Problem Adjusting Bridge; help?

[LemurBassist]

I'm basically a newbie upright bass player. The school bass that I play at school has an adjustable bridge, and it really helps make it easier to play different styles and whatnot. It's also really east to turn the adjuster-things. So I bought an upright bass for myself, and also got adjustable bridges. But no matter how hard I try, I can't turn them at all! Is it me, the bass/bridge, or the people that put them on for me?! Help, please! T_T

[Andrew McGregor]

Are you taking the strings down a bit in tension before you try the adjusters? They've got to pick up an enormous amount of weight to beat the string tension.

[LemurBassist]

Originally Posted by Andrew McGregor

Are you taking the strings down a bit in tension before you try the adjusters? They've got to pick up an enormous amount of weight to beat the string tension.

Um, I doubt it since i don't really know all too much about what you're talking about. (Not a very knowledgable person T_T) Anyway, do you know how take the string tension down or anything to get the adjusters to work? Like, without killing the bass? XD

EDIT: Actually, I'm 99% sure I don't take the string tension down. So can you tell me how to do that safely?

[Andrew McGregor]

Just tune it down a tone or three (no need to be accurate, but don't go so far that the strings stop sounding, that's risking the bridge or soundpost falling over). That will loosen off the strings and give you a chance to turn the adjusters.