Clarky Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 I did a video shoot for my band All the Queens Ravens yesterday and the 1880s German flatback I recent acquired got its first outing. We did the shoot in a vintage clothing shop (very Bohemian) which had huge but narrow metal security doors. All went well until I left the shop and accidentally smacked the bass (in its padded bag) against the edge of the metal door. Consequence is the lower front bout (near the endpin) now has two long cracks and an area that is lifting up (and buzzes when you play, so bass is unusable). So now I have two 2-hour round trips to Malcolm Healey's shop in Surrey in prospect plus the cost of repair. No purpose behind this post other than to let off steam. Aaaaarrrggghhhh! And on the bass' very first outing too .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Law of Sod at work again Clarky, feel your pain though mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassace Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Clarky, commiserations. Our sax player knocked my Martin over during an interval. I used my MU insurance to take it to George Martin and get it expertly repaired FOC. Join the MU, if only for the insurance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 All part and parcel of playing DB I suppose. Sorry to hear it though Clarky, hope it's not too pricey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin spangles Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 I feel your pain! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oggiesnr Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 I feel for you. Hope the bill isn't too painful. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slobluesine Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 double Bugga Clarky, doors are the pits hey, not high enough or wide enough oh yeah, they ALWAYS open the wrong way too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbassist Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Sorry to hear that Clarky. I cracked the front of my first decent bass and it was pretty upsetting. However if the top comes off its a good opportunity to check over previous repairs. Mine actually sounded better after the repair. Good luck with the repair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Bassman Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 That's a bummer I'm sure Malcom will be able sort it for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRev Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Ouch! I feel for you mate. Oddly enough, I've had the same weekend as you but with opposite outcomes.... Filmed a video on Friday Night and Saturday morning, then played a gig on Saturday night, which due to extra time on the footie and the inevitable lagered up morons, ended up with some pi55ed up feckwit stumbling onstage and knocking my bass off its stand onto a tiled floor. Luckily she's a tough old bird and no damage was sustained. Which is more that I can say for the feckwit... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted May 21, 2012 Author Share Posted May 21, 2012 Thanks gents, I feel better after your comments I will hopefully drop off bass at end of this week and get an as-good-as or even-better bass back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 I often think moving a double bass from one place to another is like running a three-legged egg and spoon race down stairs in the dark with Parkinson's. It's only a matter of time...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
throwoff Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Hey Clarky, thats bad news mate. Any chance of some pix? I would sure be interested to see the damage such a small donk can do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slobluesine Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 [quote name='TheRev' timestamp='1337599621' post='1662444'] Ouch! I feel for you mate. Oddly enough, I've had the same weekend as you but with opposite outcomes.... Filmed a video on Friday Night and Saturday morning, then played a gig on Saturday night, which due to extra time on the footie and the inevitable lagered up morons, ended up with some pi55ed up feckwit stumbling onstage and knocking my bass off its stand onto a tiled floor. Luckily she's a tough old bird and no damage was sustained. Which is more that I can say for the feckwit... [/quote] piss'd up feckwits and 78x198 doors, deffo in the top 5 things to avoid with an upright bass and why is it piss'd up feckwits are so attracted to upright basses? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheG Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Sorry to hear that Clarky. I've been using my plywood bass for years and it has seen its fair share of whacks etc. I've just bought my first solid wood bass and Im slightly concerned that if I knock it its not like the old faithful hard knock plywood bass. I keep thinking its only a matter of time myself. I was once on a photo shoot and the drummer knocked my electric guitar out of my hand snapping the headstock off on the step. Thankfully we were able to finish off the rest of the rehearsal as the guitar was fitted with a Floyd Rose tremolo (locked at the nut) although it was a sorry sight. Fitted back on expertly by John Diggins. Good luck with the repair and let us know how you get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retroroach Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Sorry to hear. Just insured my Bass for £8500 at cost of £125 p.a. covers everything. Allianz Insurance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Expensive DB for recording, cheap DB for gigs and vids Then again, as you say it'll come back with a great setup, so perhaps a blessing in disguise C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted May 21, 2012 Author Share Posted May 21, 2012 [quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1337637055' post='1663420'] Expensive DB for recording, cheap DB for gigs and vids [/quote] My two DB's cost exactly the same ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iiipopes Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 (edited) Damn. Hope it all sorts out without too much cash outlay. Edited May 22, 2012 by iiipopes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRev Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 [quote name='slobluesine' timestamp='1337607301' post='1662628'] why is it piss'd up feckwits are so attracted to upright basses? [/quote] I think the beer goggles make DBs look like fat slappers... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbassist Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 My DB student turned up today, unzipped his bag and the neck of his bass had come off. Ouch. Needless to say we didn't have a DB lesson :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRev Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 (edited) Well, after closer inspection, it appears that Jayne isn't quite as tough as I thought - there's a 15 x 5 mm chunk knocked out of the front edge. I think it's only a flesh wound though - nothing structural seems to be damaged. On the plus side, we got back some of the stills from the video shoot and it's all looking rather good.... Edited May 23, 2012 by TheRev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted June 10, 2012 Author Share Posted June 10, 2012 (edited) Well I got the bass back from Malcolm Healy on Friday and he fixed the cracked/split part plus a rattling tuner for the not-at-all-exorbitant cost of £48. Phew! I had visions it would be much more than that. Given the tuner's been fixed (was previously held tight by one of wife's hairbands) my double bass is actually better than it was before so all good in the end Edited June 10, 2012 by Clarky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatback Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 [quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1339340933' post='1687070'] Well I got the bass back from Malcolm Healy on Friday and he fixed the cracked/split part plus a rattling tuner for the not-at-all-exorbitant cost of £48. Phew! I had visions it would be much more than that. Given the tuner's been fixed (was previously held tight by one of wife's hairbands) my double bass is actually better than it was before so all good in the end [/quote] Hey, delighted to hear that. I didn't think anything to do with db could be £48. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobVbass Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 Excellent news Clarky - glad there's a happy ending. I have to say Malcolm Healey is an all round good chap, I had him fix my bridge and put adjusters in - very decent price and fantastic workmanship. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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