New Bass Day: Christopher 3/4 DB

kai_ski · #1 08-07-2010, 03:50 PM

I just picked this up on the local CL from a kid coming out of his Rockabilly phase. It's a 2005 Christopher 3/4 DB102T series. I haven't found many price-comparisons, but think I got a good deal. I don't play much DB, but love to go to Bluegrass jams and have fun thumping along. It doesn't have the same "thump" as my 70's ES-1 had, but at less than half the price, I don't mind.

longfinger · #2 08-08-2010, 09:05 AM

Wow, excellent "Steal" at $450!!

How does it play? What strings do you have on it?

pickerpete · #3 08-08-2010, 10:17 AM

Recently took a Christopher as a loaner from a bass luthier and it played like a dream. Granted it was well set up but I found it had a better overall sound than my carved Romainian bass. Hope it works out well for you.

Greg Clinkingbeard · #4 08-08-2010, 10:41 AM

I bought a Chrissy 102 a few years ago for $850 and sold it a year later for $1000.
You got a very nice deal, assuming it is healthy.

kai_ski · #5 08-08-2010, 11:07 AM

It sounds nice. The only thing I have to compare it to was that older Engelhardt ES-1 I used to play, and to my ear this has much better projection, which was one of my complaints with that bass.

I'm not sure what kind of strings are on it. They're an alloy-wrapped string with Green/Blue/Black/Orange windings at the tail, and red at the scroll. I would like to try something different, If I can find some used strings that are sort of broken in.

Everything appears to be healthy. The neck joint looks good, the sound post is intact and looks to be in the right spot. My only criticism is that the G string is really low to the fingerboard, making it hard for me to play it evenly with the A and D. There is an adjustable bridge, so hopefully it can be brought up a bit, or the bass side moved down to compensate.

The neck is much thicker than the old bass, maybe that will force me to learn some better hand position.

Rocky · #6 08-08-2010, 11:51 AM

Congratulations on your new bass! 450.00 is a great deal IMHO, and I'm certainly no expert, but for less than 500 how can you go wrong.

Square Bear · #7 08-08-2010, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai_ski

It sounds nice. The only thing I have to compare it to was that older Engelhardt ES-1 I used to play, and to my ear this has much better projection, which was one of my complaints with that bass.

I'm not sure what kind of strings are on it. They're an alloy-wrapped string with Green/Blue/Black/Orange windings at the tail, and red at the scroll. I would like to try something different, If I can find some used strings that are sort of broken in.

Everything appears to be healthy. The neck joint looks good, the sound post is intact and looks to be in the right spot. My only criticism is that the G string is really low to the fingerboard, making it hard for me to play it evenly with the A and D. There is an adjustable bridge, so hopefully it can be brought up a bit, or the bass side moved down to compensate.

The neck is much thicker than the old bass, maybe that will force me to learn some better hand position.

give it a look from above the scroll down the fingerboard. the bridge may be shifted in the direction of the E string, causing the G to be too low and the A and E to be higher. you shouldn't adjust one foot higher than the other, they should be level.

kai_ski · #8 08-08-2010, 05:19 PM

hey bear,

thanks for the advice. It looks like that's the case -- the bridge is slightly off to the right (bass side.) What is the best method for moving it back to the left (treble side) a bit?

Also, it looks like the treble side adjustment screw is a bit higher than the left. Can you recommend a method of lowering that screw?

I do all my own setup on my EB, but I have never done any mods to a DB so please be detailed in your explanation, if you don't mind. Unless you can direct me to other sources that already describe how to make these adjustments.

Thanks!

Square Bear · #9 08-08-2010, 06:43 PM

what i would do is tune down a couple steps and gently knock the bridge over with a paperback novel until it is centered on the fingerboard. also check to see that the bridge is straight (the same distance from the end of the fingerboard on both sides) and not pulling towards the board or the tailpiece. you can eyeball this by looking at the bridge from the side. while you are tuned down, you can turn the adjusters to make them match at the height that you want. adjusting the bridge height is a simple process. just remember that any adjustment you make to one side will have to be matched with the other once you get them even. if you have any more questions about it feel free to ask.