Newbie question ---> adjusters

[Tronictq]

Hey all, well i just got this new carved bass to try out. It has aluminum adjusters on the bridge...... now are they supposed to be able to turn freely with the hand? Cause they don't.

-T

[Bob Branstetter]

Yes, they are supposed to turn freely. Take it back and insist that they repair the bridge adjusters. And...Don't use anything but your fingers to turn them.

[Barefoot Larry]

Originally posted by Tronictq
Hey all, well i just got this new carved bass to try out. It has aluminum adjusters on the bridge...... now are they supposed to be able to turn freely with the hand? Cause they don't.

You aren't, by chance, trying to adjust the bridge without first taking most of the tension off your strings, are you?

[Sam Sherry]

Tune down a major third or so, hombre. Take tension off, but not all the way off -- you don't want the sound post to fall down.

Good luck!

[Tronictq]

Alright.... i'm still kind of new to this world. Thanks for the input, and for your curiousity, no i wasn't tuning down.... kind of common sense i guess....

Thanks

-T

[Jeff Bollbach]

Actually, if the adjusters are well installed and lubed, detuning is not necessary.

[Mike Goodbar]

Lubed? What do you lube them with?

[Bob Branstetter]

Originally posted by Mike Goodbar
Lubed? What do you lube them with?

Most commonly with powdered graphite or Paraffin wax for metal adjusters. Paraffin wax and talcum powder for ebony/wood adjusters.

There is an article titled Helpful Hints for Installing Shen Bass Bridge Wheels on the Samuel Shen website http://www.cscproducts.com/ that describes a slightly different way of installing bridge adjusters. I've tried it and it does work extremely well.