Double Bass Fallen Soundpost?

[SeanMyung]

Well i finally bought a double bass. I've been playing electric bass for 4 years and moved to a 6 string last year but i fancied something new so i just bought an achoustic double bass from Ebay. Just after i bought the thing i noticed a message saying the bass had a 'fallen soundpost'. I have no idea what a soundpost is or how to fix it. I assumed it is like a pick up? Any repair advice or ideas on how much it would cost to be fixed would be very helpful. Thanks.

Sean

 

[toman]

The soundpost is simply a dowel-like piece of wood that is held between the top and back by the string pressure, under the treble side bridge foot. Just get the bass to a luthier and he can put it back up for you, at little or no charge. No big deal; any time you take down the string tension, the post can fall down. As long as you're there, have the luthier show you what he's doing, as it's not tough to do it yourself as long as you have a general idea of where it needs to go...

 

[SeanMyung]

Thanks a lot, was worrying there

 

[clothsnake]

however...!!!!!
do NOT tune the bass unless it (the soundpost) has been replaced.
otherwise you might be asking your luthier to do rather more than refitting it.

 

[toman]

Doh! Good point, for future reference, definately take down any and all string tension!