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Double Bass Bridge frustration - HELP

#21
...and anyone who deals with Bob Gollihur will certainly find him honest and accommodating. Doubt you'll find anyone who's had a bad experience dealing with him.

Chaz, if you need a new bridge and can't afford to have it done professionally, Bob G can supply you with a reasonable blank and the necessary info to do a passable job of fitting it yourself (assuming you have basic woodworking skills and tools.) It's a mother of a job for the non-luthier, but it can be done.
 
#22
Yep, you can't go wrong with Bob. Bought one of his adjustables myself.

Going it alone, though, you may want to get two!

I love doing this stuff myself but trust me, it's not any cheaper doing things this way. Don't even entertain the idea of not making mistakes when you do this sh*t. That's how you learn. What you try to do is avoid the lethal mistakes, metaphorically and actually.

And, getting right back to CLICK FLOYD's advise: forget the sandpaper thing. Bob G mentions it as an option on his supplied info sheet, but you're better off cutting than rubbing IMHO. You think about the job long enough, and you start thinking about holding jigs and suchlike. You're way down the road then, man. Sure you want to go there?

You can pay a luthier to do the job (not so expensive as you might think for this job -- some of the luthiers on Bob G's list post prices) and have the thing back before Bob's mail order package arrives, and Bob's fast.

Personally, I have been down this road several times and found it to be well worthwhile, but I've been a woodworker longer than a bass player, and I've been thumping out low ones for over 25 years now...
 
#27
Originally posted by NELSON ROCKEFELL


More like professional wrestling. Imagine DURRL and FLOYD in spandex and bleached hair....hmmm, maybe that isn't such a good idea.
Click to expand...


Bleached what? I see a problem with this plan already.


CHAZ - I was wondering: are you on to the fact that that bridges tend to creep (lean) toward the fingerboard while tuning strings up? There's a thread around here somewhere about tapping them back with the spine of a paperback book before the lean gets too bad. Also, DAMIEN'S remark about the soundpost falling is worth remembering... is your soundpost still where it's supposed to be?
 
#29
To all,
I've scoured the archives for info and found zip.
Anyone mind telling me what they paid/charge for a quality bridge setup and installed by a Luthier? I got a quote for $ 225.00 sens adjusters. I believe adjusters is another $ 90.
Are these prices reasonable?
 
#30
Do those numbers include the bridge?

I've got a catalogue here from a German luthiery supplier. Their price range on bass bridges with adjusters pre-installed is about 60 to 120 Euros.

I bought one from (A.H.) Bob G and it seems to me it was in the lower end of that price range. Good bridge, no problems with it.
 
#33
Most luthiers offer two or three different bridge fitment package prices, as a 250 year old Italian bass requires a different bridge than a student plywood. Whatever the instrument and quality of blank, there's much more to the fitting process than just fitting the bottom of the feet to the belly. I would think a pro could spend 2-3 hours on a bridge (amateurs much, much longer.) Subtract the price of the bridge blank from the total price, and your luthier probably makes less per hour than the guy who fixes your car.
 
#35
chaz17

Your bass is probably has very highly polished, sprayed-on lacquer finish. Put a little powdered rosin under the feet of the bridge. It will mess up the finish a little but only under the feet. Try it; you'll like it. By the way, the bottom of the bridge should be at ninety degrees to the top and the bridge centered on the little notches on the inside of the F holes.

Bob Monroney
 
#36
This is off topic i guess, but i'd like to welcome my old friend and personal repairman, Bob Monroney to TB. He has worked for me and with me for many years and he has a world of short-cuts and knowledge that all of us will enjoy. His hint, for instance on this thread, of putting a little rosin on the feet of the bridge to avoid slipping on those highly varnished, sprayed on finishes. (Chaz, nothing personal. Relax!) This is a typical trick for him to come up with. The bridge feet with the adjusters attached can be a pain in the ass. Welcome Bob!
And, Chaz, I Have to agree with Jeff on this one. I think you're way over the top in even suggesting that these people are " pretentious, authoritarian, pessimistic, and egotistical" You've got some of the best players, repairmen and makers in the WORLD here to help you and you end up name-calling....Sorry, I don't get it.
 

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