Epiphone Viola Bass Mystery Line

[musicman008]

I have a chance to buy a Beatle's style Epiphone Viola Bass that normally sells for around $175. There is a mystery line on the top that I fear may be a crack or other problem. When I run my finger over the top, everything feels smooth.

Anyone have ideas on what this line is/repair & the effect on the $175 value?


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[dnic]

Hi musicman008, welcome. I haven't looked this up so I'm going strictly by what you've posted value wise.

First you have to decide if the stated value, 175 compared to what you can get it for is enough of a savings to cover repair costs if they're needed.

Second to somewhat put your mind at ease, those types of basses are a pressed laminate top. Two reasons why this should true, 1. It's not expensive enough to be a solid top instrument. 2. A pressed laminate top is typically made by cris crossing 3 or 4 veneers in a mold to achieve the arch. Since a laminate is cris crossed it can't crack.

So I think worse case is you live with it as is. You could also use water thin CA to keep the crack from getting worse or even trying to hide it. I should say here that I think it could only be a finish crack and not structural.

Last thing is if you pay to have the finish crack repaired then that's where the purchase price plus the repair price compared to the value comes into play.

Hope that helps

[Deleted]

I'm with Dane on this. To me it looks like the clear coat cracked. I would not too worried about it. It is what it is. It won't hurt the playability of the instrument. I would look up on eBay to see if you can find out what these go for.

I come across people all the time, that ask me if this or that is a good price. If one is looking to flip a guitar, then it really comes down to how much less can you get it for, so you can flip it and make a few dollars. But if you are looking for something to play and don't want to invest a lot into something then I say go for it.

I buy and sell trade, all the time. I do buy some guitars at full value. Because I am not planing of flipping them, and I know I should be able to brake even on them if I do sell them.
But there are times I do sell at a loss. Just because I am tired of playing them and want to move on to something else.

So if you can live with the crack in the finish, I would say buy the bass and play the heck out of it. That is a cool looking bass. You can always try and get it cheaper.
EB

[B.Gee]

Looking at it, I would say at one time, it had a pick guard on it. Not sure if pre 90 models had pick guards or if someone added a Hofner style pick guard to look more like a Hofner. Pretty sure the crack just effected the clear coat