Double Bass Adjustable bridge

[Andy Mopley]

Do you have one and if so how often would you be adjusting it? Are they particularly better than the non adjustable version?

I have one on my bass but too scared to go anywhere near it

Thanks for reading!

 

[Eric Hochberg]

Frequency of adjustment may correlate to changes in humidity, which causes wood movement and changes in relative bridge height to the fingerboard. If you want control over your string height, an adjustable bridge is good to have. It is recommended to raise or lower both adjusters equally and also to check bridge tilt after adjusting.

 

[drurb]

As usual, Eric's response is right on target. In addition to what Eric already said, I like adjusters because they allow me to dial in the height so that it's "just right." With changes in conditions, the adjusters allow me to keep optimizing.

I discovered that, on a carved bass, I was able to appreciate changes that just seemed far too small to be meaningful in terms of string height. I'm talking about a 1/4-turn of the adjusters.

My luthier was not surprised, pointing out that adjusters alter the break angle over the bridge and that what I might be responding to are changes in how the top responds as the tension on it changes. Made sense to me.

I probably mover the adjusters slightly twice a year.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Agree with the previous comments, although with the Full Circle I always do a full turn to keep the wire in the same spot in relation to the bridge foot. I adjust them twice a year - up when the dry winter weather lowers the strings, and down when the humid summer raises them. Oddly, my plywood needs a lot more adjustment than my hybrid, but that probably has more to do with the room conditions than with the basses.

 

[Bruce Lindfield]

I have a fixed bridge and have never felt any need for adjustment - but then that's probably because I live in a place with a moderate climate, where we don't get those big changes in humidity etc.

In particular we don't get dry winters and there is always a fair amount of rain and that's why it's "England's green and pleasant land"!!