Double Bass borrow your eyes.....does this bridge look messed up?

[swamprocker]

my last two shows i've had my bridge collapse.

set on the bass under string tension it kind of looked warped. so i have a new bridge en route...but i took this one off tonight and looking more closely, can't really tell it is too messed up. it does look more off square with the feet off.
however, not enough that the bridge should be collapsing.

that being said, could the sound post being set too far south of the bridge feet cause the bridge to collapse under hard playing?

without feet

with feet

top view

 

[T-Bird]

Hi.

To my untrained eyes that bridge looks bent beyond repair.

Plus, it looks like the adjuster holes aren't lined up.

There's a very un-orthodox method I could think of as a temporary fix, swap the feet and re-shape to match the top.

Regards
Sam

 

[swamprocker]

thanks...it looks even worse under tension. i have a new one on the way...but need to get one more show out of this one.
guess i'll try the boil method mentioned on another thread

 

[T-Bird]

Hi.

i have a new one on the way...but need to get one more show out of this one.
guess i'll try the boil method mentioned on another thread

In that case, the boiling and clamping will most likely get You through.

Regards
Sam

 

[1st Bass]

Looking at the feet, I am assuming you are showing the bridge from the treble side? I'm sure you are aware that the "flat" side goes toward the tailpiece(?). Once in a while I see someone who has gotten the bridge back on the wrong way, and everything is messed up.

 

[swamprocker]

yes i do know that.

but now i'll have to go home and look to see if it was put on wrong originally.
i have owned that bass for 12years, since i started learning, and have never had bridge problems in the past, so never thought of anything of whether or not it was on right to begin with.

 

[Jake deVilliers]

Yup, its time for a new and better bridge! For now, after you re-install it and have it mostly tuned up, make sure you pull it back towards the tailpiece as far as it will easily go. That should help with the falling down syndrome.

Good luck!

 

[swamprocker]

thanks!! should i move the sound post down the same amount?
i am really hoping my new bridge just gets here early next week and i can just spend as much time as needed shaping the new one before friday.

i can reset the bridge within 2min if it falls, but still such a pain, and not professional.

 

[drurb]

thanks!! should i move the sound post down the same amount?
i am really hoping my new bridge just gets here early next week and i can just spend as much time as needed shaping the new one before friday.

i can reset the bridge within 2min if it falls, but still such a pain, and not professional.

No, the soundpost may be in just the right spot-- assuming it hasn't fallen. The bridge falling is not a symptom of incorrect placement of the soundpost.

 

[1st Bass]

Besides, Jake meant "tilt" it back--pull the top back, not the feet. The back side of the bridge (tailpiece side) should be close to 90 degrees from the top at that point.

 

[bssist]

The back side of the bridge (tailpiece side) should be close to 90 degrees from the top at that point.

Unless it is upside down, in which case the fingerboard side of the bridge will be at a right angle to the top.

 

[swamprocker]

good eye!!! came home and looked at it, and sure enough...it was shaped and put on upside down.
surpised i haven't had trouble before now. like i said earlier, this is my first and only bass and had it for over 10years. never had a problem so never even thought of that...

aye yie yie...

 

[1st Bass]

Well...that pretty much predestines it to fall over, toward the FB. Sorry. You could try turning it around, but the shape of the top will be wrong, and the string heights way off.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Maybe my eyes are bad (face it, they are) but it looks like the side on the right of the screen has a curve to it and the left side is more flat. Talking about the horizontal plane here. Normally, the curved side faces up to the fingerboard.
From the pics I can't see the top curvature and string slots to know for sure.
Just an idea.

 

[Jake deVilliers]

Besides, Jake meant "tilt" it back--pull the top back, not the feet. The back side of the bridge (tailpiece side) should be close to 90 degrees from the top at that point.

Thanks Chet!