My brother has just driven his car over my new G & L L2000!

[mashup]

What a completely f***ed up day i have had.

In short, after unloading all of my music gear out of my car, ready for rehearsal at the studio, I turned around in horror, to see my brother reverse at speed over my brand new USA G & L L2000 bass, which was in it's hard case, fortunately?

I have been saving up for this bass for a long time, and only got it 3 weeks ago!

Anyway, ready for the worst, I pulled the case out from underneath the car. Upon immediate inspection, i could see that the case had cracked in several places. I opened the case, and to my amazement, the bass was all in 1 piece and there was no visible structural damage or cracks to the body or neck anywhere!

However, once i got into the studio and started tuning up, it was constantly going out of tune. I would tune up E A D G strings, return to the E to check, and it had gone out of tune, as had the others when checked again. After about 15 minutes of constant tuning, i got her to stay in tune, well, the open strings anyway. We ran through a track, and i noticed that she was horribly out of tune on alot of notes. I checked the open strings and they were all true and in tune still, i then worked my way up the neck from fret to fret, and almost every other fret on each string, after the open, was out of tune, although the open still rang true.

The bass was never like this before. What could this be? The neck still looks very straight miraculously! Do i have an intonation problem or is my neck f***ed, and do i need a new one?

Does it sound like something that can be fixed with a setup?

The car's wheels drove over the case diagonally over the 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th frets, which also happen to be where the notes are most out of tune from what they should be. The tyre marks are imprinted into the case at this point, that's how i could tell.

I have taken it into a guitar shop today to have it looked at, but we have a gig in 4 days, and i sold my backup bass this morning! The timing of all this is terrible!! The guitarist seems to think that unless there is visible structural damage to the bass, then the intonation problem can be remedied via a setup. However, i am fully aware that i've just had well over a ton of metal moving force over my brand new bass - compressing the outer case and inner padding housing the bass , into her most delicate areas. Could such a high level of compression of all the protective layers sandwhiching the bass together, have caused a warp to the neck or more likely altered or created tension to the neck?

Has anyone had any similar experiences? I live in hope, with my fingers, toes, arms, legs and eyelids crossed. She looks perfectly normal, but intonation is certainly out. Im not a guitar techie in any way ( Wish i was) But does this sound fixable?

Cheers for reading about my nightmare in recent years.

[glbass]

OMG, Have you checked the height of the frets in the area the wheel went over the case? I just received my SB-2 a couple of days ago. Can't even imagine that horror.

[Ken Baker]

What a completely f***ed up day i have had.

Ain't THAT the truth! Sorry to hear about this.

Wood can take a lot of stress and bounce back. I'm not saying that it's healthy at this point, but it might not be trash.

The steel of the trussrod probably won't be so forgiving. If the rod had the neck flex around it from the weight of the wheel, it's possible that it got bent and won't hold tension properly. Based on what you said here...

The car's wheels drove over the case diagonally over the 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th frets, which also happen to be where the notes are most out of tune from what they should be. The tyre marks are imprinted into the case at this point, that's how i could tell.

...it sounds as if the wheel went over the bass where the neck is suspended in the case. This would mean that the neck flexed about an inch toward the back. This would have the effect of forcing the trussord to straighten. It may have also cracked the glue joint holding the fingerboard in place.

Have a tech do a THOROUGH setup on the bass, paying extra attention to the trussrod. Of course, he/she should be made aware of the accident. Because this is a new-design neck, the possibility of a repair is somewhat greater than with the old bi-cut neck. The fingerboard can be removed, possibly sacrificed, to replace the trussrod.

Hopefully, the bass can be recovered. If not, there are a couple things to explore:

1. The auto insurance policy may cover this as part of liability coverage, possibly comprehensive. Certainly worth checking out.

2. Homeowner's or renter's insurance may cover the loss. However, this may be limited to instruments NOT used professionally.

Added later: Just remembered you're in the UK. The ideas above about insurance should absolutely be explored if this had happened here in the US. I obviously don't know how things work on your side of the pond, but it's worth looking into.

Good luck.

Ken...

[jfh4242]

That really sucks, Mashup. I really don't have any advice or information. I just wanted to wish you good luck. I too can get very close to my gear and this must be horrible feeling.

