Oops...HELP!

[EliMarcusBass]

Hey everyone,

I know this isn't too horrific of a problem but nonetheless I need some closure on it.

I just bought a set of Obligatos to put on my upright and as i was tightening the strings the bridge just snapped. I wasn't tightetning the strings to a higher pitch than standard tuning but maybe my bridge just gave in for whatever reason, it was even setup for easy adjusting. For whatever reason the bridge just cracked in pieces while i was tightening and I made sure to not mess with the tension of the entire bass but now my soundpost is completely loose and theres no tension on it whatsoever and I just have strings attached to the tailpiece with no bridge holding them up!

Nothing broke except for the bridge. The soundpost is in tact but loose but otherwise everything else is fine.

What should I do to make sure this bass doesn't get messed up worse as far as when I transport it to get repaired? How much should setting this thing up back to normal cost?


Thanks

[toman]

No big deal; just loosen the strings all the way down and visit your luthier. You'll have to get a new bridge cut and that can cost a bit, but not a fortune. I'd say your bridge got pulled up by the strings and before it fell over just snapped... Probably needed to be replaced anyway.

[EliMarcusBass]

ahh thank god. yah the bridge looked like hell anyways but ill definitely take it in tomorrow.

its just one of those things that u cant stop thinking about until its finally done u kno

[drurb]

Originally Posted by EliMarcusBass

ahh thank god. yah the bridge looked like hell anyways but ill definitely take it in tomorrow.

its just one of those things that u cant stop thinking about until its finally done u kno

Yep, and don't worry if (when) the soundpost falls.

[bassist14]

Originally Posted by EliMarcusBass

Hey everyone,

I know this isn't too horrific of a problem but nonetheless I need some closure on it.

I just bought a set of Obligatos to put on my upright and as i was tightening the strings the bridge just snapped. I wasn't tightetning the strings to a higher pitch than standard tuning but maybe my bridge just gave in for whatever reason, it was even setup for easy adjusting. For whatever reason the bridge just cracked in pieces while i was tightening and I made sure to not mess with the tension of the entire bass but now my soundpost is completely loose and theres no tension on it whatsoever and I just have strings attached to the tailpiece with no bridge holding them up!

Nothing broke except for the bridge. The soundpost is in tact but loose but otherwise everything else is fine.

What should I do to make sure this bass doesn't get messed up worse as far as when I transport it to get repaired? How much should setting this thing up back to normal cost?


Thanks

i had the same problem while putting new oblis on the bass. the bridge crashed in pieces and scratched the top of the bass.
i think it has to do with the oblis stretching very much while coming to tension. i heard the same story from another bassplayer.

[reedo35]

To avoid this problem in the future put some graphite in the string slots on both the bridge and the nut. Scribbling in the slots with a pencil will do if you don't have the other kind.