Double Bass back bow on bridge

[shwashwa]

so i know the top (nut side) of the bridge is supposed to be curved and can give the optical illusion that the bridge is curved, while the back side (tailpiece) is supposed to be straight. i also know that if its going to bend, it will probably bend upwards due to the constant tuning of the strings (and i was playing gut and wound gut so i would expect them to grab the bridge and pull it up even more than steel) but i just put a straight edge on the back of my bridge and put a light on the other side, and i can see the light in the very small gap! now, its a small gap, but its triggering my OCD big time. is this bad? can it get worse? why would a bridge bend in this direction and not the other?

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

so i know the top (nut side) of the bridge is supposed to be curved and can give the optical illusion that the bridge is curved, while the back side (tailpiece) is supposed to be straight. i also know that if its going to bend, it will probably bend upwards due to the constant tuning of the strings (and i was playing gut and wound gut so i would expect them to grab the bridge and pull it up even more than steel) but i just put a straight edge on the back of my bridge and put a light on the other side, and i can see the light in the very small gap! now, its a small gap, but its triggering my OCD big time. is this bad? can it get worse? why would a bridge bend in this direction and not the other?

Pretty much anything that CAN happen WILL happen at some point.
No, it’s not really bad unless it bends several millimeters. At that point, I may steam the bridge and clamp it straight or preferably cut a new bridge.

 

[shwashwa]

Well when I put the straight edge and light I'd say there's one mm at the highest point. Problem?

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Well when I put the straight edge and light I'd say there's one mm at the highest point. Problem?

No.