Saddle Up!...Action!

Samthebassist · #1 08-20-2011, 09:00 AM

Kay...so I'm pretty sure I effed up my e-string saddle/bridge the other day attempting to raise my action.

I play in drop c and I've always loved high as action as possible (started and played on double bass for many years, it's just how I like it)

It's kinda...off I guess? Either way..now I can't get it to sound the same. When I put it in drop c there's a little buzz.

It could have always done this, and I didn't notice. I'm a concerned bass parent.
Advice on realigning it? Adjusting it correctly?

grendle · #2 08-20-2011, 09:29 AM

Sounds like the adjusting screw might be too far out. Or you may have broken something in the bridge. Take the string off and see what's goin on with the bridge first. If anything is broken , replace it. Nothing wrong with liking high action , just what you prefer.

mongo2 · #3 08-20-2011, 10:36 AM

Is it a fretted bass or fretless?

Samthebassist · #4 08-20-2011, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mongo2

Is it a fretted bass or fretless?

Fretted

ehque · #5 08-21-2011, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samthebassist

Fretted

I'm fairly certain you can't get proper intonation if you raise your saddles as high as they will go on a fretted instrument...

JTE · #6 08-21-2011, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ehque

I'm fairly certain you can't get proper intonation if you raise your saddles as high as they will go on a fretted instrument...

That's wrong. Raising the saddle height will affect your intonation, but you should be able to adjust the saddles into correct intonation.

John

darkstorm · #7 08-21-2011, 03:24 PM

Picture please, so can see what your talking about for best suggestion.

Samthebassist · #8 08-21-2011, 04:27 PM

I actually fixed it, loosened to string, took a screwdriver and held the screws in place while I retightened it. And voila!!!

ehque · #9 08-23-2011, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTE

That's wrong. Raising the saddle height will affect your intonation, but you should be able to adjust the saddles into correct intonation.

John

You might be able to set it correctly at the 12th fret but it will be more off at the 7th and 20th fret than if proper relief and action was used.

Try it with an accurate tuner and see for yourself.

JTE · #10 08-23-2011, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ehque

You might be able to set it correctly at the 12th fret but it will be more off at the 7th and 20th fret than if proper relief and action was used.

Try it with an accurate tuner and see for yourself.

Well yes, I'd it's not adjusted correctly. But merely having the saddles at their upper limit if that's where they land when the relief and action are correct, you'll be able to get the intonation correct. I was responding to stating that simply having the saddles up makes intonation impossible.

John