Ouch, or how to turn a double bass accident into an acoustic improvement. Possibly.....

[Beedster]

What can be done?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 2 hours ago by Beedster

[Paddy Morris]

Blimey. How did you manage that?

 

I did something simlar to my chinese plywood special.  A friend who repairs guitars managed to apply a maple cleat underneath the smashed bit, then push the wood back up enough to patch it from the outside.  The bass had a black lacquer finish, so it waa essier to disguise once the finish waa smooth.

 

I don't know if that would work on this though.

[Hellzero]

Chris, a long time ago, someone asked me to repair a similar damage on a classical guitar for almost nothing as he was skint.

 

So after a bit of discussion I proposed him to create a side soundhole and that was it.

 

And you know what, according to him, it sounded better with this side soundhole... Go figure.

[JapanAxe]

T-Cut?

[TheRev]

You could turn it into an inspection/access port for soundpost adjustments,but it looks too high up on the shoulder?

 

 

[Beedster]

17 hours ago, Paddy Morris said:

Blimey. How did you manage that

 

I was moving an acoutsic panel, bass was on the floor on its side and, well, you can guess the rest......

 

5 hours ago, TheRev said:

You could turn it into an inspection/access port for soundpost adjustments,but it looks too high up on the shoulder?

 

Nice idea but wrong end of the instrument....

 

7 hours ago, Hellzero said:

So after a bit of discussion I proposed him to create a side soundhole and that was it.

 

Tony, that is genius, made my afternoon, and I think I may look at doing that. I'm wondering if I could use the soundhole insert from an acoustic guitar, as otherwise it could be quite vulnerable to further breaks. What did you use? 

[Hellzero]

7 minutes ago, Beedster said:

Tony, that is genius, made my afternoon, and I think I may look at doing that. I'm wondering if I could use the soundhole insert from an acoustic guitar, as otherwise it could be quite vulnerable to further breaks. What did you use

I used a soundhole insert from a broken gipsy guitar (so small enough for the side) just as you suggest. Great minds... 😉

[Beer of the Bass]

A conventional repair would usually involve access from both sides, so a top or back off job, which is either going to be an expensive luthier job or a big DIY one. 

And it's pretty much in the location where some modern bass makers have put sound ports. The example in the link uses multiple small holes, but one oval just large enough to cover the missing parts would look neat and deliberate. I think I'd want some sort of cross-grain reinforcement on the inside of the hole just for stability and to stop any hairline cracks from spreading

https://uptonbass.com/product/arnold-schnitzer-upton-bass-ergo/

 

 

Edited 21 hours ago by Beer of the Bass

[Beedster]

45 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

I used a soundhole insert from a broken gipsy guitar (so small enough for the side) just as you suggest. Great minds... 😉

 

43 minutes ago, Beer of the Bass said:

A conventional repair would usually involve access from both sides, so a top or back off job, which is either going to be an expensive luthier job or a big DIY one. 

And it's pretty much in the location where some modern bass makers have put sound ports. The example in the link uses multiple small holes, but one oval just large enough to cover the missing parts would look neat and deliberate. I think I'd want some sort of cross-grain reinforcement on the inside of the hole just for stability and to stop any hairline cracks from spreading

https://uptonbass.com/product/arnold-schnitzer-upton-bass-ergo/

 

 

 

This might actually turn out well, almost like I planned it 

[Beedster]

18 hours ago, Hellzero said:

I used a soundhole insert from a broken gipsy guitar (so small enough for the side) just as you suggest. Great minds... 😉

 

Hey Tony @Hellzero any further info or pics you could provide would be hugely appreciated. I have a friend who is a violin maker who I imagine would be able to do the work (I worry that if I try it it's going to make things a whole lot worse), but I suspect even he would be more comfortable with some reference points. Strangely enough, Chuck Traeger doesn't seem to have a chapter on introducing new soundholes  

 

Really quite excited about this 👍

[Beedster]

18 hours ago, Beer of the Bass said:

A conventional repair would usually involve access from both sides, so a top or back off job, which is either going to be an expensive luthier job or a big DIY one. 

And it's pretty much in the location where some modern bass makers have put sound ports. The example in the link uses multiple small holes, but one oval just large enough to cover the missing parts would look neat and deliberate. I think I'd want some sort of cross-grain reinforcement on the inside of the hole just for stability and to stop any hairline cracks from spreading

https://uptonbass.com/product/arnold-schnitzer-upton-bass-ergo/

 

 

Thanks for posting, what a a stunning bass.......

 

 

Makes me wonder whether I could also fabricate a crude repair that by incorporating soundholes makes it look less like a badly behaved acoustic panel and more like a design feature.....?

[Hellzero]

23 minutes ago, Beedster said:

 

Hey Tony @Hellzero any further info or pics you could provide would be hugely appreciated. I have a friend who is a violin maker who I imagine would be able to do the work (I worry that if I try it it's going to make things a whole lot worse), but I suspect even he would be more comfortable with some reference points. Strangely enough, Chuck Traeger doesn't seem to have a chapter on introducing new soundholes  

 

Really quite excited about this 👍

Chris, it was ... 30 years ago when I had my own repair shop, so no photos, hélas...

 

Sorry.

Edited 1 hour ago by Hellzero

[Beedster]

14 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

Chris, it was ... 30 years ago when I had my own repair shop, so no photos, hélas...

 

Sorry.

 

No probs Tony, thanks again for the inspiration, I'll update as things develop 👍

[Happy Jack]

Give @PaulKing a prod ... he'll get the top off for you in no time at all. 

[PaulKing]

4 minutes ago, Happy Jack said:

Give @PaulKing a prod ... he'll get the top off for you in no time at all. 

Ha ha! Dr King is ready for you now… (evil cackle, snap of latex gloves etc)

[Hellzero]

For the record, I didn't remove the top of the guitar, worked from the outside of the ... side with a router (I like the neat work you get with this tool) and a template, then glued the rosace in and that was it.

 

Not that difficult if you work slowly and accurately, Chris.

[Beedster]

27 minutes ago, Happy Jack said:

Give @PaulKing a prod ... he'll get the top off for you in no time at all. 

 

My sense is that, much like a Formula 1 car, taking it apart isn't the hardest bit.....? 

 

22 minutes ago, PaulKing said:

Ha ha! Dr King is ready for you now… (evil cackle, snap of latex gloves etc)

 

Interestingly I have an old Hofner lying around waiting for the Dr King treatment, hence my interest in your other thread Paul, which I found rather encouraging. Looking forward to seeing it back in one piece 👍

[Beedster]

21 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

For the record, I didn't remove the top of the guitar, worked from the outside of the ... side with a router (I like the neat work you get with this tool) and a template, then glued the rosace in and that was it.

 

Not that difficult if you work slowly and accurately, Chris.

 

Thanks Tony, I suspect I'll do it myself as not only do I like a challenge, but my violin-making friend is not all that keen on double basses taking up a whole lot of space in what is a rather violin-sized workshop