Sound post come loose when strings removed

[Simon Marsh]

The soundpost on my secondhand bass I bought for gigging (if I ever get good enough!!) has fallen away / come loose now I have removed the strings. Can anyone please tell me if this is something I can remedy myself and, if so how, or if I need to take it in. Also, is this a common fault / problem and what would the possible causes be (apart from removing all the strings at once - which I needed to do as the bridge could do with replacing too). On a separate note, could anyone please suggest anywhere (UK or internet based) to buy spares such as strings, bridge, end pin etc. Is the Thomann gear any good and are they reliable??

Sorry so many questions - I'm a total novice, but you'd probably guessed that already!

[salcott]

http://www.gollihurmusic.com/luthiers.cfm

Scroll down to the UK section.

[Eric Hochberg]

You need to see a professional bass luthier to sort this out. The soundpost fell because you removed all the strings and is common when all the pressure is taken off the top. You can't put it back correctly yourself, at least not without instruction and the proper tools. If you need a new bridge and other work, have it done by a pro or learn how to do it from a pro. This is all exacting work.

[Martin Sheridan]

There are several reasons why a soundpost will fall down.

1. It's too short. Solution: have a bass luthier make a new one that fits right.

2. It fell not because it was too short, but because it was put in or moved to a place where it didn't meet top and back properly, thus a lack of tension.

3. The bass gets a good bump when the strings are loose.

Generally it is better to change one string at a time just to avoid the hassle of having to get it reset or a new one made.

It is a job for your bass luthier because it requires specific tools and knowledge.

[Daveelvy]

Hi guys,
I mostly play electric bass, and don't really know what I'm doing properly on the upright, but I have a similar problem to this. The sound post hasn't fallen out, but has shifted out of place. It's currently positioned about an inch below the bridge and approx in line with one of the feet of the bridge. I plan to get it fixed, but my question is this: Do I need to rush it to the luthiers, or can I relax a bit? I still need to find somewhere local to get repairs done.

Thanks a lot.

[jtlownds]

Originally Posted by Daveelvy

Hi guys,
I mostly play electric bass, and don't really know what I'm doing properly on the upright, but I have a similar problem to this. The sound post hasn't fallen out, but has shifted out of place. It's currently positioned about an inch below the bridge and approx in line with one of the feet of the bridge. I plan to get it fixed, but my question is this: Do I need to rush it to the luthiers, or can I relax a bit? I still need to find somewhere local to get repairs done.

Thanks a lot.

Sounds like it is in approximately the correct place to me. Where do you think it should be?

[Daveelvy]

Originally Posted by jtlownds

Sounds like it is in approximately the correct place to me. Where do you think it should be?

Ah...right, well, said I didn't know what I was doing! I thought the post should be more central on the body, rather than off to one side?

[uprightben]

Originally Posted by Daveelvy

Ah...right, well, said I didn't know what I was doing! I thought the post should be more central on the body, rather than off to one side?

The sound post is the only structural support on the treble side of the top, and as such needs to be right in the area you described.

[nicfargo]

I'm just starting to learn repair work and setup of stringed instruments, but your description sounds like the sound post is in the correct spot to me.

[Daveelvy]

That's good news, thanks guys!

[Martin Sheridan]

The sound post goes behind the G string foot. A good position would be 1/2 the diameter of the post distance behind the foot and straight down. If you measure with a flexible ruler or even a stiff piece of paper the distance from the E string f-hole to the bass bar and then put the post a corresponding distance from the G-string f-hole you are going to be about right. When you look at the post from the G string side the post should look straight. In other words it won't be leaning to the neck end or endpin end.
Now the post can be learning to the E side or the G side and that's harder to tell. You can lean the back of the bass into you and look down the bass and site the post and kind of tell from there, but the best way is to take out the endpin and look in that way. If the post falls down when you take off the string tension it is either too short or is way out of position or isn't fitted right at the top or bottom. That's when you know you need a new post.

Some like the post to be behind the bridge foot approximately the width of the post or twice the distance I mentioned above, and on a lot of basses that works out better sound wise, but once the post is in, not tootight and not too loose and it is straight both ways, a very small movement of the post is enought to bring out the best sound. I've seen a lot of players try to adjust their own sound posts and they usually move them too far. I once had a professional classical musican bring his bass to me for a sound post adjustment after he had tried to do it himself. It was about 8 inches off! Trying moving it just a hair or not more than 1 mm. If the G is weak move the post a little closer to the foot of the bridge, if the E is weak move it a little at the bottom towards the E string side.

You can do a lot of damage to a bass with an ill fitting soundpost.

[Simon Marsh]

Thanks, Martin - that's a great help. I will take it to my luthier though!! I think it's beyond my capabilities.