My bridge randomly flew off my bass.

[radiowafer]

Hi Bass Friends,

In rehearsal last night, the bridge of my bass flew off while i was playing for no apparent reason. I was wondering if you all could help me troubleshoot.

Here are the details:
- I play a carved 3/4 chinese made bass, its roughly 7 years old and had never had any issues until now
- the bridge is new (a little over a month old)
- the strings are new (3 weeks old)
- earlier today i raised the adjusters on the bridge up by a couple millimeters
- I've tried to reset the bridge 3 times, each time it flew off and each time i made sure the feet of the bridge were completely flush with the body of the bass.
- The bridge is now on the bass, but its completely downtuned (down a 6th or so). each time i try to tune it up to standard tuning, the bridge explodes off again.
- There are now a few scratches and dents in the body from parts flying and bouncing.
- I haven't been monitoring the humidity of my bass very well. But its winter in the prairies, so its quite dry.
- The bass was completely acclimatized to the rehearsal space by the time rehearsal started. The bridge flew off about 45mins into the rehearsal.
- I was playing pizzicato at the time and was digging in quite a bit

WHY DID THIS HAPPEN? HOW DO I MAKE IT STOP??

Your input would be greatly appreciated.

[daddy-o496]

I would check the fit of the feet. Also be sure that the bridge is staying perpendicular to the top while tuning . other than that, I would see a real bass setup/repair person.

[Joe Nerve]

I heard that that could knock your teeth out, blind, or kill you. Since you had the experience, is this true?

[robobass]

Is the bridge warped? That's usually the cause of this.

Originally Posted by Joe Nerve

I heard that that could knock your teeth out, blind, or kill you. Since you had the experience, is this true?

There's an urban legend that Dragonetti was killed when his tailgut broke and the tailpiece hit him in the face

I know of no documented cases of someone being injured by a bridge or tailpiece, although I can imagine that one of those steel Thomastik jobs would make for a nice hand weapon. One of those crime forensics shows ought to use that idea for an episode. Murder in the Opera Pit!

[bigolbassguy]

Pictures.

[rtslinger]

In all of my years of playing I have never had that happen nor have I ever heard of it happening to anyone else! make a video at your next practice I would like to see this one.

[radiowafer]

Thanks for the responses guys! I don't think the fit of the feet is the issue, since I had the bass set up by my luthier when I got my bridge fitted. Also, the bridge is not warped in the slightest. I've kept the bridge perpendicular while tuning, but as soon as I start turning up and let go of the bridge WHAM it flies off again.

The experience was terrifying. And yes, I'm certain that a projectile bridge could kill, blind, or even knock teeth out. I got a pretty good gash on my wrist from being knicked (grazed) by the bridge adjusted the second time it flew off. I'd love to show ya'll some video and pictures, but as of right now, the bridge is on (with very little tension on the strings) and I don't plan on messing with it til I see my luthier (who lives in a different city). I just dont want to damage the finish or anything else on the bass, nor do i want to drop the soundpost!

[robobass]

This is very strange. Does the bridge fall up or down? Is there a large difference in break angle north and south of the bridge? That would cause the problem, but I can't explain why it would only be happening now.

[drurb]

Strange indeed! Assuming the feet fit properly, the bridge is not warped, the bridge is placed at the proper position, the bridge is held perpendicular, and the bridge notches are lubricated sufficiently, I sure don't understand how or why, from the point of view of physics that this would happen. I'm betting one or more of the assumptions is incorrect. What kind of strings are you using? Is the tailpiece wire intact? What kind of material is it? Is the top of the bass sinking? Just grasping at straws here. This one demands a visit to a luthier, as you have planned. Good luck-- please let us know what was the problem after it's solved.

[Pentabass]

You mentioned doing an adjustment prior to this starting. Are you sure the screws are in properly, not cross threaded, not stripped?

Try using a straight bridge that has no adjusters and see if it will tolerate tension.


May be it is time to give the bass a soft 'apron' above and below the bridge, till this is sorted out. This way you avoid further damage to the top.

Stefan

[drurb]

^^^Good thought. If it was the adjusters, then I'd think it would have split them right out as it flew off. Hmm...

