Double Bass bridge subsidence??

[RIKODRIKO]

Hi

I have a carved bass (good quality chinese made with european seasoned woods) bought from Healey violins in london about 18 months ago.

I have been beginning to suspect that the bridge may be sinking into the table a bit. I cant see anything in particular - but my eye is untrained. Its just a suspicion as this may have happened very gradually over the last year, so i would not have noticed straight away.

All i have to go on is two things:

1. I seem to be getting more and more string buzz. Im sure i would have noticed this when i tried the bass before i bought it, but cant be sure. Im a much better/stronger player than i was 18 months back and maybe im just plucking the string harder than i used to..
2. I have a NS design bass that i set to a similar action about a year ago, and now it suddently feels like the action on the NS is a bit higher.

So, can anyone tell me if there may be something wrong? What should I be looking for? Could this be normal with a 'new bass' ie less than 2 years old - a bit of settling in or something like that?

any and all comments and advice welcome.

Thanks

Richard

 

[drurb]

The fingerboard may be moving slightly with changes in the weather.

 

[Mike Arnopol]

In Chicago which is worse than the UK, my string height will vary as much as 1/4 " between summer and winter. Normal expansion and contraction of the bass. And I use a humidifier and dehumidifier.In Chicago, no one would be caught without adjusters on their bridges.

 

[Jake deVilliers]

Put a straightedge north-south on the top beside the feet and see if there's a valley that the foot is sitting in. Doesn't have to be fancy, the edge of a shirt cardboard/DVD case/file folder is plenty straight enough.

Report back.

 

[arnoldschnitzer]

It's possible that your neck is bending backward as it dries. Check the joint between neck wood and fingerboard with a reliable straightedge.

 

[RIKODRIKO]

Many thanks for all your input.

I discussed it with my bass teacher today, and he didnt seem too surprised. I can find any 'bendage' in the neck, and i cant find any sign of the table subsiding using the advice given above, phew!

What my teacher said that it could be the bridge getting compacted a bit because of the pressure of the strings.

Im gonna take it to the luthier and get him to make me an adjustable bridge me thinks.

Thanks again all.

Richard

 

[MIKMAN]

By the way Ricodrico, do you use one of the the "wingless" bridges i saw many times used by the Brighton double bassists?

 

[RIKODRIKO]

whats a wingless bridge? please dont say a bridge with no wings. As far as i know its got wings on the bridge, but mysteriously still remains flightless!