Bridge size

[bilias]

Hi all,

I'd like to know how someone could measure the size for an appropriate
bridge for a bass. A friend told me to measure the distance from the wood
stick (inside the bass - on the bass top - opposite to sound post)
to the center of the bass top and double that distance.
13,6 cm seems quite small for my 7/8 bass.

According to most sites the appropriate size for 7/8 & 4/4 bass bridge
is 158mm or 165mm and I'd like to find out which is the correct for my bass.

best regards,

Giannis

[Jake deVilliers]

Search the 'Setup & Repair' Forum for a post of Ken's that gives an excellent description of the process.

You'll be measuring from the centre line to the bassbar, not the sound post, since the bar is part of the instrument and the post is movable!

[bilias]

thanx for the reply.

I 've searched for the thread you mentioned without luck.

Yes I'm measuring from the bass bar (not the soundpost)
to the center of the bass
13.6cm seems small for 7/8 bass.

I'l measure it once more and I will also measure the size
of the bridge which is currently on the bass

thanx again

Giannis

[MIKMAN]

My friend and compatriot Giannis, as i deduct from my experience in Christopher basses the appropriate size is 150 - 152 mm in 7/8 models. When i had a similar plywood Christopher i used mainly Aubert bridges of 154 mm and fitting them to my bass i eliminated the surplus of 2-3 mm. The bridge's E foot was exactly over the bass bar (in the middle of the foot) and the G foot allowed enough manipulation of the soundpost to achieve the optimum sound.
If you ever pass from Larisa give me a call. Easy to find me.
Michael B.Mandelas

[KSB - Ken Smith]

Providing the Bassbar is IN the Bass and not yet to be made I would measure the inner distance of the upper F-hole eyes. Then Look inside and see how close the edge of the Bassbar is to that hole. The 'Bar is also usually set at an angle so the placement of the center or edge of the 'Bar will be slightly further away from the center of the Top at the F-Notches where the Bridge is being placed.

A 145, 150 or 155mm bridge is about normal for a full 3/4 Bass or small 7/8th providing nothing wacky is going on with the F-hole placements or width of the center waist of the Bass. 155-165 is usually used on bigger, wider Basses. The total width of the Bridge is usually similar to the width across the upper F-Eyes providing the Bar is at or near the upper F-Eyes. Often, I have seen Bridges that look wider than are needed. This is either because of the Bar placement, a mistake or they are trying to push more bottom out of the Bass by 'hugging' more of the outside of the 'Bar than the center of it. This will also move the post further away in the set-up. Often on old Basses we see Top sinkage on either or both sides from extra wide bridges.

Fitting anything other than the correct measured bridge to a Bass should be done only after an experienced Bass Luthier has been consulted along with an inspection of the Bass. This is like being told to consult your doctor before changing your diet kind of thing.

I have a 170mm bridge in my hand right now for a 4/4 sized Bass of mine (5/4 by London standards). The Bar is set in quite a bit so a 165-170 is what will sit centered over the 'bar. If the 'Bar was to the edge of the upper F-Eye, we would be between 180-190mm (custom made) depending on the slant of the 'Bar.

Bridge sizes can make a difference. Then after you have the size, fitting and placement mush be equally correct. This is just one of the many 'quirks' of the Double Bass. This is something that's so small and taken for granted most of the time but yet very important.

[bilias]

Hi Michael and Ken.

I counted once more the sizes:

Upper F-Eye to Eye is 154mm
Notch to Notch is 265mm
Notch to bar is 57mm so that gives 151mm

My old crappy bridge is 150mm. However this bridge was build for 5 string setup, but it was converted to 4 string since I have removed the 5th string.

So I guess I should look for a 150mm bridge.

thanx all

Giannis

[panos]

Originally Posted by bilias

Upper F-Eye to Eye is 154mm
Notch to Notch is 265mm
Notch to bar is 57mm so that gives 151mm

My old crappy bridge is 150mm. However this bridge was build for 5 string setup, but it was converted to 4 string since I have removed the 5th string.

