Double Bass Jay Haida Bass Set-Up

[Anne Millington]

Really your main concern with the bridge should be whether it is not warped, and is perpendicular to the top, maybe leaning infinitesimally towards the tailpiece to counteract string tightening pull, and centered between the two f-holes. Beyond that it would be placed in close alignment with the soundpost. If it seems that the soundpost and the bridge are way out of position, maybe someone set it up that way according to their ear.

Always when I get a new bridge or soundpost, or get either adjusted, I sit with my luthier and play the instrument until we are both satisfied with the sound and response. That's what I would do, if I were you. Plus it's fun. It is amazing what a few mm off either way can do to an instrument, for good or for evil!

 

[Steve Swan]

This could be the continuing revenge of Chuck Traeger. His book contains a lot of ideas that I consider downright crackpot goofy. Several years ago I had to stop using a the services of a somewhat local doublebass luthier who absolutely insisted, using concepts from Trager's book, that the bridge position for the Shen basses as marked by the F-hole notches was "wrong" and refused to put the bridge feet in the conventional position. They were shifted about 1/4" up toward neck end every time. Along with using drumsticks for endpins, a crazy bridge treatment with super long legs and very little heart, and using the "domed" method for soundpost installation that left snail tracks on the inside surface of the top, the unwavering belief in the Traeger book ruined any chance that this doublebass luthier if going to have an ongoing happy career in his field. It is always best to have a firm grounding in 300 years of doublebass tradition and convention in the practice of the craft before a budding genius decides to just go around breaking all of the rules.

Off soapbox rant now!

 

[Reiska]

A slight thread derail, I think that Jay Haide sizing is a little off, I have the 3/4 l`ancienne Panormo, italian style bass with violin corners. I haven`t played DB for too long or tried every bass around but I think that my bass is rather 7/8 -size with it`s deep ribs than 3/4. It`s definently bigger than any reqular gamba shaped 3/4 bass I`ve tried. The good stuff is that while it`s pretty light in weight and big in size it has this very resonant woody tone. " Bad " stuff is that it took me 2 years to get in terms with it physically and find a stance I can live with, I`m average size guy who plays standing only. There`s also a full size version of this bass with 110cm mensure, that must be quite a beast!