Double Bass Help with Neck

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Oh, I'm expecting that regardless. I meant one that was meant to do so intentionally.

You know, like that one person was suggesting that called me racist for referring to them as Irish. Must've been about a year ago now. That one was funny too.

Maybe this would go down better with some Jameson. Certainly not Bushmills.

 

[Don Kasper]

Then when James finally comes in here he'll have everything to laugh at.

Or, he might become the newest member of our TB CryBaby Guild!
(Sniff......)

 

[Eli Brockway]

Maybe this would go down better with some Jameson. Certainly not Bushmills.

Nah, Red Breast. Preferably cask strength.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Nah, Red Breast. Preferably cask strength.

I’m cheap. Drank the neck off a bottle of Old Overholt Rye.

 

[Eli Brockway]

I've still got half a bottle of Glenfiddich for that. Slàinte mhath!

 

[1st Bass]

When wondering why someone charges so much for a repair, consider the hours potentially involved, and then call a local mechanic shop (or even some place like “Jiffy Lube”) and ask what their price is per shop-time hour.

(Usually the answer will be in the neighborhood of $120/hr. Or more…)

Then do the math: ten hours is $1,200… two days’ work (16 hrs) is $1,920…just for labor. If parts are involved, it’s more.

If you think the skill level of a double bass luthier is so much less than that of a VW mechanic, or whatever (a plumber???) then that will affect your thinking too.

In a one man shop, it looks as though the “mechanic” is getting all the money. But the general overhead takes the lion’s share. All things to remember.

Ah, well. Everyone here knows I advocate working on one’s own bass… but I also know where to draw a line and hire someone.

And… when I came here, many years ago, I was respectful to those who offered the advice I requested.

Your call. Good luck with your project.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Chet, you are too kind. Walk into that shop and tell the head mechanic that he charges too much, or more charitably, that you simply can’t afford him. Then ask him to tell you how to do the repair. That really, is it in a nutshell.

 

[GretschWretch]

Hey, if you overstand on the rake you might break your nose. But (to mix metaphors or something) when digging a hole near buried power cables, just keep digging. I’ll light a cigar and pour a stiff drink, and enjoy the show.

My Bonnie looked into the gas tank
The height of the gas for to see.
She lit a little match to assist her;
Oh bring back my Bonnie to me.

 

[Matthew Tucker]

Rake - i might have just accidentally coined a luthier term ... i use it to describe the front/back angle of the neck.

Projection, for me, describes a point on the bridge extended out from the fingerboard surface.

 

[Matthew Tucker]

im going to print this and put this on my fridge with the bad cheques and plumber magnets.

 

[GretschWretch]

Quick! Quick! Someone suggest an amateur turning this into a removable neck. Or just screwing it into the neck block and the back, like it's a bolt-on bass guitar.

Then when James finally comes in here he'll have everything to laugh at.

May as well start whetting your knife now, Eli. Once I get all my pics I will be posting a thread flirting with just this. Sure, I could have a pro luthier do it and would prefer to, but taking into account travel and lodging expenses plus cost of the repair itself, I could be out four to five times what I paid for the bass and I could never recoup that money in a sale. Not a smart move. But also not a smart move to just discard the bass. I like it too much and it has served me too well.

I'm not being aggressive or confrontational here. I'm just giving the forum advance notice so they can prepare themselves to be the Ides of March to my Caesar.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

We’re done here.

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