Double Bass set up assessment

[John Perrin]

Does anybody have any advice regarding what I should look at when assessing the set up of a bass? Besides just the feel of the instrument when I play it.

String height, fit of the bridge feet to the top, the grooves on the nut and bridge for the strings to sit in, check up and down the fingerboard for buzzes, etc?

[Eric Hochberg]

You've got most of it covered, but, don't forget about how it sounds! Sound post must fit and be
in the right spot.

[bonaventura]

Those are the bassics. It's all about how freely your bass -- and its various parts -- can vibrate.

If you are after more volume: adjust string height (go higher), move sound post (creates a variable response - read David Gage article and experiment a tiny bit at a time here), look at nut and bridge grooves (they say groove depth not more than 50% of the string thickness -- which seems like a lot already i.m.o. -- so the after-bridge string length and peg box segment can vibrate and also contribute to your sound and sustain).

You might also consider the tailpiece. With the TP, it's the weight and flexibility of the wire to look at. A lightweight TP with a flexible TP wire or synthetic string can improve volume and make it a bit brighter for jazz/pizz. Go the other way, i.e., with a heavier TP, you get a deeper, richer, darker sound for arco or for playing pizz like Charlie Haden.

But don't forget: Every bass is different. Listen to yours. Then go with what you like.

[bonaventura]

Originally Posted by John Perrin

Does anybody have any advice regarding what I should look at when assessing the set up of a bass? Besides just the feel of the instrument when I play it.

String height, fit of the bridge feet to the top, the grooves on the nut and bridge for the strings to sit in, check up and down the fingerboard for buzzes, etc?

John, what's the background of your question? Are you thinking of buying your first bass and wondered what to look for?

[John Perrin]

Yeah, I spent 8 years playing on school instruments where there wasn't any choice, and then four years playing electric bass guitar (since I couldn't afford a double bass) so now I'm finally buying a bass of my own and want to make sure I do a good job of assessing them as I look around.

[hdiddy]

There's also string spacings and bridge curvature. I like to look for nut height to help understand what kind of growl is going for jazz. Also I like having a duller edge on the bottom of the fingerboard for pizz where my thumb meets the FB. I like it a little rounded so my thumb doesn't hurt after hours of playing and pushing gently against the fingerboard.

If you want to get anal I suppose you could check that the E side bridge foot should be above the bassbar (IIRC that's what Traeger suggests) and that the bridge feet are not too thick/thin.