brass adjusters w/ brass inserts

You aren't going to get a universal agreement on this one, but IMO the more mass you add to a bridge the greater the muting effect. Brass adjusters by themselves are too heavy for a lot of basses. Add the inserts and ...

 

I agree with Bob on this one. Get rid of the brass!

 

Yes and Yes

 

BEESTING,
You might want to check JYD´s thread about bridge adjusters a little bit lower on this section.
Some interesting opinions about the effect to the sound, especially by Ahhnold ( who once replaced the brass adjusters with aluminiums, after which the bass sounded.....worse! ).
There are lots of varying aspects. Have you tried to "open up" the sound in any other way? How´s the soundpost setup? I just mean that you could try some some other things before cutting up a new bridge, ´cause it´s always $$$.
Well, you said you have a very qualified luthier, so I guess he has tried everyhing else...

R2

 

Yes, it is true tht Arnold had ONE occation where brass sounded better than aluminum adjusters. However, in this case we are talking about not only Adjusters here, but also brass inserts. I have NEVER seen a case where adding addional weight to a bridge improved the sound. Weight kills sound - Period!

 

I do believe you, Bob. In fact I thought brass adjusters were made with inserts, because the ones I was talking about in JYD´s thread had inserts, and they were the same which Contrabass shoppe in UK sells. Never seen brass adjusters without the inserts.
Here´s a picture how they looked like:

http://www.contrabass.co.uk/bridgeadjusters.htm

No matter what they say, I rejected them when I saw them and held them in my hand
( heavy ! )

R2

 

I'd also look at the thickness of the bridge and the thickness of the bridge feet. You might be able to get away with thinning these out(if they're not done correctly!).
However, if I understand you, you are taking a bridge off one bass and putting it on another. No two top curvatures are exactly the same, so you have to be able to get the feet to fit correctly, and that might not be possible.
Put a new well fitted bridge on it, and be done with it. Poorly fitting feet can damage the top, and will be much worse for the sound than those inserts.

 

Martin - I've got to ask what you read that gave you this idea?

 

I've never been able to say that brass adjusters are a problem. To tell the truth, in my 45 years of playing on and with double basses, I can't tell the difference between any materials used for adjusters!
Also, B, it seems you're jumping at too many things at once, as far as wondering about thining out the bridge too. I've found, if you try too many things at once, you're asking for alot more confusion.
For your choked sound problem...I vote for a simple sound post adjustment!!

 

Hey Paul, since I know that you are younger than me, let me say that I do notice a difference in materials when it is as HEAVY as brass. You'll learn these things when you get a little older

 

Can you tell any difference having adjusters and not?

 

Actually it's been so long since i've played a bass that i'm familiar with,with NO adjusters, I can't tell you.
And Branstetter, I wouldn't be bragging about being older than me! I remember when there were no adjusters! I remember when basses only had 3 strings! I remember when there were no adjustable end-pins! I remember when...I remember when you had to tune your bass with your teeth!
All kidding aside, B...where's your bridge in relation to the notches in your F hole? About where is your bridge in relationship to your sound post? What kind of strings are you using? What kind of music do you play?

 

Have a new bridge cut, w/out adjusters, and see what it sounds like. Generally, more bridge weight does deaden the sound. Sometimes, it provides more bottom end. You would get a better perspective/more informed decision by having your very qualified luthier cut you a new bridge. BTW, what does your very qualified luthier suggest?

 

I have 2 basses with bridge adjusters, one has aluminium and the other one has brass adjusters with the inserts... sound wise i noticed a big difference in sound(more volume and more definition), but when my luthier put the new bridge with the brass adjusters , he also changed the sound post and the tailpiece, so , cant comment on the effect of the adjusters, however is much easier for me to use the brass adjusters with the inserts than the aluminium ones, they are much more precise and easier to turn....
Anyway, i never heard any of my basses without those metal round things on the bridge..
If i didnt live in Switzerland and had to play in the mountains in the winter with -20 celsius and + 30 celsius in the summer , i would like to give a try to a bridge without the adjusters....

NUNOI