Double Bass Bridge Curve Compared to Fingerboard Curve

[Steve Freides]

When I look down the neck of my bass from the nut end, it's pretty clear that there is more arch in the bridge than there is on my fingerboard - and my bass feels like that, too. I have my adjustable bridge adjusters set evenly, but my G string feels too close and rattles under a ff bow.

My amateur guess is that each string ought to be a little higher than next one, e.g., the G is closest, then the D, then the A, and the E is the furthest.

I'm not understanding what's going on with my bass, and it's going to the luthier next week, anyway - I figured I'd ask here to try to understand better what, if anything, may be in need of adjustment.

I'll take a pic if it will help explain.

-S-

 

[JoeyNaeger]

The bridge end of the Fingerboard needs to have a tighter curve than the bridge for the strings heights to ascend evenly.

 

[Jake deVilliers]

When I look down the neck of my bass from the nut end, it's pretty clear that there is more arch in the bridge than there is on my fingerboard - and my bass feels like that, too. I have my adjustable bridge adjusters set evenly, but my G string feels too close and rattles under a ff bow.

My amateur guess is that each string ought to be a little higher than next one, e.g., the G is closest, then the D, then the A, and the E is the furthest.

I'm not understanding what's going on with my bass, and it's going to the luthier next week, anyway - I figured I'd ask here to try to understand better what, if anything, may be in need of adjustment.

I'll take a pic if it will help explain.

-S-

You've got the idea. I like to see 6/7/8/9MM under the G/D/A/E as a starting point. This is assuming that the fingerboard curve is in the ball park, too. If not, you might have trouble bowing one string at a time, among other problems.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

And then there's the bevel thing...