrewsbury - Julian Batey - he has a shop in the centre off Dogpole I think. Real old-fashioned craftsman and he will be less expensive than Tofts. He's done some running repairs for me and he re-hairs my bows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zbd1960 Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1468683578' post='3092651'] I'll report back, she will be doing it this week all being well, has your wood cracked or just a gentle hump formed? Mine is quite isolated to the post area, must be really tight and this humid weather has not helped I bet. I'm going to let her show me the basses they have on sale when I collect it, could be an expensive mistake! [/quote]Sounds like you were talking to Helen... She sold me my Jay Haide cello and Dorfler bow. If you talk nicely they will cut a bit of a deal. They have a bass room (and a cello room...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zbd1960 Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 (edited) [quote name='Maude' timestamp='1468774700' post='3093227'] No there's no sign of any cracking, just a hump which I didn't notice at first but we did a gig where the venue had a dancefloor that was lit from underneath, when my bass was lying down pre gig I saw it in the light. Now I know it's there I notice it more. It hasn't got any worse in two and half years since I noticed it and I've wondered if all doublebasses have it to a degree, but as I said I've nothing to compare it to. I don't get many issues with feedback and a tight soundpost could actually be helping this I suppose. My amplified sound is fine and I fear any improvement on acoustic sound, by having a proper setup, could give me more feedback when amplified due to a more resonant top. [/quote]I don't think it should be doing that - worth a chat with a luthier... if the humidity drops and the instrument shrinks, the pressure may get too much. Don't know much about string shops/luthiers in your neck of the woods - probably Exeter and Bristol at a guess? Long way from you I suspect. There probably are ones nearer, needs a search. I'll ask some people I know. Edited July 17, 2016 by zbd1960 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted July 18, 2016 Author Share Posted July 18, 2016 [quote name='zbd1960' timestamp='1468791820' post='3093404'] Sounds like you were talking to Helen... She sold me my Jay Haide cello and Dorfler bow. If you talk nicely they will cut a bit of a deal. They have a bass room (and a cello room...) [/quote] It was indeed Helen hopefully they will look after me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc S Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 Hi stingrayPete, Sorry to hear this has happened. How old is the bass? Were you the first owner, and has it been transported around a lot? Just wondering what other factors might bring this situation about... I'm sure a decent luthier will solve the problem for you. Let us know how it pans out Best Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted July 21, 2016 Author Share Posted July 21, 2016 Hi Marc I bought it new in 2013 I think, I should know in the next couple of days how bad it is and a possible cause, i think it's just the wood settling over an overly long post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted July 23, 2016 Author Share Posted July 23, 2016 Bass is home safe and sound, it's had a new sound post shaped and fitted and the crack touched in. The price was quite reasonable in the end and I had a look at a few basses while I was in there , they were all nice but I actually took a shine to a Vivente at around £1800 over the more expensive ones. She also said they would take my gedo in on it at a quite fair exchange too, I think maybe her opinion on my gedo has gone up after working on it compared to when I dropped it off last week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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