How do I work this adjustable bridge?

[topper]

Another noob question. My bass has an adjustable bridge and I'd like to do a little experimenting to find the string height I like.

I'm not real sure how to use this adjustable bridge though. Do I need to loosen the strings first? Am I just supposed to turn the little wheels or do the feet of the bridge have to turn too?

When I reached down there to try and turn the wheels they were pretty hard to move. I don't want to force it when I don't know what the hell I'm doing.

[Eric Hochberg]

Loosen the strings if you want to adjust the bridge higher. Adjust it the same amount on both sides (you can put a little dot on each adjuster with nail polish to be accurate). The feet should stay where they are. If they move, hold them while you turn the adjuster wheel and put them back in place. The center point of each foot should line up with the notch in the f holes. The back side of the bridge should be around a 90º angle to the top.

[vt picker]

the bridge feet don't have to spin. there's a threaded insert in the top portion of the bridge, and a "bushing" in the bottom part (so the top part of the bridge will move away from the bottom part and the wheel will stay at the bottom).

Clockwise should move the bridge taller, counter clockwise shorter. some wheels spin easier than others, I've used a wrench on mine (holding the feet in place so they don't spin). I also have a bass with wooden adjusters, those spin much more freely (i marked the spot with white out so i turn them the same amount, you need to keep them even distance when raising/lowering). My aluminum adjusters are very hard to turn the first few turns from all the way down, and then they move easier.

I've lowered the action with full string tension on, but for the first time you try it, lay it on it's back and loosen the strings some, there could be burrs, or even mis-thread (or off at a funny angle if the bridge is high on the threads). once you see how it moves, you can figure out what you can get away with.

You may also want to wait for more people to chime in, and make sure i don't have my head up my butt.

consensus is king

[Eric Hochberg]

Originally Posted by vt picker

Clockwise should move the bridge taller, counter clockwise shorter.

Depends if it's set threads-up or threads-down.

[vt picker]

is there a standard or a preferred way? i added should in there because i wasn't sure.

actually i just checked my bass w/ wooden adjusters and they're opposite... my old aluminum adjuster bridge (replaced w/ wood) and the one on my other bass are both threads up, the wood threads down.

[Eric Hochberg]

It seems that a majority of the basses I have seen at various shops have threads up.

[topper]

Thanks all! That did the trick.

[barend]

Normally I don't loosen the strings when adjusting the wheels.

Is that bad or can it damage the bass?

[kurt ratering]

you can strip your threads and make your bridge less adjustable.