How to adjust the intonation and action height on an acoustic bass.

[TheGreek]

I bought a Tangelwood electro acoustic recently  - I know,  I'll never use it or play it regularly but it was local. 

 

It plays fine above the 12th but the intonation is out which is noticeable higher up.

 

Also the action could do with being lower.

 

Is it a matter of sanding down the plastic bridge or is it more complicated?

 

 

Edited September 21, 2023 by TheGreek

[Waddo Soqable]

I'd just pop out the plastic bridge saddle strip thing and sand x ammount off the bottom until you get a lower action, that's all I've done on acoustic gits perfectly successfully. 

As for 12th fret onwards, why on earth would you want to go up the dusty end anyway 😁

[ezbass]

You might well find that there’s already a shim under the saddle, so you can just remove it/them before you have to resort to sanding the base of the saddle.

[Waddo Soqable]

If you do go sanding, I'd draw a line with something permanent and a ruler so you've got a line to work to, that's parallel with the original bottom face, if you see what I mean.... 

[Mokl]

Probably stating the obvious here, but if you sand the underside of the saddle down make sure you leave it properly flat, otherwise you might find the piezo doesn't pick up properly. 

Edited September 22, 2023 by Mokl

[Andyjr1515]

All of the above.  The action height will be also directly linked to your intonation issues - the higher your action, the more you are bending the strings (albeit vertically) and so the sharper they will sound.  Lowering the action will reduce this effect.

Edited September 22, 2023 by Andyjr1515

[TheGreek]

Many thanks 

 

I'll have a closer look when I have time away from Thea (the dog)

[PaulThePlug]

My experience with bridge saddle height and intonation. And cured the bridge roll to nice and seated.

Similar experience with an electro acoustics... just make sure the piezo element is flat and central to the strings / cavity... some times they have raised sections, on the saddle blade, piezo element, or both. 

 

I got a spare bridge blade. Cheap enough then file or mid that one keeping the OE as a reference.