Eastman hybrid split side

[petebassist]

Hi, I just noticed that the side on one of the shoulders of my Eastman has slightly pulled away from the back, and there's a slight crack about one centimetre long at the bottom, which I've highlighted.

The odd thing is, it's a hybrid bass with carved front and back and laminate sides, so I wouldn't have expected the laminate to have moved if anything, yet that's how it looks.

Also the back hasn't come away from the side, the side just seems to have contracted, but it all seems pretty solid. so I'm not massively concerned at the moment but you never know.

Has anyone had a similar issue? Would you be concerned?

BTW It's around eight years old.

Thanks, Pete

Edited 38 minutes ago by petebassist

[petebassist]

@BassBags I'd be interested what you thought as an Eastman supplier. Thanks

[Staggering on]

Apparently there are a lot of opinions about hybrid basses but usually the basses sound better than all laminate ones so that is very positive. My teacher and others think that the mix of solid wood and laminate can cause some problems because they do not expand and contract the same way when temperature or humidity changes and this can lead to stresses on the top and bottom, especially on hybrids with laminate sides and backs. I wonder if a bass like yours with solid top and back might have the same problem, perhaps a luthier will join in here and give us some ideas. I guess the best thing is that the top and back have not cracked and only the side seam has opened a bit, there must be some stress somewhere.

Full disclosure, I was interested in buying a hybrid but after doing some research I now have two laminates. I live in a house that is heated by wood so the temp can be a bit erratic, I use a humidifier 24/7 all winter, I live in northern Ontario where winters are very cold. My luthier thinks I take proper care of my basses but both my Shen (2010) and Czech(70's) basses have had a bit of seam separation that my luthier repaired.

My conclusion is that even with good care any bass can have a seam problem, the good thing is that it is easy to repair and there is no damage to the top or bottom.