New bass - bridge setup looks wrong

BigBeatNut · #1 05-20-2007, 06:17 PM

I've just acquired a DB (my first). Second-hand (at least), I think I got bargain, but the bridge setup looks very wrong to me. It's not even touching the body properly.

Is this something I can fix myself, or given that I'm a total newb and the bass is an unknown, should I be handing it over to a luthier? Not very sure about doing it myself. The advice seems to be to align the bridge with the nicks in the f-holes, but this bridge is a good inch away from those, towards the endpin. However the soundpost seems correctly located about an inch lower down than the bridge. (I've been reading THIS PAGE).

String length to bridge is 41.5 inches on what appears to be a 3/4 bass (body length 43 inches).

Any advice appreciated. I can take more photos if need be.

**Matthew Tucker** · #2 05-20-2007, 06:26 PM

Unless that's a crack in the foreground, slacken off your strings and try to pull the bridge upright before it falls over with a bang! If it's not aligned with the nicks its very likely someone who has no idea what they are doing has put it in the wrong spot. A visit to a luthier would do you good and probably set you back very little. Unless that IS a crack, in which case you might be up for some repairs before you can play it. And if it IS a crack, you need to slacken off the strings and go see a luthier straight away.

Jerry Fretwell · #3 05-20-2007, 07:00 PM

From looking at the picture even if you push the bridge down it still needs to be replaced as it is wrapped real bad and will only get worse. At the very least as the other fellow said check and see if taht is a scratch or crack. If it is a crack or split definately let down the strings to take the pressure off. If it is merely a scratch stilol lossen the strings and get the feet flush on the belly of the base aligned with the notches in the f hole.
Jerry
www.fretwellbass.com

BigBeatNut · #4 05-20-2007, 07:12 PM

It is a crack, but I guessed that where it was, it was not structural, and could be left alone. There's a second crack, too, pics coming up.

Do you reckon these need attention from a luthier ? Bear in mind this was a very cheap bass. I'm not sure how much money it's worth sinking into it for repairs.

BigBeatNut · #5 05-20-2007, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew Tucker

Unless that's a crack in the foreground, slacken off your strings and try to pull the bridge upright before it falls over with a bang! If it's not aligned with the nicks its very likely someone who has no idea what they are doing has put it in the wrong spot.

I've had a closer looks and it seems to me that both the bridge feet and the sound post have been moved towards the endpin by an inch and a half. You can see where the bridge feet once were by lighter colour in the varnish (which aligns with the nicks), and there are dents inside where the soundpost was once rooted.

Given that, I think I might just hand it all over to a luthier untouched, to see what he thinks needs doing.

Can anyone recommend a London (UK) Luthier ?

Andy

BigBeatNut · #6 05-20-2007, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigBeatNut

Bear in mind this was a very cheap bass. I'm not sure how much money it's worth sinking into it for repairs.

To put that in context, the label inside says "Made in Roumania, Reghin" and the bass seems to have a carved top, and a flat back, made out of several pieces of wood. The body has had one other crack repaired (filled, with wood) in the past, on the upper bout, side away from the player. It's covered in scratches and scrapes and the scroll (decorative part) has had a sizeable chunk knocked off it.

**Matthew Tucker** · #7 05-20-2007, 09:15 PM

Reghin is a town in Romania dating back to 1926.

Your bass could be nice and worth spending some money on, particularly if you got it cheap. So off you go to your luthier and find out if you have a bargain or a beater!

And this recent thread

First time bridge replacement

Shows you a way you could try to straighten your bridge.

good luck

bluegreenturtle · #8 05-20-2007, 11:03 PM

You will probably have to just replace the bridge - I had a warped bridge that I used the method mentioned in that thread and it did indeed work - for about a week, then it went right back to the way it was. Still, it's worth a shot.

MarkH · #9 05-23-2007, 11:17 AM

Hi there,

The best bet is to take the bass to one of these places in London and get a new bridge fitted....that one looks terrible!!

http://www.thwaites.com
http://www.healeyviolins.co.uk

Hope that helps....

Cheers,

BigBeatNut · #10 05-23-2007, 11:32 AM

That makes one recommendation for Thwaites, two for Healey, and two for Pete Tyler so far ...

Thomas Stone · #11 05-24-2007, 06:09 AM

you have PM Big Beat Nut

BigBeatNut · #12 05-26-2007, 10:35 AM

Well, I took it to M & J Healy Violins and they were very helpful. Given that all I want from the bass (initially) is to see if take to the instrument, we agreed on some quick fixups.

So: Bridge trimmed to a suitable action for a novice, bridge and soundpost re-positioned correctly and some of the cracks glued up, all while I waited (about an hour) and for a price I thought was very reasonable.

He was at pains to point out he wouldn't normally hold a repair together with masking tape, but seeing as the finish on my bass is fairly appalling, it was doing no harm, and meant I could take away the bass (with glue still drying) rather than leaving it.

In post-op recovery:

Ahh, that's better:

So, assuming I take to upright, I've got these to look forward to: New bridge, pickup, preamp, softcase, new endpin, new strings, repair rest of cracks .... hang on, thats adds up to twice as much as I spent on the bass

velvetkevorkian · #13 05-26-2007, 03:07 PM

Could be well worth it in the long run though- probably still less than you'd pay for an equivalent model today