So I guess I should look for a 150mm bridge.

thanx all

Giannis

Hey Giannis:
Based on the numbers you posted, it is better to look for a 154mm bridge-usually Aubert-, and not for a 150mm.

You wrote that Upper F-Eye to Eye is 154mm, and Notch to bar is 57mm so that gives 151mm. That means that the bass bar is 3mm away inside from the upper f-eye (which I think is normal), so a 150mm bridge will be kind of small. Remember: the centre of the bridge foot must sit on the centre of the bassbar.
You can give me a call if you want, I'd like to hear from you.
Or you can ask also the help of the local luthier.
Good luck!

[Matthew Tucker]

Originally Posted by panos

Upper F-Eye to Eye is 154mm, and Notch to bar is 57mm so that gives 151mm. That means that the bass bar is 3mm away inside from the upper f-eye

Goodness, how did you figure that out without knowing the slant of the FFs? my brain boggles.

[MIKMAN]

Originally Posted by panos

Hey Giannis:
You can give me a call if you want, I'd like to hear from you.
Or you can ask also the help of the local luthier.
Good luck!

Hey, the Greek bass players pop up one after one. Panos, i'd like to know about any respectable luthier in Crete or elsewhere. In Larisa and Salonica i could not find anyone, so i had to develop my own ability in lutherie. Any help is wellcomed.
Michael

[panos]

Ooops! I stand correct! It is 1.5 mm. But again, I think that a 154mm bridge could be better. Also, as Mikman said, this size worked well. Just my thought, correct me if I'm wrong..
Anyway, the local luthier will decide about it.

[panos]

Originally Posted by MIKMAN

Hey, the Greek bass players pop up one after one. Panos, i'd like to know about any respectable luthier in Crete or elsewhere. In Larisa and Salonica i could not find anyone, so i had to develop my own ability in lutherie. Any help is wellcomed.
Michael

You already have a PM with my phone. Please, if you want me to call you send me a PM with your number.

[bilias]

Originally Posted by panos

Hey Giannis:
Based on the numbers you posted, it is better to look for a 154mm bridge-usually Aubert-, and not for a 150mm.

The 150mm which is on right now looks perfectly centered
on the bass bar. Anyway I'll take the bass to Loukakis today
to check the new crack so he will tell me the exact size of the
bridge.

Panos have you heard of Teller bridges?
Check my post on Josef Teller bridge

best regards all

Giannis

[Martin Sheridan]

Generally speaking the distance between the upper fs will indicate the width of the bridge feet. In the shop we have numerous sizes and I usually pick the one up that is the distance between the fs, in your case 154mm, center it on the bass between the nicks and then measure the distance from the f-hole to the bass bar. That distance would normally put the outside of the bar even with the E string leg of the bridge. Make sense?
A good bass luthier will get the right one on there for you.

Teller makes different quality bridges and their best ones are very good. The well known maker and restorer of fine Italian violins, Simone Sacconi, preferred them to the Aubert Mirecourt bridges.

[Jake deVilliers]

Hmmm. Does anyone know a North American distributor for the Teller bridges?

[Martin Sheridan]

Howard Core and Company LTD. They have a web site, but you have to be a dealer to order from them.

I've used their bridges for decades. I never really liked the Aubert bass bridges though I've used their other bridges for violin, viola and cello, but primarily because many players expect me to use the Aubert DeLux. I haven't used anything but Teller the last few years.

[Jake deVilliers]

Thanks Martin.

I'm not unhappy with the Despiau bridges I've been getting from Metropolitan, just interested in the Tellers.

By the way, I can't find bridges on the Howard Core website - what are they listed under?

[forester]

http://www.violins.on.ca/bridges.html here is a supplier in Canada.i believe MS is correct in that you can't access HC without the secret handshake