Double Bass Is my bridge warped or just tilted?

[darry85]

hi all,

I’m changing strings for the first time on my upright bass. I’ve changed the G and D strings and noticed that the bridge looked like it was tilting forward a bit. I used the spine of a paperback book to try to get it to go back into place but it won’t budge. I have a picture, but is my bridge warped and it’s time to get a new one or is it just tilted and I can fix it myself?

Thanks.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Tilted and warped, unless maybe it’s on upside down. It should have a flat side and a curved side. The flat side faces the tailpiece.

If the bridge is warped you might try to make it last a bit longer by boiling it and pressing it under a good amount of weight but that doesn’t always work.

 

[misterbadger]

Tilted for sure! Start by pulling it back into plumb. I've had limited luck with the book-spine technique. What works best for me is to set the bass on its back, stand at the endpin and pull the bridge with both hands, taking care to limit my motion so as to not pull the bridge over. When the feet are setting tight to the top and the back of the bridge is perpendicular to the edge of the top, you can further evaluate it for warpage.

 

[B String]

Are the feet fitting flat on the top? I zoomed in and it looked like I could see space under the feet. I could be wrong. Wouldn't be the first time.

 

[Happy Steve]

To my eyes, it looks as if the flat side of the bridge is facing the fingerboard (i.e 'upside down' as KfS said earlier). Do the string slots look right for the different thickness string from E to G ?