A couple of hardware/maintenance questions regarding a used bass I bought?

[Dickie_uk]

I haven’t played a bass for years but wanted to get back into playing just for fun at home (I’m disabled and not well enough to play in a band situation) so I only wanted to buy a cheap secondhand bass at this stage.

I saw this one on eBay and liked the colour, which I know isn’t a terribly good reason to buy a guitar. I paid £70 which is probably about $90-$100 (everything is more expensive in the UK).

The lady selling bought it in an auction and didn’t know the first thing about guitars.

It’s got a few dents and dings in the body which I was aware of, and of the coins under the bridge saddles (the action is way too high over the upper frets, I will adjust it)

But I didn’t notice until I got home the SCREW HOLE NEAR THE BRIDGE!

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAS HAPPENED HERE? Has someone changed the bridge, or do you think it wasn’t lined up correctly in the factory and whoever owned the bass realigned it?

I’ve ordered some new budget strings and before I put them on I was planning on removing the bridge and filling the hole/s with a PVA wood-glue sawdust mix?

One last thing, I like the neck but the body seems a bit lightweight? Would the bass benefit with more mass on the body? I was thinking of perhaps ATTACHING A BRASS PLATE to the back using several pads of STRONG acrylic foam doubled-sided tape? BAD IDEA?

I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on a bass at this stage, but if I get back into playing I can always re-sell this and upgrade to a better instrument.

 

[sissy kathy]

It looks to me as if the neck was misaligned and someone, not knowing any better, moved the bridge to 'fix' the problem. All that was really necessary was to loosen the neck screws a turn or two, push the neck toward the treble side, and tighten the screws up again. That is all water under the bridge at this point as long as it can be set up and intonation is okay. When you have the strings off you might remove the bridge and see if putting it back in the original location can cover all the holes, I doubt it but it's worth a go. You could at least get the hole under the bridge rather than on top of it. As far as filling the hole goes I wouldn't bother, it will always be visible unless you do a refinish, or a very very good spot repair. IMO the bass won't benefit from more mass, adding brass plate(s) will just cause you added expense obtaining them and adds more weight to lift. The Tanglewood NEVADA FPB 24 K has some solid reviews and has been favorably compared to MIM Fenders.

 

[Dickie_uk]

Hi, thank you very much for your reply what you says makes sense. I've only had the bass a day so I will do as you suggest and leave it be apart from re-newing the strings and adjusting the action. Re the bridge if the hole still bugs me in the future, I found this bridge on ebay for about £6 from China. It's got a larger base plate so may cover the existing holes? But on hindsight although it's wider at the widest point it narrows towards the string holes so it might not cover what I want it to?

 

[sissy kathy]

I have two possible solutions for covering your hole. The first and most expensive is this bridge, made by Fender, the part number is 0081460000.that bridge is slightly larger (3.225X2.231 inches), but that bridge runs about $60 here in the colonies, I have no idea what the cost is over there. The second solution is just put a bridge cover on it. Don't attempt to do both. That high mass bridge won't fit under a bridge cover.

 

[Yahboy]

If you play super low action, get the bridge Cover. if not, the wider plate Himass bridge is the solution.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Unless you palm-mute a lot, the bridge cover would look cool as a cosmetic fix, which was the original purpose for the cover. The high mass bridge might cover the hole, and balance the bass a little better. Dimensions for most bridges are available online, if you know the bridge width, you can measure off centerline and see if it will cover the hole. In your shoes I’d get a cover. Nice lefty there.

 

[Dickie_uk]

Hi, thank you all for the replies, all good suggestions.

I took the bridge off this afternoon and sissy kathy was quite correct, it had been relocated. I glued a snapped-off matchstick in the hole and will darken the stub end by rubbing it with a coffee granule.

A bridge guard is a good idea, but I'll wait until the new year. It doesn't bug me as much now as when I first got the bass a few days ago.

As I said it's only for a having bash on at home when the mood takes me. My priority now is finding a secondhand practice bass amp on eBay, and also I've got to buy a phono lead and guitar stand.