Double Bass Nut height same for all strings?

[MicheleJ]

Back on the subject of string height at the nut, I too was thinking of the straightforward advice I've so often seen here, i.e. the thickness of a business card. However, I had an interesting experience the other night which makes me wonder if that is the ideal setting for everyone.

I had the pleasure of letting a veteran bassist play my bass. She said it was very nice, but she needed to press down harder on the strings than she preferred. At first, I was surprised, since the string height at the nut is quite low (~ business card) and the strings are are not at all high tension: 2 plain gut and 2 LaBella Goldtone. String heights at the end of the FB range from 9 to 12 mm. I personally love the setup and find it a pleasure to play.

This player is an older lady and has been playing for a long time, and on many different basses. Further discussion with her led me to understand that her preferred setup with a higher nut allowed her to use less force with no string buzzing. She says she needed to press the strings down harder on my bass to get a clean sound.

Does this lady have a valid point? I'm curious to hear you folks with more understanding of this subject share your experience and help me understand how this thing really works. I am beginning to to really appreciate the way different setup details interact with each other, in particular, the string heights at both ends of the FB, string tension, and the camber of the FB.

I'd be interested in someone's response to this also.

 

[xcski]

Well, I said I'd post back with the progress of our chinese bass... following is the email communication between myself and Fantastic Musical Instruments.....

-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2006 9:40 PM
To: xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Bass

Tom,
I received the bass and it's definitely better than the one we looked at first around here, however I am not happy with the setup. I've had several people look at it (including my daughter's teacher) and done some research online regarding setups. The general consensus seems to be that I got little or no setup for the $100.

When we talked my impression was that your setup would include the nut and bridge. It now looks like I will have to pay a luthier to lower the nut and the adjustable bridge enough that it is truly adjustable or attempt to do it myself.

The E and A strings are two to three times higher than the D and G strings at the nut (D and G seem to be the right height ,, "a business card thickness").
The height of the strings at the end of the fingerboard is at 10 mm for all 4 strings.
The adjustable bridge arrived set at it's lowest adjustment.
I understand that your setup did not include dressing the fingerboard, and I realize that would probably be beneficial for this bass but not within my current budget.

Reply:

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the email.

I got with our shop and the action was taken down as low as possible before buzzing. I have attached the shop log on your bass. I don't know who you consulted with but they are uninformed about how high the factory direct action really is. Here is the story on your bass: "E" string started out at 20 mm and was taken down to 10 mm. "A" string started at 19.5 mm and was taken down to 10.5 mm. "D" string started at 20 mm and was taken down to 11 mm. The "G" started at 15 mm and was taken down to 7 mm. The middle row of numbers is what they were shooting for. In the case of the "A" string they were able to take it lower than the target height.

As for the adjustable bridge, Luthiers always leave the bridge in it's lowest position (if they are any good). You will get the best tone if all the parts are touching - it's lowest position.

Anyway, let me know if you have any questions. We are here to help.

Best, Chris


I included the above exchange because frankly I don't have the knowledge or experience to accurately evaluate whether paying $100 for the setup I got was worth it. I don't know if the change from Southern California to Utah might have affected significantly the string height at the end of the fingerboard. I would think the setup they advertise should include the nut, although I may be naive to think so. He didn't address that in his reply.

I did take the bull by the horns and work on the setup. I lowered the nut slots for the E and A strings to slightly more than the proverbial business card thickness. By the time I was doing the setup the string height at the end of the fingerboard was in the vicinity of 13 to 14 mm. I don't know if I measured wrong the first time or if the bass was adjusting to the lack of humidity in Utah. I lowered the bridge by removing material from just above the adjustable bridge. I first marked the legs equally on all four sides for the amount I wanted to remove and then took it off with a bench sander to the line. The strings are now at 7 mm for the E and A and 8 mm for the D and G with the adjustable bridge at it's lowest. I have found a few places high up on the fingerboard which have a slight buzz but I had to look hard to find them. I suspect that dressing the fingerboard will be required to refine the setup any further. For now my daughter is much happier and her teacher can't believe the improvements were done by a layman.

At this point I'll hold off on dressing the fingerboard. I'll keep track of string height and buzzing and see if the bass goes through any changes.
thanks again for your suggestions.
steveView attachment bass specs2.pdf

 

[Nick Lloyd]

I know we are approaching a slippery slope, but I recently setup an instrument sold by Fantastic Musical Instruments.

The soundpost did not fit, and it was the size of a cello soundpost. The endpin was poorly made (shimmed with sandpaper) and fit at an 80 degree angle with the bottom block. The thin maple fingerboard had no camber; in fact it was convex. The neck was very thick... about 10 mm thicker than any bass neck I've seen. The strings buzzed up and down the fingerboard... after the fingerboard was dressed.

However, the bridge blank was quartered maple, and there was enough wood on the feet to refit the bridge. The original string heights were 11mm (G string) and 16mm (E string).

 

[drurb]

Okay, I'll bite.

...
Hi Steve,

Thanks for the email.

I got with our shop and the action was taken down as low as possible before buzzing. I have attached the shop log on your bass. I don't know who you consulted with but they are uninformed about how high the factory direct action really is. Here is the story on your bass: "E" string started out at 20 mm and was taken down to 10 mm. "A" string started at 19.5 mm and was taken down to 10.5 mm. "D" string started at 20 mm and was taken down to 11 mm. The "G" started at 15 mm and was taken down to 7 mm. The middle row of numbers is what they were shooting for. In the case of the "A" string they were able to take it lower than the target height.

HUH???!!! The string-height was lowered as far as possible before buzzing and this left the G, D, A, and E at 7 mm, 11 mm, 10.5 mm, and 10 mm, respectively. Gee, I'm no luthier but I know that is outrageous. That is not any kind of arc that even approaches anything reasonable.

As for the adjustable bridge, Luthiers always leave the bridge in it's lowest position (if they are any good). You will get the best tone if all the parts are touching - it's lowest position.

Really? So you're supposed to have the bridge adjusters in their lowest position when the string height is set where? This is nonsense! The idea is to have some leeway in either direction.

I included the above exchange because frankly I don't have the knowledge or experience to accurately evaluate whether paying $100 for the setup I got was worth it. I don't know if the change from Southern California to Utah might have affected significantly the string height at the end of the fingerboard. I would think the setup they advertise should include the nut, although I may be naive to think so. He didn't address that in his reply.

He didn't have to address that. Where he says he left the strings characterizes an essentially useless setup. Quite disconcerting.