bridge keeps falling down

[Adumb]

i put on some weedwacker strings yesterday and now my bridge, while playing or tuning, will will fall foward, towards the neck, and smack right against the body, i tried putting some graphite in the bridge slots but it does not seem to be helping. i also have the bridge right centered between the notches in the f holes. any help is appriciated,thanks

[nathanmcnathan]

You probably don't have enough tension on the strings, leaving the bridge loose and free to move around. I would say maybe keep some steel strings on, or maybe some steel-core nylon strings or something like that.

[Adumb]

there is a lot of tension, the bridge smacks very hard into the body and thestrings hold the bridge against the body they are so tight

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

It's supposed to do that.
However, if you don't like it to do that, just grab the top of the bridge and push it towards the tailpiece as you tune the strings up to pitch.

Patient, "Doctor, it hurts when I do that."
Doctor, "Then don't do that."

[Adumb]

when i do that, then it falls when i'm playing,

im gonna try steaming my bridge tomaro, then ill update again

[Mike D.]

what do you mean "steaming my bridge"?
The best suggestion was the pne given by Clink.
You should lie the bass down on it's back when changing strings. change one string at a time. take note of the bridge AND sound-post position. It would really suckto have the sound-post fall on you.
And while you tune up the bass, watch if the bridge tends to pull forward. Then, as Clink described: grabbing the top of the bridge, push it along toward the tailpiece.
If this is a problem still, bring your bass to a luthier. If you sound-post falls, I would suggest to let a professional luthier put it back in place.

[Jet Nero]

I'm curious. So were the bridge feet flush against the top after you tuned the strings and before you began to play? Because it really sounds like your tuning process pulled the bridge forward.

There's a nice little article on changing strings here:

http://www.davidgage.com/z_david_strings.htm

[Adumb]

yeah, after tuning i push the bridge back into place, and i can almost watchthe back of the feet lift off, i can catch it a couple of times but its kinda ridiculous

[KSB - Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Adumb

yeah, after tuning i push the bridge back into place, and i can almost watchthe back of the feet lift off, i can catch it a couple of times but its kinda ridiculous

Either your Bridge Feet do not fit the Bass well or/and the Bridge top is warped forward.

If not, then you are doing something wrong. Why not post some pics of your Bridge sitting in place on the Top without strings on. We are all guessing blind. Pics will help open our eyes.

Also, unless you have a soundpost setter and the skill to use one, never remove all the strings at the same time. Just do them one at a time. One off, one on till they are all changed. Watch the Bridge position as you tune and use a pencil to lubricate the bridge slot before hand. Also, make sure the strings are properly seated in the bridge top groves. Going from well fit thin steels to thicker Guts you will need to re-slot the notches and 'properly' widen them.

Changing string I guess is not the same as changing a light bulb. Some of us with experience take it for granted but with lower end Basses with some possibly existing set-up problems it can be a nightmare as you have described. After you know what you are doing you can look back at this experience and have a little laugh. Join some of the crowd that might be puzzled by this problem you are having in one minute and laughing in the next.

Where are you located by the way? Fill out your profile as well. Some people here prefer to know who they are talking to. If you are very young, ask mommy to help with the profile. Very old, ask your son or daughter. Neither, just do it!

[Adumb]

yeah, this is it with the stringson,'

[Jet Nero]

For starters, your bridge appears to be mounted backwards. The flat side should be facing the floor. Was the bass set up this way when you acquired it?

[mattfong]

It also looks kind of warped. The 'flat side' isn't very flat.

[D McCartney]

i believe the side of the bridge facing the floor should be a straight line, 90 degrees to the top of the bass.

[jtlownds]

Your bridge was set up backwards and is badly warped. Trying to straighten the bridge will only be a temporary fix. You need to get to a luthier and have a new bridge fitted.

[Adumb]

temporary fix it is until i can get a new one then, i cant find a good picture of a bridge on a stand up bass to make sure mine is backwards, if some one has one, itd be appriciated,

[KSB - Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Adumb

temporary fix it is until i can get a new one then, i cant find a good picture of a bridge on a stand up bass to make sure mine is backwards, if some one has one, itd be appriciated,

Here's one if it helps;

Also, your top and bottom do not align well with the adjusters installed. It's just a bad bridge you have there regardless of upside down or not.

For more Pics and angles of Bridges, look thru my DB pages. The pice were not shot to show bridges but there are plenty of pics to look at and see what it should look like.

[Jake deVilliers]

Ken's bridges are very nice.

This is a beauty that I captured from TalkBass, I believe, quite a while ago to keep around for inspiration.

[jtlownds]

Originally Posted by Adumb

shoulda figured, those chinese kids can never put stuff together right. temporary fix it is until i can get a new one then, i cant find a good picture of a bridge on a stand up bass to make sure mine is backwards, if some one has one, itd be appriciated,

If you are going to straighten it and put it back on, you will need to put it back on backwards. The top of the bridge is asymmetrical to match the shape of the fingerboard. Reversing it will throw your string heights all over the place.

[Adumb]

yeah, good call, i was thinking about that, even the slots wont work, ill put it on backwards again, my pickup slot is carved there too anyways, i think i might buy the 65 dollar one on the gollihur site, anyone have any better opinions?

[Jet Nero]

Originally Posted by Adumb

anyone have any better opinions?

Yes. Don't buy a bridge. Go to a luthier to sort this out.