Upright Bass Replacement Top

[Chris Baird]

Please excuse the non-mandolin question;

Does anyone know if there are available precarved upright bass tops? I'm repairing an old Kay, thought that it was only coming delaminated in one spot, but, got the top off and the whole top is delaminating.

[Spruce]

I kinda doubt it...
You can get neck replacements here, but I think I would have heard about tops if they were making them....

I have some funky Sitka that would work for a top, but that's a lot of carving...

[multidon]

Check this out...http://www.internationalviolin.com/i...ItemCode=88611

[Spruce]

Check this out...http://www.internationalviolin.com/i...ItemCode=88611

Nice!
Thanks for that....

[j. condino]

Chris:

Englehardt will sell you a replacement top; just call the shop and talk with Tom:

http://www.engelhardtlink.com/

It will probabably be a lot stiffer than the old Kay.

You can also give me a call and we can chat up what year and model you've got. I work on a LOT of old Kay's around here, so I always have a few parts rigs; I might have an original top that will match.

Lets see some trauma shots of the delaminated top!

j.
www.condino.com

[Spruce]

Do those replacement tops line up pretty well with the old bodies...??
Were they pretty consistent with that shape??

[j. condino]

You can get the tops uncut and oversized, so you can trim them to fit.

j.

[Chris Baird]

Thanks! You guys are great.

[violmando]

Chris, do you REALLY want a brand new Engelhart top for an old Kay? It won't sound good at alll.....Why not try to find another old Kay or similar bass that has other problems (broken necks are REAL common) and take the top off of it? Then you'll have a VINTAGE top with a MUCH better sound....
As a double bassist, Engelharts from the 80s on are not that great of instruments and won't ever have that great of sound. I think you'll be frustrated in the future with the lack of projection and tone quality. Try finding a vintage instrument first....Like I said, LOTS of old basses have neck problems that make them "iffy" for buying, but not if you only want the top. Yvonne