[madmatt]

Flying bridges...what is the World coming to?!?

[Rebop]

This has happened to me once or twice but not repeatedly with the same instrument like that. Each time was because I was adjusting the position of the bridge feet while under full string tension with a new bass with a very shiny/new top. Just tiny taps on the bridge will do it if it's not set up properly. On my CCB I put a little bit of rosin powder from my bow on the bottom of the feet for some traction and it worked. I wouldn't do that for my other basses though. I suspect you may have your adjusters too high which can make the bridge lean a bit north or south and cause this.

[Eric Hochberg]

If the bass has a slick finish, that would make it easier for the feet to slip around. Maybe some rosin on the feet for grip, or a light sanding where the feet meet the top would help. +1 on warped or badly tilted bridge, too.

[Matt Ides]

Take it to the doctor, sounds like the feet are slipping out for some reason (which could be many).

[360guy]

Are you checking that the bridge is perpendicular ( 90 degrees ) on the tailpiece side? Also a little pencil graphite on the string slots will help.

I would check the amount of sinking or deflection you may be getting on the top. Is the bass bar good? Is the sound-post properly placed?

Put a straight edge across the F-hole notches perpendicular to the neck. Any stick will do as long as it will reach the span of the bass ribs to ribs.

Now do a before setting up the strings measurement at the rib to stick gap and an after the bass is strung measurement at the same rib/stick area. This might turn up the problem (excessive top plate deflection).

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by radiowafer

Hi Bass Friends,

In rehearsal last night, the bridge of my bass flew off while i was playing for no apparent reason. I was wondering if you all could help me troubleshoot.

Here are the details:
- I play a carved 3/4 chinese made bass, its roughly 7 years old and had never had any issues until now
- the bridge is new (a little over a month old)
- the strings are new (3 weeks old)
- earlier today i raised the adjusters on the bridge up by a couple millimeters
- I've tried to reset the bridge 3 times, each time it flew off and each time i made sure the feet of the bridge were completely flush with the body of the bass.
- The bridge is now on the bass, but its completely downtuned (down a 6th or so). each time i try to tune it up to standard tuning, the bridge explodes off again.
- There are now a few scratches and dents in the body from parts flying and bouncing.
- I haven't been monitoring the humidity of my bass very well. But its winter in the prairies, so its quite dry.
- The bass was completely acclimatized to the rehearsal space by the time rehearsal started. The bridge flew off about 45mins into the rehearsal.
- I was playing pizzicato at the time and was digging in quite a bit

WHY DID THIS HAPPEN? HOW DO I MAKE IT STOP??

Your input would be greatly appreciated.

First off, I have had a tailpiece wire break when the bass was in my Bass Clamp and while the tailpiece came flying, it wasn't with a lot of force!

Try a little rosin on the feet, as Eric suggested, or scuffing the spots where the feet land with 0000 steel wool.

Put it up on the table or bed and re-install the bridge. Tune the strings up a little at a time, SLOWLY, correcting the forward lean often. This is the important part.

Make sure the feet are in a straight line using cardboard, a flexible ruler, a magazine. This is the other important part.

When you are a couple of tones or a tone and a half flat, give the feet a little push out towards the f-holes to make sure they are stretched out.

Call me if you still have trouble.

[epiphone60]

When you look at angle of force from the strings on the bridge, it all pushes upward toward the fingerboard. If the notches on the
bridge have an angled cut toward the tailpiece the natural tendency
of the bridge is to slip upward. Place a small piece of thin rubber (I use heat shrink tube)between the string and bridge and you will never have this happen again.

[MIKMAN]

Originally Posted by robobass

Is the bridge warped? That's usually the cause of this.


There's an urban legend that Dragonetti was killed when his tailgut broke and the tailpiece hit him in the face

I know of no documented cases of someone being injured by a bridge or tailpiece, although I can imagine that one of those steel Thomastik jobs would make for a nice hand weapon. One of those crime forensics shows ought to use that idea for an episode. Murder in the Opera Pit!

Magnificent!!!

[hdiddy]

My bet is that there might be some slop in the non-threaded socket for the adjusters combined with either a slick finish or the top might be caving in slightly. Is the soundpost still up?