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Double Bass Brass Adjusters

B

bwitzel

Feb 26, 2007
24
4
Indianapolis, IN
#1
I realize there have been a thread or two on this issue, but I have a few questions and would be grateful for any advice.

On one of my basses I have brass bridge adjusters, they came with the bass when I bought it. When I brought the bass to a reputable and well known bass shop to change out the brass for aluminum, they told me I'd have to cut a whole new bridge because the adjusters were metric.

That made sense to me, but paying $400 for a new bridge when it seems to work okay is another issue. Can folks tell me from experience, will not using brass adjusters make a HUGE difference, so that I should go and get a new bridge cut? I've never known the bass without brass adjusters, so it's new territory for me.

Do they make aluminum adjusters I can get in metric size? As in, was the shop trying to get me to pay for a new bridge? :-)

Thanks!
 
#5
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] is a study of bridge adjusters. I've lifted this from the study:

The Sound Character of the Various Adjusters

In summary, the above research has led to the following generalizations about bridge height adjusters’ sound characteristics:

Massive Bridge- bridge height adjusters generally sound brighter than the massive bridge, with the exception of the brass model in the lower range and the wood models in the lower-middle range. The massive bridge is richer in fundamental and has more even overtone distribution throughout the range of the instrument than any adjuster model, but may lack brightness or focus in comparison.

Aluminum Standard- sounds consistently brighter, more nasal and louder than the massive bridge, but sounds thinner and weaker in the very high positions.
Brass Standard- sounds full and focused in the low registers, but quickly loses overtones in the middle range of the bass and sounds thinner than the aluminum standard from there on.
Aluminum Boehm- is somewhere between the sound of the aluminum standard and the massive bridge, sounding similar to a solid bridge in the low register, brighter and focused in the middle and high positions, yet rounder and less loud than the aluminum standard.
Polyamide Boehm- the least consistent one of all variables, it is distinguished with an uneven palette of tone colors and a weak fundamental above the middle range.
Maple DiLeone- is closest overall to the massive bridge in bowed tones.
Lignum Vitae Kolstein- almost as close in tone, though somewhat more muted. Like the maple model, it sounds more focused but less fundamental in the lowest frequencies and darker in the middle range. The lignum vitae Kolstein loses overtones in the higher registers.
 
#7
Brass adjusters seem to be found in some basses here in Boston.
When I replace them with aluminum adjusters, it always makes a positive difference. Brass is just too heavy for a bridge. It kills all the over tones and chokes the character of the instrument. Not only that but the player has to work harder to get the bass to speak whether it be bowing or pizz.
Brass is heavy mass. Just hold one aluminum adjuster in one hand and a brass one of the same diameter in the other.You can easily fell the diference in weight and density.
RULE - Mass absorbs energy.
Vibrations which are energy are absorbed by the brass in the adjuster limiting the energy that goes into your bass.
If you want to hear the true voice of your instrument, I strongly suggest NOT using brass.

Have fun

Michael Hartery
 
#8
Thanks for the heads-up, y'all. Just to be sure, the fishman full circle adjusters, just the g-string side, are metric thread? That was the whole problem to begin with...

My brass adjusters seem to be 6mm.

Any of you guys able to order from fishman direct? I called one of their recommended dealers but they said they only could sell the complete set.
 
#10
As mentioned in post #3 and #6, Henry Boehm is a luthier who ran a shop in Madison until vejesse took it over. Henry designed his own adjusters with somewhat larger thread than standard issue, machined out of a single piece of aluminum and black anodized. I have seen them and they are quite attractive.

No association, just a happy customer.
 
#12
oscar pettiford said:
...:eyebrow: . . . that is not entirely correct . i would go a step further and say if you want to hear the true voice of your bass , don't use adjusters .

oscar
Click to expand...

...:eek: . . I would go a step even further and say if you want to hear the voice of your bass without adjusters , don't use adjusters .
 
#18
Oh, geez, so happy to cause such a spirited discussion between the English majors down under. You've really got to watch yourself around here.

I'm usually a stickler for spelling, but after the gig and a couple snorts, I evidently wasn't in the best form. BTW, non of dees speleens pass da Safari spel chekur, but wat do it no? ;)
 
#20
"Oh, geez, so happy to cause such a spirited discussion between the English majors down under. You've really got to watch yourself around here."

i'll say...i have found it helpful to employ a simple straightforward style, use the approximate word and avoid the shift key at all cost.(edit often) ;)
 

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