Speaking of Restorations...

[Mike Pecanic]

Who did the restoration? Those cleats kill! I love resto. pics, the more the better for me as I am finally finishing up a bass I started over 6 years ago and have an old Czech 3/4 in pieces too! Also, is the sound post patch a 'tapered' plug?

Mike

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Mike Pecanic

Who did the restoration? Those cleats kill! I love resto. pics, the more the better for me as I am finally finishing up a bass I started over 6 years ago and have an old Czech 3/4 in pieces too! Also, is the sound post patch a 'tapered' plug?

Mike

Both the Prescott and Gilkes were carefully restored by Arnold. Many a conversation was had about details involving originality of these two classics as is going on currently with the Hart/Fendt Bass as it's been under the knife for months now. Those blocks you see in the Back are only temp. cauls spot glued to hold the Back seam straight as the center graft settles in. Maybe Arnold can come up and explain some of his methods. I hope when Jeff does my Loveri, he takes and posts pics for us to enjoy.

[Arnold Schnitzer]

Originally Posted by Mike Pecanic

Who did the restoration? Those cleats kill! I love resto. pics, the more the better for me as I am finally finishing up a bass I started over 6 years ago and have an old Czech 3/4 in pieces too! Also, is the sound post patch a 'tapered' plug?

Mike

Hi Mike. Glad you like our cleats. The post patch is the standard inlayed type. It goes about half way through the plate and is rounded in all dimensions.

[Craig Regan]

For a wile now, I have been interested in bass repair and restoration. In my home workshop, I have done all sorts of rebuilding projects on various stringed instruments. Although I am still very green, I would like to learn more in this "field of study". If anyone knows of a lower end bass in need of major repairs let me know, I may be willing to take it on. I am not looking to make lots of money, but gain experience. The worse shape the bass is in the better! Also, any ideas or advise on getting started would be appreciated.

[Arnold Schnitzer]

Craig, check around with schools. They often have busted-up basses laying around in closets or basements. The instruments are not worth repairing, but no one has the heart to toss them in a dumpster.

[Craig Regan]

Thats a good idea Arnold. In the past, I have helped out at my kids school doing repairs on their basses. It was a good deal for the school; The work was done "pro bono" and the turn around time was a matter of days. Most shops have a much longer waiting period for repairs from what I am told.
I'll check around with some school districts in my area and see if anyone is interested.

[Arnold Schnitzer]

Try a phone barrage of all the antique stores in your part of the world. Somebody's got an old bass hanging on the wall.

[Joel Larsson]

Here's some pics of what is now passing as a c:a 100ys old German kids' bass, about a smallish 5/8 instrument. I thought it was cute, so I had it restored. It sounds nice, although of course is doesn't rattle your guts like a big, proper bass do. Worth the money? Nah. But it makes people talk in a way my much more flamboyant Pöllmann doesn't, plus, you can carry it around like a bass guitar (oh, the wonder!).

Here's what the luthier did, copied and pasted from her mail:
Take off table
3 straight edges
1/2 edge bottom block
diverse gluing
remove back braces
glue cracks, reiforce
new back braces
glue ribs to blocks where they have come away
redo rib repair upper treble
neck graft
retouch
bridge
sound post
regraduate table, remove integral bass rod
new bass rod


And no, that's not me on that pic.