Lowering action on an Acoustic Bass.

ADbassman · #1 11-30-2004, 04:59 PM

Now, I know how to setup an electric bass pretty good, but my acoustic bass doesn't have an adjustable bridge, and adjusting the truss rod doesn't seem to be working very well. The action on this thing is high, and I mean high. I'd like to figure out someway to lower it, any suggestions?

DannyB · #2 11-30-2004, 07:17 PM

Although I do not play an acoustic bass, I do have an acoustic (that other thing...)

Pretty much, your options are to file the nut, file the saddle (you can make the grooves deeper, pretty much like filing the nut, but make sure you leave enough angle to cut the note off).

If this doesn't work to your liking, you're pretty much looking at taking the bridge off and sanding it down on the bottom (and there isn't much room to work with there).

Other than that, you've got what you've got... So I've learned with an acoustic "that thing"

bluemonk · #3 11-30-2004, 09:24 PM

What about if the bridge has a piezo pup under it? does that make sanding from the bottom impossible?

ADbassman · #4 11-30-2004, 09:52 PM

It is an acoustic electric, but I'm not sure about the position of the pickup in it, maybe I can shove a mirrior up in there and have a look see.

DannyB · #5 11-30-2004, 10:16 PM

I was assuming acoustic... acoustic electric might not be possible to sand the bridge if there is a piezo in bridge like bluemonk said... Take a look and figure out where and how it's all rigged up and use your imagination

chrismmc · #6 12-01-2004, 09:00 AM

I assume you are talking about an acoustic bass guitar(?)
When I had mine,and I needed to lower the action,I just loosened the strings,and turned the saddle around 180degrees...it worked very well,but maybe it was because of the wear on the saddle...but it may also work for you...

PilbaraBass · #7 12-01-2004, 07:58 PM

My Carvin AC40 has an accoustic type bridge. Although, I like the action very much, I'd say the way to lower it would be to take the bridge saddle out and sand the bottom of it. You won't have much to work with and if your action is way too high, then the problem is not the bridge anyway, it would be the neck angle.

For best results, take it to a luthier and have it checked out.

mikezimmerman · #8 12-02-2004, 10:50 AM

Pretty much what everybody else said--the bridge saddle is normally removable, and the way to lower the action is to file the saddle from the bottom to make it shorter. If you decide to do it yourself, be sure you keep the bottom flat--it has to press down evenly on the pickup underneath (if there is one), and if it doesn't the string-to-string balance will be uneven when amplified.

However, one thing I've found is that for purely acoustic volume, a higher action is better--it drives the top with more force, and allows you to play harder without buzzing the strings. The luthier who built my ABG actually supplied me with 3 saddles of different heights, and after trying them all I've kept the bass set up with the highest one.

Mike

ADbassman · #9 12-02-2004, 04:40 PM

Well, after a couple of days (yes, days) of adjusting the truss rod, it seems to have gotten to a decent level, feels a lot better and plays a lot fast now. I don't think I'll be sanding the bridge soon, but thank y'all for the suggestions.

PilbaraBass · #10 12-02-2004, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADbassman

Well, after a couple of days (yes, days) of adjusting the truss rod, it seems to have gotten to a decent level, feels a lot better and plays a lot fast now. I don't think I'll be sanding the bridge soon, but thank y'all for the suggestions.

Glad to hear that everything as an acceptable level. I will agree with mikezimmerman in that an accoustic should have a slightly higher action than an electric (same is also true for guitars). It has to do with getting the instrument to "talk".

I am not surprised that the truss rod adjustment took a couple of days to sort out. It often takes time for everything to settle out.

Have fun.