Double Bass Kolstein bridge w/exotic wood adjusters vs regular adjustable

[Bassalova]

Anyone got any experience with the Kolstein adjustable bridge with exotic wood adjusters? Is it worth to pay twice the price of a regular adjustable bridge with aluminum/brass adjusters?

 

[Cody Sisk]

There is a lot of great discussion on adjusters here.

While I'm here, I'll offer this. I think aluminum adjusters that are installed properly (meticulously) are the best. I try and install mine with as much contact, wood to metal, as possible. The bridge's job is to transfer vibrations to the body of the bass with as little interference as possible. Metal transfers vibrations better than wood does, but it's not enough metal to make your bass sound like a tin can.

I also don't buy bridges with adjusters pre-installed. They are a real pain in the arse to fit properly. Is this a DIY project or are you taking your blank to a luthier? If your luthier is doing the fitting, save him/her some headache and buy the blank and adjusters separately..

 

[arnoldschnitzer]

Anyone got any experience with the Kolstein adjustable bridge with exotic wood adjusters? Is it worth to pay twice the price of a regular adjustable bridge with aluminum/brass adjusters?

What I dislike is that these are set-up to only make contact on the tip. There's a wad of teflon tape in there between the adjuster tip and the bridge top, to help the wheel turn easily. Could that be a good thing for sound transmission?

 

[Andrew McGregor]

Well, teflon is pretty hard... but still, it doesn't sound like the best scheme.