Adjusting bridge slots..

[mr.mow]

Hey all.. I measured my string height last night on my cheapo buzz box.. 8.5mm on all string except the D which is at 11mm.. Now I understand that is normally done to accommodate arco playing?

I play no arco.. None, zip, hate the sound, not innarested all!

Can I safely just deepen that slot to lower the string in line with the others? Any reason why I shouldn't?!

[Andrew McGregor]

That wouldn't be normal even on a bass set up for arco, it's just wrong.

[fdeck]

Is it possible that the bridge is flipped over? That would be a thing to check. Of course it involves loosening the strings, making sure the soundpost doesn't tip over, and seeing if there is a good fit between the bridge feet and the belly.

My reason for thinking about this is that 8.5 mm is low for the E string, which cutting the slots wouldn't help with.

[mr.mow]

Bridge is the right way around as my board is bevelled, just find it odd that all of the strings are EXACTLY 8.5mm from the board (at the end of the board) except the D.. at 11mm.

I just seem to recall reading somewhere that sometimes the D (or A?) are higher for arco players, gives them more radius or something??

[fdeck]

The string heights that you describe do seem odd. That's why I was hoping that a flipperoo of the bridge would get you closer. It is possible that someone set up those heights to give them better access to the strings for bowing if the fingerboard is relatively flat. Or, maybe they simply messed it up.

A possible route forward might be to add adjusters to the bridge, in which case you can get the E up to where it belongs and then adjust the other heights.

On the other hand, if a range of heights from around 6.5 to 8.5 mm would be satisfactory for your playing, then you could set it up that way. Some might think that's a relatively low "action," but that's also a matter of personal preference and what makes your bass sound good.

[Big B.]

Is it a factory set up? Most laminated student level instruments are sent out with basically a bridge blank. This is done both to cut set up cost at the factory and to allow for setup once the instrument reaches its owner. This usually means that the strings are impossibly high off the fingerboard. A friend recently bought a new Engelhardt es-9 and when it came in I had to remove almost 1/2 an inch of string height to get it playing well. If your bass was bought new and has never been setup then most likely this is the answer. If you only play pizz I would try to get the strings as low as possible without buzzing against the fingerboard. Lower action will improve playability and give you more of a pizz "growl".