How low can you go with the action on your set up before you get a buzz? My strings are 10 mm measured from the bottom of the strings to the fingerboard (at the end). I read somewhere about 7mm, and that may be a limit. (?) I would like to lower the action a little more, but I don't want to go so low that I buzz in arco play.
I know all the caveats and conditions that can apply about the nut and fingerboard ---generalities are OK.
FWIW, I've gone as low as 4 mm under the G without buzzing with the bow arco. I've heard of people going lower, but at 4 mm, you hardly work at all to stop the string. I only get buzzing at that action if I push really hard on the string, but if you used higher tension strigs, I bet it would be a non issue.
I haven't yet answered my own question, but I have come closer. My new Engelhardt came with a bridge that set the action at the end of the fingerboard to a 15 mm. In three stages, I sanded the top of the bridge down, keeping the same contour until the action is now 7 mm. What a difference! No string buzz, and I think the bass sound better now and it is much easier to play all the way down to at least 10th position.
I could probably shave off more of the brigde, but sanding by hand is a lot of hard work. I took me an hour to sand down about 4 mm this morning.
have you considered getting an adjustable bridge fitted..? i know this might sound extreme, but it is a great addition... and at least will preventing you shaving off that fraction too much..?
once its off... you can't put it back
and conditions that can apply about the nut and fingerboard ---generalities are OK.
