Double Bass Bridge is not flat on body anymore, why?

[Aeolian]

I have a fender jazz bass and I noticed that there was a lot of air under the front of the bridge, not much contact with the body. I checked if the body was flat and it wasnt. Maby overtightened bridge screws?..

Anyway, I took a block and sanded the body flatter to get a better fit. I felt like a bad idea to do this to a 2 year old fender but I wanted a better fit so I did it.

Why has this happened? And how critical is it to have a flat surface/full contact when it comes to tone and sustain?

I didnt get it as flat as I wanted because i didnt want to sand outside of the bridge and scratch the finish.

Any better ideas how to do this better? Or should i just leave it alone?

 

[Don Hergert]

Hmmm, might want to ask this question in one of the Bass Guitar (BG) sections???

From a double bass (and most other acoustic instruments) standpoint, the more complete the contact between the top of the instrument and the bottom of the bridge feet, the better the sound.

 

[B String]

I have a fender jazz bass and I noticed that there was a lot of air under the front of the bridge, not much contact with the body. I checked if the body was flat and it wasnt. Maby overtightened bridge screws?..

Anyway, I took a block and sanded the body flatter to get a better fit. I felt like a bad idea to do this to a 2 year old fender but I wanted a better fit so I did it.

Why has this happened? And how critical is it to have a flat surface/full contact when it comes to tone and sustain?

I didnt get it as flat as I wanted because i didnt want to sand outside of the bridge and scratch the finish.

Any better ideas how to do this better? Or should i just leave it alone?

You might want to re post this on the Electric bass side of Talkbass You're in the Double bass forums. Welcome to Talkbass.

 

[robobass]

Interesting. I've never heard of this problem. I suppose it's out of warranty. Sanding only under the bridge indeed would be nearly impossible. I'd take off the bridge, make sure the bottom is clean, wrap the body with a single layer of cling wrap, then spread thick epoxy paste over the bridge area and screw the bridge back down, but not very tight. You can clean up the splooge with cotton pads and denatured alcohol. When it's hard, take the bridge back off and remove the cling wrap. Voila!

 

[Aeolian]

Sorry! Did not notice tjat it was DB. Thanks for the input!