malbass Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 (edited) Always been keen to get into playing double bass so when I was offered this old thing I jumped at the chance but am now wondering if this is really going to be the best way to get into it. I have little to no knowledge on the matter so am looking for any advice on the following. I think its a ply wood bass, no idea of how old it is and from having a general poke around I think its got some serious problems. First up would the bridge - looks almost like it is the wrong size for the bass and someone has hacked off the feet in order to get the strings close to the fingerboard? Looking inside the f holes the bass bar (I think thats what its called??) has also come away from the front of the body - it also has two sound posts, thats not right is it? So my question would be - do we think its worth the hassle of getting this old beater taken to a luthier and paying what I'm guessing will be a substantial amount of money to get it fixed up?? Or would I be better scrapping this one, and saving my money for something in better condition? [URL=http://s400.photobucket.com/user/malw_2008/media/IMG_2519.jpg.html][IMG]http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp86/malw_2008/IMG_2519.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s400.photobucket.com/user/malw_2008/media/IMG_2520.jpg.html][IMG]http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp86/malw_2008/IMG_2520.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s400.photobucket.com/user/malw_2008/media/IMG_2528.jpg.html][IMG]http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp86/malw_2008/IMG_2528.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s400.photobucket.com/user/malw_2008/media/IMG_2521.jpg.html][IMG]http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp86/malw_2008/IMG_2521.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s400.photobucket.com/user/malw_2008/media/IMG_2529.jpg.html][IMG]http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp86/malw_2008/IMG_2529.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s400.photobucket.com/user/malw_2008/media/IMG_2527.jpg.html][IMG]http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp86/malw_2008/IMG_2527.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s400.photobucket.com/user/malw_2008/media/IMG_2525.jpg.html][IMG]http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp86/malw_2008/IMG_2525.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Edited May 30, 2013 by malbass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Bassman Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 (edited) I'd say it's a DIY project bass It would be quite expensive for a luthier to remove the top and fix the bass bar It'd be a shame to scrap it Edited May 30, 2013 by Mr Bassman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubassman Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 The bass bar has definitely come away - usually when that happens the top deforms and sinks around the left 'f' hole. Looks from the pictures that this may be the case here? This is already an expensive repair as the top will need to come off the body and the plywood straightened out ( I am in the middle of doing exactly that on a German Ply bass that I have and it is very time consuming as it is a slow process involving making wooden templates, applying weights and heat ). Anything that takes time will be expensive! It will need a new bass bar, plus sound post ...and then theres a new bridge to fit. So often with these ply basses they have been used and abused and subjected to all sorts of weather and from experience when the top comes off to repair a bass bar theres usually more strengthening needed to the structure (the bass bar will have been glued with the same hide glue as the rest of the body ...and we already know the bass bar joint has failed!). It also looks like there has been a repair to the neck ( there aren't any photos of that ) ? ...but it seems there is new button on the back of the heel which has been dowelled into place and am I detecting a black screw plug on the fingerboard opposite the neck heel? This unfortunately isn't a bass that is worth taking to a luthier as it will cost more to do it up than its end value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 Could the second sound post be related to the bridge being 2 inches forward of the F hole notches, should the bridge and probably tail piece all be further down the body? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 It would look good on display somewhere, that salvage hunter bloke on tv would pay about £25 for it and sell it to some posh toss pot to put in their cafe for about £2500! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubassman Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1369932677' post='2094661'] Could the second sound post be related to the bridge being 2 inches forward of the F hole notches, should the bridge and probably tail piece all be further down the body? [/quote] ..the second 'sound post' is nothing but a square piece of wood and looks to have been inserted to stop support the top where the bass bar has come away ! You are right though Pete , the bridge should be opposite the 'f' holes - really peculiar that the bridge feet have been lopped and its so far out of position !. Tough call for Malbass ...spend money doing this one up or get a new one ( Pete - how much was your new Gedo again ?! ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 All in about £935 with the exchange rate including £75 of that for shipping, its lovely I bet the full ply one for £200 or so less is just as good too I just fancied the solid top. I see what you mean about the other post now, its on the bass side rather than under/near the treble side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 (edited) Has the top on that bass been replaced? The f-holes look quite crudely done and it's unusual to have purfling on the back and not the top - I wonder if someone has replaced a damaged top with a fairly rough looking bit of plywood? As said above, I suspect it would cost more to have it sorted by a luthier than the end result would be worth, but a DIYer might get it going well enough to play, so don't skip it! Edited May 30, 2013 by Beer of the Bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malbass Posted May 30, 2013 Author Share Posted May 30, 2013 Guys, thanks for the input so far. Kind of confirming my suspicions about whether it would be worth it and having read StingrayPete's thread about his Gedo bass I'm thinking that might be the way forward. Typing on my phone right now so will post more tomorrow. Cheers Mal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 Haha the Gedo basschat club has another member, I can feel it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 If you're looking to get rid of it, can I have first dibs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubassman Posted June 1, 2013 Share Posted June 1, 2013 [quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1369935204' post='2094717'] Has the top on that bass been replaced? The f-holes look quite crudely done and it's unusual to have purfling on the back and not the top - I wonder if someone has replaced a damaged top with a fairly rough looking bit of plywood? As said above, I suspect it would cost more to have it sorted by a luthier than the end result would be worth, but a DIYer might get it going well enough to play, so don't skip it! [/quote] I think you are bang on there. It looks like an new top has been put on - the F holes are very low and not at all accurately done or symmetrical - I wonder what the sound is like as a result ? Are there any photos of the heel where the bass joins the body? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malbass Posted June 3, 2013 Author Share Posted June 3, 2013 So I've decided that this probably isn't the bass for me at the moment. Had a couple of enquiries about selling this but I've no idea of the value. I've stuck it on ebay with no reserve so I guess we'll let the market decide how much its worth! http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=111088750445 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 I'd try and put something in the listing to get anyone looking for a cool display piece to find it, fancy cafe or cocktail bar etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malbass Posted June 7, 2013 Author Share Posted June 7, 2013 Had a couple of requests for more photos so here you go: [URL=http://s400.photobucket.com/user/malw_2008/media/IMG_2557.jpg.html][IMG]http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp86/malw_2008/IMG_2557.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s400.photobucket.com/user/malw_2008/media/IMG_2558.jpg.html][IMG]http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp86/malw_2008/IMG_2558.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s400.photobucket.com/user/malw_2008/media/IMG_2559.jpg.html][IMG]http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/pp86/malw_2008/IMG_2559.jpg[/IMG][/URL] 65 watchers on eBay at the moment - never thought it would be that interesting!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monckyman Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 I had a Chzekoslovakian flat back bass like this one back in the 80s. Good luck with the sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malbass Posted June 10, 2013 Author Share Posted June 10, 2013 Well that went for more than I was hoping!! :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 Cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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