Optimum string height

[Gaolee]

How high/low should the strings be for various styles of playing? I didn't find a comparative description of how to set up the bridge for different purposes. In general, it seems that arco players can have very low strings, while pizz players need a bit more room, and slap players need just a bit more, depending on the strings. Are there any rules of thumb for setting string clearances?

[uprightben]

I would say arco players like their strings a little higher than jazz guys, except for the old school jazzers who like high strings and playing without an amp. Now bluegrass, old time and rockabilly players often want their strings really high, they seem to want to be able to fit their fist between the string and the finger board. So, as you can see, a luthier really has to find out what a bassist wants, even when the said bassist really doesn't know himself.

[TheorboPlayer]

Any idea about a typical average height of the strings at the end of the touch let's say for bowing use?

[Champagne]

High enough that the string doesn't flap against the fingerboard under bow pressure? That is how mine is setup.

There are also a plethora of topics surrounding string heights on the forum. Try doing a search.

[Thumpie]

This is VERY personal issue. There a SO many factors to consider, among them: the sound the player wants, and the characteristics of each individual bass. And then there's the camber of the fingerboard, which some players (like me) like to customize.

I've noticed through the years that my bridge keeps getting higher. And when I had my 2nd bass set-up for exclusive arco use, that was when I liked the highest bridge of all.

For me, and many other players, it's a continual evolution. It can take a very long time to discover "your sound," as well as the best way to achieve it.

[Thumpie]

Another thought:

One of the big factors I pay attention to when setting bridge height is matching it to the particular string/body response. How the bass reacts to strings can change a lot depending upon the height of the bridge.

This is one reason that I would avoid making any blanket statement about what is desirable. But I'm sure there are reasonable guidelines that would serve as good starting points.

[JoeyNaeger]

6mm on the G and 9mm on E is a good starting point for arco playing.

[Champagne]

Originally Posted by Thumpie

This is VERY personal issue. There a SO many factors to consider, among them: the sound the player wants, and the characteristics of each individual bass. And then there's the camber of the fingerboard, which some players (like me) like to customize.

I've noticed through the years that my bridge keeps getting higher. And when I had my 2nd bass set-up for exclusive arco use, that was when I liked the highest bridge of all.

For me, and many other players, it's a continual evolution. It can take a very long time to discover "your sound," as well as the best way to achieve it.

That's a good point. When I got more into arco, I decided to dedicate my dark sounding bass to it since it seemed to fit. I did notice when I raised the bridge to prevent the string from clapping the fingerboard that the tone did get brighter as I raised the bridge and it SEEMED a little harder to start the strings, but that I could be imagining the harder start though. That bass's g is at 5mm +/-.5mm and is strung with spirocore weich. It cleanly bows with lower bridge height. My other bass's g is 4 +/- .5 mm (my eyes aren't that good) and that bass bows fine at that height all the way up the board. There is a mix of strings on that bass.

So, yeah, the height of the bridge affects the sound. I also found I get more vibrato with higher action.

[TOOL460002]

Ya- I forget it exactly, but there's some thing where you hold down the 4th and 14th (I THINK... but maybe wrong frets) and you should fit a credit card somewhere in the middle. Mine are low. Really low, and I slap a lot too. I wait till I get fret buzz fretting the low f and then raise it just enough to get rid of the buzz. But that's me. I can play pretty much anything that way (except I suck at tapping, so... not so much that).

[Champagne]

Originally Posted by TOOL460002

Ya- I forget it exactly, but there's some thing where you hold down the 4th and 14th (I THINK... but maybe wrong frets) and you should fit a credit card somewhere in the middle. Mine are low. Really low, and I slap a lot too. I wait till I get fret buzz fretting the low f and then raise it just enough to get rid of the buzz. But that's me. I can play pretty much anything that way (except I suck at tapping, so... not so much that).

There aren't frets on a double bass, at least not mine.

[DoubleMIDI]

And if there would be frets they usually stop at the fifth (like on Viola da Gamba). So no 14th fret.