Double Bass Bridge at a Worrying Angle

[Claire1931]

Ever since I put a new set of strings on my bass (Kaplan solo tuned), my bridge has been at this angle, it's playing fine, but I don't want it to keep getting worst and eventually my bass just explodes.
Also, the double gap on the right bridge leg (one with no copper plate) has been there since I got it. If there's anything to know about that, I would be happy to hear, but that isn't what I'm worried about. One should I should note is I frequently go from orchestral to solo tuning.
Any advice?

 

[JBarz]

Pull it up!

 

[turf3]

Straighten it!

The feet should be flush; the lower (toward the floor) surface should be roughly perpendicular to the top plate.

Do it NOW, before the bridge slips out of place, making a big dent on the top of the bass and possibly dropping the sound post.

 

[eh_train]

Bridges, over time, always want to move towards the tuners (because the string is moving toward the tuners when tuning *UP*). It should be an easy fix:

1. Loosen the tension on your strings, maybe 2 or 3 semi-tones.
2. Push or tap the bridge back to perpendicular with the top (you might want to even push it to leaning a tiny bit toward the tailpiece, that'll disappear as you re-tune).
3. Re-tune

If you frequently change tunings, you'rer going to need to do this more often!

The problem with the gap at the Realist? It's inherent in the design. So annoying when you perfectly fit a bridge, then put in the pickup and mess it up!

 

[srbbass]

Yes, straighten it ! You need to detune the strings just enough to pull the bridge back toward the tailpiece without moving the location of the feet, but making sure the feet are level. Maybe even go 1/2mm too much toward the tailpiece, so when you retune the string the bridge is ends up in perfect position. Next time you change strings, make sure you have graphite (pencil rubbings) in the string grooves too.

 

[Claire1931]

Should I twist the legs in any particular way so they are more flush with the body? Or should they be perpendicular with the bridge? I would imagine both, but when they're perpendicular they're slightly unflush.

 

[SAlcott]

I'd be making a visit to a luthier sooner than later. If the bridge is this far off, there could be other things that need correcting as well.

 

[BassiklyAC]

Overheard late 1969 in a New York studio:

“Say Paul, I’m thinkin’ we should change it to ‘Bridge At A Worrying Angle’.”

“Art, let me handle the songwriting stuff, okay? You stick to the high harmony thing. Dig?”

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Oh Mylanta, that’s a mess. Your bridge is out of place and the adjusters are too high to compensate for the bridge crown apparently being drunk.

Detune. Center the feet in reference to the ff-hole nicks. Drop the adjusters all the way. Straighten the crown by whacking it into position with the spine of a paperback book that fits between the afterlengths.

Once that’s done, show us what it looks like and we’ll help you land the plane. You can totally handle this.

 

[Joshua]

...show us what it looks like and we’ll help you land the plane.

(Apologies - couldn't resist!)

 

[Mark_T]

(Apologies - couldn't resist!)

TalkBass to the adjuster shafts: I just want to tell you both, good luck. We're all counting on you.

 

[Don Kasper]

Surely this bridge is at a Worrying Angle.

 

[Claire1931]

I'm at school right now, so I can't tinker currently, but I want to make sure i have my anatomy correct. Which part is the crown? And if someone could provide a diagram of sorts, that'd be amazing. I can't really find anything comprehensive online.

 

[Jmilitsc]

Surely this bridge is at a Worrying Angle.

It is but please stop calling me Surely.

 

[Claire1931]

Oh Mylanta, that’s a mess. Your bridge is out of place and the adjusters are too high to compensate for the bridge crown apparently being drunk.

Detune. Center the feet in reference to the ff-hole nicks. Drop the adjusters all the way. Straighten the crown by whacking it into position with the spine of a paperback book that fits between the afterlengths.

Once that’s done, show us what it looks like and we’ll help you land the plane. You can totally handle this.

Dropped and adjusted, hopefully the plane can land just fine.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Better, but the fit of the bridge feet to the belly is still concerning. Luckily it’s plywood. Put the thumb of your stupid hand on the bridge crown so it doesn’t creep, tune her up and rip on it for a while.

 

[SAlcott]

I'm at school right now, so I can't tinker currently, but I want to make sure i have my anatomy correct. Which part is the crown? And if someone could provide a diagram of sorts, that'd be amazing. I can't really find anything comprehensive online.

If you don't know this, you need to be seeing a pro who can straighten things out and show you how to keep on top of it going forward.

 

[Mark_T]

Better, but the fit of the bridge feet to the belly is still concerning. Luckily it’s plywood. Put the thumb of your stupid hand on the bridge crown so it doesn’t creep, tune her up and rip on it for a while.

Yeah I was trying to figure that out, is it possible there's some funny reflection of the feet on the top that's making it look like that foot isn't flush? It sure looks like a gap though, and if it is, it's gotta be fixed. If the foot can't be set flat, though, a luthier has to take a look. I would imagine that it might be prone to "walking" like that and you're leaving energy transfer from string to top on the table, so to speak.

If it can't be flattened then something isn't cut right.

 

[Claire1931]

Thank you all so much for the advice. I've got my bass in a state I'm happy with. I believe my neck is set a few degrees off kilter. Definitely gonna need a luthier trip eventually. I'll keep an eye on my bridge so it stays straight and doesn't explode.

 

[LaFaro01]

Thank you all so much for the advice. I've got my bass in a state I'm happy with. I believe my neck is set a few degrees off kilter. Definitely gonna need a luthier trip eventually. I'll keep an eye on my bridge so it stays straight and doesn't explode.

That's fine... so I don't have to link the video of Hervé Jeanne, how to adjust a bridge..