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Double Bass Action too high, and bridge is adjusted to its lowest point

B

bassmasta94

Jul 21, 2009
118
0
32
Connecticut
#1
Hey guys. I know there are a ton of threads on action and bridge placement but i couldnt find one that answered exactly my question but... I played on someone elses bass this weekend and i noticed how low their action was, but the bridge wasnt even adjusted close to its lowest point. And i went home and lowered my bridge to the lowest point, but still the action was way too high. Ive heard that on average their should be just about enough room up near the nut for a business card to slide through, but mind is way high then that. So pretty much what i was wondering is... is my bridge not fitted to my particular bass? and should i bring it to a luthier to have the bridge cut down a bit? im really not sure, ive only been playing upright about 3 years, and im not too familiar with setup, and things of that nature. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks
 
#2
String height at the nut and string height at the end of the fingerboard are almost independent, each needs to be addressed separately.

If the string height is too high at the nut, it's addressed by filing the string grooves in the nut deeper. As you mentioned, the thickness of a business card is a common standard.

If the string height is too high at the end of the fingerboard, it's addressed by some combination of: (1) lowering an adjustable bridge, (2) Filing the string grooves in the bridge a little deeper, or (3) reworking the bridge; either by taking some material out of the feet if they are too thick, recutting the top arc, or even fitting a new bridge if the existing one is not a good match for the bass.

There's not a commonly agreed upon standard for string height at the end of the fingerboard, because it depends a lot on what kind of music you play, what kind of strings you use, whether you play mostly arco or pizz, etc. But a ballpark middle of the road figure would be something like 9, 8, 7 and 6 millimeters for the E, A, D and G strings respectively.
 
#3
You need to adjust your truss rod.

Try pressing the E string down a the first and last fret at the same time. If the gap between the string and the 12th fret is MORE than the thickness of say a pick or credit card, then your truss rod is certainly the issue.

Fixing this is a long process for a beginner, but I recommend you learn how to do it. In order to make this go more smoothly, it would help to know what kind of bass you have in order to tell you where the truss rod slot is... or a pic of the bass. Whichever is easiest for you.
 
#7
VinKreepo said:
You need to adjust your truss rod.

Try pressing the E string down a the first and last fret at the same time. If the gap between the string and the 12th fret is MORE than the thickness of say a pick or credit card, then your truss rod is certainly the issue.

Fixing this is a long process for a beginner, but I recommend you learn how to do it. In order to make this go more smoothly, it would help to know what kind of bass you have in order to tell you where the truss rod slot is... or a pic of the bass. Whichever is easiest for you.
Click to expand...

truss rod :smug:

definately a wrong turn.
 
#11
tstone said:
String height at the nut and string height at the end of the fingerboard are almost independent, each needs to be addressed separately.

If the string height is too high at the nut, it's addressed by filing the string grooves in the nut deeper. As you mentioned, the thickness of a business card is a common standard.

If the string height is too high at the end of the fingerboard, it's addressed by some combination of: (1) lowering an adjustable bridge, (2) Filing the string grooves in the bridge a little deeper, or (3) reworking the bridge; either by taking some material out of the feet if they are too thick, recutting the top arc, or even fitting a new bridge if the existing one is not a good match for the bass.

There's not a commonly agreed upon standard for string height at the end of the fingerboard, because it depends a lot on what kind of music you play, what kind of strings you use, whether you play mostly arco or pizz, etc. But a ballpark middle of the road figure would be something like 9, 8, 7 and 6 millimeters for the E, A, D and G strings respectively.
Click to expand...

+1

It should be a pretty quick fix to address string height, but you'll likely need a fingerboard dressing afterward.
 
#13
Yeah, thanks guys. I would most likely go to Upton, but would i just go there with my bass and tell them problem and they'll see what they can do? Or does it work someother way? Im unfamiliar with this type of stuff. Any help on what i would exactly say to the luthier would be great
 
#19
Eric Hochberg said:
This is major surgery and probably not necessary in this case. This is usually done when the neck angle/bridge is too low, as on many old basses, and there isn't a budget for a neck reset, which is the better way to do this.
Click to expand...

I think the poster is referring to shimming a bolt-on Fender style neck, a common technique with those electric bass guitars... ;)
 

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