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Setup & Repair [DB] Exploring the issues involved in setting up and repairing basses, along with luthier recommendations.


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  #1  
Old 06-13-2009, 07:22 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada
I just (successfully) adjusted my bass!!

Just wanted to share with you fine TB folk, especially any DB newbies (like me) who are a little timid about working on your bass.

My string height was a little on the high side and my bridge adjusters were bottomed out, so I figured I would attempt to lower the string height by myself before bringing it to a luthier. Here's what I did:

1. I loosened the strings until could get the bridge off. I was very gentle because I was paranoid about knocking over the soundpost.
2. I cut about 1/4" off the threaded end of each adjuster so that it could screw a little deeper into the bridge.
3. I used a very fine saw to cut about 2mm off the bridge ends so that the adjusters could go in deeper.
4. I chamfered the threaded holes in the bridge just a touch.
5. I put the bridge back on, lining it up as per instructions found here on TB. Then I tuned the bass up to pitch. Voila!

I may have been a bit reckless just jumping in like this, but I went slow, thought out each stage, and I kept track of which bridge feet were which!

Well, after all that, the bass plays a lot easier and I have much more adjustability in case of climate change or different strings. I also gained a LOT more confidence in handling and adjusting my bass.
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  #2  
Old 06-13-2009, 07:33 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2008
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let me be first to say congratulations

i'm not one for the DB side but i think we can all appreciate how frightening venturing into customization for the first time can be
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  #3  
Old 06-13-2009, 08:06 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada
Thanks!

It helps that I'm fairly comfortable adjusting my electric basses!

Of course, my cheapo double bass is worth more than either of my electric basses, so any mistakes I made would have been a lot more pricey to have fixed...

Thankfully I seem to have pulled it off!


Quote:
Originally Posted by Fetusyolk View Post
let me be first to say congratulations

i'm not one for the DB side but i think we can all appreciate how frightening venturing into customization for the first time can be
  #4  
Old 06-13-2009, 08:23 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
The worst you might need is a new bridge, which isn't all that expensive... but it's probably fine. Well done.
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