Double Bass How often should one have a bass set-up?

[Anthony White]

I ask because I haven't been near a luthier in twelve years.

I bought my bass thirteen years ago. I was living in London, UK. After a year, I took it to a good luthier and had a set-up done. He moved and shortened the soundpost, tidied the bridge and fingerboard, fitted bridge adjusters, put a little varnish on some places where it had worn through. I've been happy with it ever since.

But I have also moved three times since then. From London (cool and not especially damp) to California (mostly hot and dry) to Auckland, New Zealand (mostly warm and humid) and now Berlin, Germany (cold winters, hot summers, moderately humid - Berlin was basically built on wetlands).

I'm still happy with my bass. (I'm thinking about changing strings, but aren't we all?) But would it benefit from being set-up again?

 

[slappahdabass]

If you're happy with it a setup won't change much. Hard to make sound changes without you having a specific problem in mind, and if the playability is still good then I don't see a problem. Might be worth a health checkup to check for open seams and check that the post is still where it was 12 years ago, though.

 

[VictorW126]

Set-up? Every time you don't like something. And never, if you like everything.

 

[neddyrow]

as long as your bridge is straight (not curving upwards) and in the right spot. And...you like the string height, don't change anything.

 

[bherman]

One trick I learned from my luthier is to take a small flashlight and shine it into the f holes in a semi-dark room, any seam separations or cracks will let light through.

 

[dperrott]

Moving to all those different climates! Yes get it looked at. I'm sure it sounds good but could sound even better. I think you are long over due

 

[Markmann]

I build and repair guitars of all sorts and I don't make adjustments on my own guitars unless they need it. These are the main things that I consider when evaluating a guitar:

No need for service if:
The sting is height ok
Stays in tune
Intonation is ok

Needs service if:
The strings buzz or fret out
There is excessive wear on the frets
There is structural damage that you can see (if acoustic use a mirror and light to check all internal seams and bracing)

 

[Povl Carstensen]

I could imagine the fingerboard could need a dressing (correct word?). Small grooves might have formed under often used notes in the low positions, creating weaker sound, more buzz, and requiring higher string height to compensate. But otherwise, if it ain't broke...

 

[ctrlzjones]

I use my dentist rule also for the bass. Once a year, and walk out smiling when there was nothing to adress but a nice chat.