Double Bass Small crack next to bridge foot?

[Sibe]

Not quite sure if this looks serious. It's on the E-string side. Should I be worried?

 

[eh_train]

It looks to me like someone scratched the varnish to make a mark where they think the bridge foot belongs. Or, more accurately, where the shim that's under the bridge fit belongs. Any idea how the shim got there? Probably the entire bridge needs a better fitting...

 

[GretschWretch]

Agreed. It's a positioning locator, a scratch in the finish, not compromising the wood.

 

[Sibe]

Yep seems to just be a scratch. Thanks for the help.

 

[jj.833]

Is it a shim under the bridge? It looks more like a piece of felt to me. Why would someone put felt under the bridge, wouldn't it only dampen the sound?

 

[Sibe]

Is it a shim under the bridge? It looks more like a piece of felt to me. Why would someone put felt under the bridge, wouldn't it only dampen the sound?

It's a shim. The winter has been super tough on this bass (which is why I'm a bit paranoid!) and the strings are too low even with the shim, so it's a temporary fix until I can afford a new bridge.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Bring the bass to a bass luthier.
He could put wood shims into the legs of the bridge to raise it or install adjusters without taking too much wood from the bridge to raise it.
Much cheaper than a new bridge and works well.