Double Bass Bridge moving in transit.

[akmusicfreak]

I'm pretty sure this is a common problem, but does anybody else have to reposition their bridge after transit?

I have a hybrid Czech bass about 20ish years old, almost every time I transport it I have to spend 15min putting back in it's sweet spot over the bass bar, centered to the fingerboard, and at the proper angle to the top.

I should probably mention that the foot on the e side of the bridge sits flush on the body at times, and other time not so flush.
The top on my bass is carved and does respond drastically to temp+humidity changes.

I have my string height set a little high for acoustic output E:11.5mm to G:9mm, is this the reason behind my bridge shifting so much?

 

[vejesse]

Is your bass finished with lacquer or polyurethane? That can be slippery. Or, if the mechanical assembly of the bridge and bridge adjusters isn't well installed that can affect it. Does the bridge fit the top? Rosin will keep the bridge from moving around but I would check these other things out first.

 

[Jake deVilliers]

Does it pull off to the same side every time? Maybe your neck isn't centred square to the body.

Even so, vejesse's suggestions are good ones to keep your bridge at home - lightly scrape off the top surface of the finish to dullness and use rosin on the feet.

 

[Andrew McGregor]

That's not normal; my bass usually arrives pretty much in tune, even after four hours in a hard case in the belly of an airliner...

 

[vejesse]

Jake's on to something. Could be the neck is off center and instead of shortening one leg to compensate the bridge was just moved over to center the strings. The string tension keeps dragging the bridge over.

 

[akmusicfreak]

I have re-examined my bass and it looks like every thing is pretty straight and the bridge is sitting flat on the belly.

I think the late 70's poly coat is the gremlin, it's got a real slick finish to it kinda like a Teflon pan.

I'm going to take it into the shop anyway, I want to have my fingerboard redone, it has a couple little dips from being played in the same key a lot. So I'll have the Luthier check out the bridge issue as well.

Thanks for the help

I attached a picture that kinda shows the finish on my DB, not the best photo but the only one I could get to easily

 

[fdeck]

Just to add an odd and unlikely possibility, is there anything wrong with the inside of the case that is jerking the bridge around?