Double Bass Repairs and Restorations
Due to increasing demand we have really stepped up our repair and restoration work. If its a minor repair of a full restoration you need, then look no further than Thomas and George Martin Violin Makers.
Our workshop is fully equipped to deal with anything that may need doing to your instrument. As we are such experienced makers of new instruments when ever we carry out a repair or restoration we do so from the players perspective always ensuring that the most important thing is the sound and playability of the instrument and not just the structural integrity.
All insurance companies are happy to deal with us and we can take total care of your claim for you with out a problem. Please enjoy just a few of recent repair and restoration work we have undertaken pictured below.
Restoration and Modernisation of Jaquet Double Bass
We enjoyed working on this Classic French bass.
The work done includes, complete half edging, a post patch, bass bar, repairs of cracks on the ribs, new back braces, small graduation corrections on the front, repair of cracks and re setting the neck to a more modern angle.
We also reduced some of the liners and blocks as in the typical style of the maker they center C liners were over 30mm thick!
Complete Restoration and Modernization of Venetian Double Bass
This included a new bass bar, re-gradation of very heavy slight round back, fitting back braces, replacing back button, making new scroll to fit the turners that were on a stock German scroll that was on the bass.
We also had to put patches in two areas of the front that were less than 1mm thick in places! We also had to inlay half edging as the arching of the front was so flat. The liners were also in a very poor state and we had to replace all of them. There was also a number of cracks on the ribs that needed re gluing and supporting.
Complete Restoration and Modernization of Bohemian Blockless Wonder Double Bass
This interesting restoration of a 100 year old Bohemian bass included the following.
A new top block, scroll graft, complete half edging, new bass bar, regraduation of table that was over 11mm in places, repair of cracks on front and back, re gluing of center seam of back, repair of cracks on ribs, new back braces, post patch, shortening of ribs and re-varnishing to match the bass.
Restoration of Hawkes Professor Double Bass
We enjoyed working on this Classic French bass.
The work done includes, complete half edging, a post patch, bass bar, repairs of cracks on the ribs, new back braces, small graduation corrections on the front, repair of cracks and re setting the neck to a more modern angle.
We also reduced some of the liners and blocks as in the typical style of the maker they center C liners were over 30mm thick!
Fitting of Original Tarr Turners and Restoration William Tarr Double Bass
We enjoyed replacing the non original turners on this stunning William Tarr Double Bass with a set of original turners.
We plugged the old turner holes and then fitted the original tuners. We then reshaped the neck to make it more comfortable for the player.
We also retouched the varnish to better suit the bass
New Corner Repair on Old Venetian Italian Double Bass
This old Venetian bass had a missing corner, we half edged underneath it and built a new corner on top, we then varnished to match.
New bass bar, half edging and shorting of the ribs on old Northern English Bass
After a while old basses tend to shrink a little across the grain, the back of this bass had become too narrow for the rib structure so we cleverly and carefully reduced the ribs in the lower bout. We also half edged the front which had been damaged by shrinkage too. We replaced the bass bar too and the results where exceptional.
Complete Restoration of an Old Italian Double Bass
This old bass had really been through the wars, the front had been smashed at some point and there was crack litrally every where, the previous repairer had rather over repaired the front using heavy strips of wood, we replaced these with very thin diamonds and put a sturdy bass bar in to strengthen the front. We also did a scroll graft allowing us to re set the neck making the bass very playable.
Restoration of William Tarr Double Bass
Complete restoration of old Northern English bass made by William Tarr. This bass was previously a very large instrument and has been massively cut down around 100 years ago.
We fully restored the instrument including remodeling the top of the bass and cutting a break line making the bass very playable and more attractive.
Scroll Graft on Hawkes Panormo Double Bass
This lovely English Hawkes had a bit of an accident and the scroll had come off complely, we did a scroll graft re set the neck at a more player friendly angle and made a new bridge, she sounded better than ever.