John

[mashup]

What a completely f***ed up day i have had.

Ain't THAT the truth! Sorry to hear about this.

Wood can take a lot of stress and bounce back. I'm not saying that it's healthy at this point, but it might not be trash.

The steel of the trussrod probably won't be so forgiving. If the rod had the neck flex around it from the weight of the wheel, it's possible that it got bent and won't hold tension properly. Based on what you said here...

The car's wheels drove over the case diagonally over the 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th frets, which also happen to be where the notes are most out of tune from what they should be. The tyre marks are imprinted into the case at this point, that's how i could tell.

...it sounds as if the wheel went over the bass where the neck is suspended in the case. This would mean that the neck flexed about an inch toward the back. This would have the effect of forcing the trussord to straighten. It may have also cracked the glue joint holding the fingerboard in place.

Have a tech do a THOROUGH setup on the bass, paying extra attention to the trussrod. Of course, he/she should be made aware of the accident. Because this is a new-design neck, the possibility of a repair is somewhat greater than with the old bi-cut neck. The fingerboard can be removed, possibly sacrificed, to replace the trussrod.

Hopefully, the bass can be recovered. If not, there are a couple things to explore:

1. The auto insurance policy may cover this as part of liability coverage, possibly comprehensive. Certainly worth checking out.

2. Homeowner's or renter's insurance may cover the loss. However, this may be limited to instruments NOT used professionally.

Added later: Just remembered you're in the UK. The ideas above about insurance should absolutely be explored if this had happened here in the US. I obviously don't know how things work on your side of the pond, but it's worth looking into.

Good luck.

Ken...

The bass looked absolutely fine upon inspection of all external areas. No cracks or structural damage visable anywhere once i got the bass out of it's case. After taking about 15 minutes to get her in tune (Well open strings anyway!) She started to stay slightly more in tune ( Open strings, again) for longer. I did play with her for about an hour, and apart from the intonation being out, which was clearly audible to me (but not so much other bandmates) she looked, and felt just fine. I just wish that i'd checked the strings & Frets on the neck properly for any kinkis or damage, even if it was a slight difference, in fret levels, but as i said, i played her for an hour and she played just fine, apart from the intonation being out. Unless there is damage within the insides of the bass, which is what im worried about, then she may have got off lightly. My fingers are crossed, and prayers are being said. I have her with the guitar tech as we speak, i just hope that he knows what he's doing!

I'll keep you updated.

If the worst came to the worst and i needed a new neck ( Jazz sized), where could i get 1 from?

[gwedo1971]

well your leaving out a important detail does your brother still have the use of his legs, i know mine wouldn't i hope they get it lined out for ya.

[Ken Baker]

If the worst came to the worst and i needed a new neck ( Jazz sized), where could i get 1 from?

G&L now has replacement necks available. Let's hope we don't have to cross that bridge.

Ken...

[TDR1138]

well your leaving out a important detail does your brother still have the use of his legs, i know mine wouldn't i hope they get it lined out for ya.

Legs? I thought it was, "an eye for an eye, a neck for a neck..."

In all seriousness, I really hope there's no permanent damage to the bass, and yeah, I would make your brother float the bill of any repairs, and if I can't, definitely look into the insurance side of things.

[mashup]

SHE IS ALIVE!!!!!!

She is 100%, fully fit & back with me. Playing perfectly, with no problems at all. I would like to thank everyone for all of their support & advice, especialy Molan, who made such a generous & kind offer to me. It wont be forgotton. You are a good man

I have been very very lucky indeed......

.....well, apart from just fracturing my left thumb at football, and i have a gig tomorrow! (What's wrong with me? Am i cursed?) Ice pack is on as we speak! I hope i get through it alright. I will upload video of it, if all goes well.

Have any of you played with a broken thumb before? (The one behind the neck?) I think i'll dose myself up with cocodomol beforehand, although i have to drive there, and knowing my luck at the moment, it might not be such a good idea. Just got to get through an hours set.

[TDR1138]

Glad she's okay...

I broke a bone in my left wrist before, at the base of my thumb. Stuck in an elbow-to-thumb cast for 8 weeks. The cast didn't allow me enough movement to really do anything, so I had to sit it out... Hope you get through your gig without too much pain.