Bridge facing right way?

[flanree]

Hi I Just got a double bass in the mail, the bridge was separate and strings loose for transporting. I'm just checking which way the bridge should be facing? I tried both and this way sounds fine: with flat face towards fingerboard and contoured face to endpiece. Tried the opposite way and got buzz on the G and other weird noises on the A. I know it should be perpendicular to the top but as I have it now, it seems to lean fractionally to fingerboard, is it ok stay like this? (flat face of bridge to fingerboard).

[Eric Rene Roy]

Originally Posted by flanree

Hi I Just got a double bass in the mail, the bridge was separate and strings loose for transporting. I'm just checking which way the bridge should be facing? I tried both and this way sounds fine: with flat face towards fingerboard and contoured face to endpiece. Tried the opposite way and got buzz on the G and other weird noises on the A...

Turn it around...flat(er) side towards the TP. Get your bass to a luthier for something other than a factory setup. Look into adjusters and new strings...judging from the pics.

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally Posted by flanree

I have it now, it seems to lean fractionally to fingerboard, is it ok stay like this?

Not a good idea...I'm presuming?

[drurb]

Besides the fact that the flat side should be toward the tailpiece, I would think that the size of the notches should give it away as should the curvature which should match the fingerboard. The fact that it seems okay in either direction is indicative of your having only a rough setup. Get thee to a luthier.

By the way, what did you buy?

[flanree]

its a very cheap chinese made student bass, the notches all seem to be the same size in the bridge. i can put it back facing correct way but why does it sound so bad in the right direction and ok in the wrong one???

[Silversorcerer]

Without first hand inspection that will be very hard to pinpoint. The bridge position is very important also the fit of the bridge feet, and so many other things that should be checked along with this. What about your sound post, the camber of the fingerboard, the string height, the height at the nut?????? You need a full set up or that bass isn't playable really. Take it to a luthier that specializes in DB set-up and repair. Check out Bob Gollihur's luthier directory and his links on set-up so that you know what's involved in all of this. Also, you might search this forum for soundpost, bridge, nut and fingerboard information. There is much already published here.