Hello everyone. Long time reader first time writer.. I'm having trouble putting my bridge back on my bass. I have an adjustable bridge on my bass and while I was lowering it I was having trouble keeping the bottom part of the left leg of the bridge to stop turning. I also noticed that my bridge was bend forward (towards the neck.) So while I was fighting with it the bridge slipped off and I have been having trouble getting it to stay. after two tries in putting it back and tuning it up (one of which i was a half step flat on all 4 strings) the bridge pops off again, quite violently at that. So before I even touch my bass again I thought I'd see what you guys think. I try to tighten up my strings slowly and with even pressure being distributed between all the string. Also the bridge seems to be straight upright and in the correct placement. I checked the sound post and it seems fine (although I couldn't really tell you what a slightly damaged sound post would look like.) Is there something I'm doing wrong? Theres a Realist pickup with it as well but I don't think thats effecting much. It's also a Shen bass if that makes any difference. Please help!
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Double Bass Putting the bridge bridge back on.
- Thread starter DillingerBass
- Start date
Jake deVilliers
Commercial User
- May 24, 2006
- 6,349
- 607
- Disclosures
- Owner of The Bass Spa, String Repairman at Long & McQuade Vancouver
You might try standing the bridge up without the Realist at first: you already have a handful of moving pieces to deal with!
First make sure you are placing facing the right direction. Tighten each string a couple of turns and then make sure its standing up straight and the feet are correctly oriented and positioned, tighten each string up a couple of turns and then make sure its standing up straight and the feet are correctly oriented and positioned, tighten each string up a couple of turns and etc until you're tuned to pitch. Its tedious, yes.
Then flatten the strings a tone or two, lift the E foot, slip the Realist under it and brings the strings back up to pitch. If you need to raise the adjusters at the bridge, be sure to flatten the strings a semitone first!
Good luck!
First make sure you are placing facing the right direction. Tighten each string a couple of turns and then make sure its standing up straight and the feet are correctly oriented and positioned, tighten each string up a couple of turns and then make sure its standing up straight and the feet are correctly oriented and positioned, tighten each string up a couple of turns and etc until you're tuned to pitch. Its tedious, yes.
Then flatten the strings a tone or two, lift the E foot, slip the Realist under it and brings the strings back up to pitch. If you need to raise the adjusters at the bridge, be sure to flatten the strings a semitone first!
Good luck!
Thanks I got it back up and tuned up and everything, but now theres a strange rattling when I play an A, Bb and B on any string for the first 2 octaves. Do you know what this could be?
Jake deVilliers
Commercial User
- May 24, 2006
- 6,349
- 607
- Disclosures
- Owner of The Bass Spa, String Repairman at Long & McQuade Vancouver
Something loose? Misplaced sound post? Bump on the fingerboard? Time for a trip to your luthier, my friend! 
When the bridge collapsed, there's no pressure on the top and a good chance for the sound post to move or fall altogether.
Yeah thats what I'm assuming happened, thats about where the rattling is happening. But yeah taking it into the shop, I was due for a setup anyways. I blame this damn Chicago weather. Thanks for the help guys.
