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Joined:
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Posts: 270
|  A friend of mine dropped his Kala U Bass and the neck damaged the top around and underneath the fingerboard. I'm going to try removing the neck so I can repair the top. I was wondering if anyone knew what kind of glue was used or how best to start trying. I was thinking of starting with bags of hot water to see if that loosens things up.
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 3611
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Ouch. Yeah, start with the boiling water scenario. You've got broken ribs, & a split top. If you're lucky, there will be minimal adhesive in the joint, & it will wiggle free.
"Use the small hammers first............." :-) |
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October 2014
Posts: 270
| My goal is playable, not beautiful. If it proves not to be fixable, I'm thinking about using the neck to make a solid body bass uke. |
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Joined:
October 2014
Posts: 270
| seesquare - 2017-10-09 9:33 PM
You've got broken ribs, & a split top
No broken ribs that I can see or feel, just damage to the circular reinforcement around the sound hole. There's a large block under the fingerboard extension, extending from inside the heel's attachment point almost to the sound hole and from the top to the back. |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 3611
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | That will be fortunate, then. You really won't know, 'til you pull the neck. Hopefully, the bowl hasn't been too distorted, either.
Best-of-luck! |
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Joined:
June 2012
Posts: 2315
Location: Pueblo West, CO | You might try contacting the factory and asking them what kind of glue was used on the neck joint and/or how the neck is attached.
If you can't get any info from them, try asking this question on the Official Luthier's Forum. (http://luthiersforum.com/forum/) There's some pretty knowledgeable folks over there. |
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February 2016
Posts: 1802
Location: When?? | That photo makes me feel like scheduling a chiropractor appointment. I am hoping you will find minimal damage once inside. Please keep progress posted here. |
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October 2014
Posts: 270
| I noticed when I was fiddling with the truss rod that, as I tightened it, things started to move back in place. Apparently the inside block isn't glued to the back. Using some blocks and a clamp I was able to move things back, almost into place. The worst side is now about 1/32" out of line and, with some rotational pressure on the neck, pretty much lines up.
I think I might just go ahead and cleat the cracks, string it up and see how it plays. It won't be pretty but will still look better than Willie Nelson's Trigger. I can always do more if this is unsuccessful.
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I see your Problem.
That guitar (Ukulele) is not made for Steel Bass Strings.
It is made for big rubber bands.
http://www.bassuke.com/Pahoehoe.html
You photo looks like steel strings.
I could be incorrect.
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Joined:
October 2014
Posts: 270
| It belongs to a friend and I've already talked to him about the strings. Even though they're steel, they're made by Kala for the U bass and are advertised as low tension. Nonetheless, I expect they do put more stress on the uke than the soft rubbery strings. Although they could be a factor in the damage I suspect the drop onto the headstock was enough in itself. |
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Joined:
October 2014
Posts: 270
| It's finished. It's not up to Dan Savage's standards but it's playable and, according to Ted, the owner, sounds and feels like before it was damaged. Does this make me a "quick and dirty" luthier?
Ted's kids perform as "The College Fund Street Band" to earn money for college and the bass is part of it all. Here's a link to their Facebook page, check them out:
https://www.facebook.com/TheCollegeFund/
Here's how it came out:
Edited by BCam 2017-10-12 12:00 AM
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Posts: 1555
Location: Indiana | Nice job. |
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February 2016
Posts: 1802
Location: When?? | Congratulations on your "quick and dirty" work. Excellent fix for the price. |
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Joined:
October 2014
Posts: 270
| Ted used it to play bass for his kids at a church festival gig yesterday and will be doing so again at a pumpkin farm today so I feel good about having been able to help them out. Thanks for your compliments. This is much more fun than my "honey do" projects. |
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October 2005
Posts: 4043
Location: Utah | I've found the wound strings sound much better than the rubber strings. They intonate much better, too. There is more tension than the rubber strings, but still not a lot, and I see nothing that worries me that it is stressing the instrument.
Nice job getting the instrument back in playable condition! |
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