ceilidhswinger Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 Anybody out there got any advice on how to fit a new double bass bridge to match fingerboard? not a lot of info online. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockabillybob1 Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 (edited) if you have never done one dont do it get a luitier to do it or practise on a bridge that dosnt matter, get a sheet of sandpaper and tape it to the belly of the bass so grit faces up and work the bridge back and forth to get the feet of bridge the right shape very time consuming you can buy a tool of ebay that holds the bridge solid whilst you do it, or do it free hand the feet of the bridge have to be perfectly shaped to the belly of bass with no gaps, or the bridge will rock about and give a bad sound if your anywere near wigan i use a guitar repairer and he does them fitted to your string height for 50 pounds and he does them perfect, so even i dont do my own at that price he is called thompson guitars tel 01942 820532 if that helps Edited December 19, 2011 by rockabillybob1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
endorka Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 There are step by step instructions on how to fit a new bridge in Chuck Traegar's book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Setup-Repair-Double-Optimum-Sound/dp/1892210061/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324326636&sr=8-1 As Bob points out, to do it properly is a fairly involved and skilled process. I did one recently and if I remember correctly, it took about four hours. Jennifer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ceilidhswinger Posted December 20, 2011 Author Share Posted December 20, 2011 Thanks folks! I have mucked around over the years lowering action and using old bridges as a template but I would like to have a go at setting it up properly. I will have a look at your link. Thanks again Calum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ficelles Posted December 28, 2011 Share Posted December 28, 2011 I'm thinking of lowering the action on mine, kind of nervous about going too far though (it's a bridge I had fitted new last year when I was in Bristol, too far to go back just for an adjustment). I guess I can follow the existing profile and sand carefully down to match but that kind of fine adjustment is pushing my woodworking skills a little... has anyone on BC done this themselves? ficelles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monckyman Posted December 28, 2011 Share Posted December 28, 2011 Hi, yes,just done this. Wasn`t too fussed about mucking it up,as it`s not a great bridge and is missing a wing. At the very worst I was just going to get it to a luthier. I used a bit of wood about a centimetre thick to rest on the fingerboard and marked where that was on the bridge as in pic below. I marked the position of the string notches before I cut anything and followed the arc of the board round the bridge. I knew there would still be a reasonable action due to the centimetre of wood,and I reckoned I could lower the action further by filing out the string notches if needed. Once I was happy with the pencil line, I took my saw to it and cut just above the line. I then made partial notches for the strings where marked, before sanding the new cut smooth with paper. I then just used a cheap round file from ebay to deepen the string notches till they suited the strings. I also used the same file to take a bit off at the nut end. I have to say it was a great success for me, making an unpleasant and painful action into something I can actually play with some finesse and speed. Give it a go, it`s worth it for the experience. MM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockabillybob1 Posted December 29, 2011 Share Posted December 29, 2011 or the safer way is to get a round needle file and file a slot deep then deeper until you have string height then cut the excess wood away after you have found your playing height some people may cut to much off by doing it the above pics method but make sure you follow the shape of the fingerboard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monckyman Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Yep, agreed, but I`m very impatient! Seriously though, I knew I would have a fair bit to play with given the 10mm minimum height above the fingerboard and it helped keep the arc correct. Must get a decent needle file though, mine are crap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ceilidhswinger Posted January 3, 2012 Author Share Posted January 3, 2012 Great idea Monckyman! thanks for posting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ceilidhswinger Posted January 4, 2012 Author Share Posted January 4, 2012 The other thing to remember is the feet of the bridge also need shaped and trimmed down to allow sound to come through bridge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 I am going to attack my bridge with a needle file this weekend as my action seems to be about four times higher than anyone else in the world!!!! No double bass gigs in the book this side of Christmas so if it all goes pear-shaped, I have time to get an adjustable bridge fitted!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth Hughes Posted October 18, 2015 Share Posted October 18, 2015 How'd it work out Bilbo? I did mine over the summer and was well chuffed with how it turned out. Felt like a whole new instrument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 I took it down a milimetre and it made a significant difference but I think I am going to try taking it down another one or two. Still no double bass gigs in the diary (at all, ever) so what's the worst that can happen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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