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Double Bass Sound Post Fell/Fixed That/Now Action Changed???

Nate74

Nate74

Mar 3, 2007
789
78
DFW
#1
I was doing some setup work on the bridge of my Shen 100 and despite my best efforts, managed to knock over the sound post. I made a setting tool out of 1/4" copper tubing and some steel wire (http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f3/sound-post-tool-897270/) and got the post back in. The ends of the post have slight angles cut in to it to follow the contour of the top and back and I tried to get them aligned correctly.

I put the bridge back in place and set the strings in place with minimal tension; just enough to hold the bridge in place. But I'm noticing the action seems way high, even higher than it was before I started the minor bridge work in the first place.

I'm about 95% on the geometry involved and am wondering if I have the sound post in there in such a way it's pushing the top up enough more than it did before to change the action? I guess only a small amount of difference would be quite noticeable in string height.

Am I seeing the problem correctly in that the post's positioning is the culprit? Will trial and error get my closer to a correct positioning given my "tool" and lack of experience? Do I give up and take it to World of Strings and live without my bass for a few weeks?

Any and all thoughts welcome. Thanks!!!
 
#7
SP is not in the same location as before...standing it up is one thing, gettting it to where it belongs is another. you now have to move it under tension and a copper tube and cable is not the way, that's why there are real SP tools.. they work quite well and with time become an extension of your own hand/wrist.
just sayin..
 
#8
forester said:
SP is not in the same location as before...standing it up is one thing, gettting it to where it belongs is another. you now have to move it under tension and a copper tube and cable is not the way, that's why there are real SP tools.. they work quite well and with time become an extension of your own hand/wrist.
just sayin..
Click to expand...

Yup.... ;) In my research, I'm reaching the same conclusion. I guess since I have an audition Tuesday night and then gigs this coming weekend, a trip to World of Strings is in order. Hopefully they'll be able to get to it while I wait (I'll call first).

But then the question is; do I add the $35 adjustment tool (Invalid Link Removed) to my tool box?
 
#10
I have yet to attack my sound post but I have the tool in my bag. I am of the impression that with regular gigging, sooner or later I may have a circumstance where I need to re-set the post. I'd rather have the tool and be able to at least finish the gig and get paid than to go out of commision completely.
 
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#12
bssist - marking it makes a lot of sense. I'm done screwing around with it for today, and will hope I can get it in (and out) from the shop quickly tomorrow or Tuesday, but marking it will be priority one once it's back to where it should be.
 
#14
Greg Clinkingbeard said:
Many of us who have been at this a number of years know that setting a soundpost is not as easy as it may seem. I leave it to the pros. Sure, you could buy a soundpost setting tool but the experience of knowing how not to use it is pretty expensive.
Click to expand...

On his profile it says that he wants to build basses. How's he going to learn without doing? Of course he has to be slow and careful so he doesn't crack or severely scatch-up or gouge the ears and sides of the f holes. I learned on the road, on a gig, far from any luthiers, in a club's kitchen with make-shift cooking utensils, so I think his cable and copper tubing device is a pretty good idea! He just has to do it slowly and carefully. It's certainly not going to harm the bass other than its sound which can always be tweaked.
Of course, both you and Eric are abslolutely correct that a pro will do a great job every time, but it's not out of the purview of a patient and carful DIYer.
 
#15
gerry grable said:
On his profile it says that he wants to build basses. How's he going to learn without doing? Of course he has to be slow and careful so he doesn't crack or severely scatch-up or gouge the ears and sides of the f holes. I learned on the road, on a gig, far from any luthiers, in a club's kitchen with make-shift cooking utensils, so I think his cable and copper tubing device is a pretty good idea! He just has to do it slowly and carefully. It's certainly not going to harm the bass other than its sound which can always be tweaked.
Of course, both you and Eric are abslolutely correct that a pro will do a great job every time, but it's not out of the purview of a patient and carful DIYer.
Click to expand...

Thanks for noticing Gerry! Yeah, I'm actually fairly handy when it comes to such things. Here's my latest build in fact:

EUB_front1.jpg


But I try not to start off new threads with "I'm really sweet at building stuff" which seems a touch pretentious... even for me :)
 
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#16
Well, I did manage to get the sound post back in and with the help of a mirror from the auto parts place, am able to see that I got the angles positioned about right. I have it strung up currently but a full step low across all four strings. I'll let it sit tonight. The action is about where I remember it, at about 6-7-7-8mm (G to E). I may still see if the shop can take a quick look at it tomorrow while I wait though, just to be sure I can string it up to full tension with no ill effect.
 
#17
Nate!!!!!

You built that thing and you're worried about setting a soundpost????? Get yourself a few tools or make some others ( my favorites are NOT the commercially available ones, rather those that I have made) and get working on it! If you can build an instrument, you can set a soundpost; you just need a bit of experience messing about with it. As long as you are patient and use a delicate touch, you'll figure it out. The nice thing about a soundpost in your own bass is that if you get it wrong, you can always whack it over and try again.....get someone else to fix your bass for a day or fix it yourself for a lifetime....

pm sent.

j.
 
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#18
My favorite soundpost setting tool is the butt end of a French bow. Lay the bass down on the G side, grab a flashlight and get to it. With a plywood bass there's not that much that can go wrong unless you set the post in the wrong place, tune the bass a fourth sharp and leave it for a decade or two. I had a German plywood with an overly long soundpost that survived for years on the bandstand and another decade in storage after the owner died, and it was only slightly deformed.
 
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#19
james condino said:
Nate!!!!!

You built that thing and you're worried about setting a soundpost????? Get yourself a few tools or make some others ( my favorites are NOT the commercially available ones, rather those that I have made) and get working on it! If you can build an instrument, you can set a soundpost; you just need a bit of experience messing about with it. As long as you are patient and use a delicate touch, you'll figure it out. The nice thing about a soundpost in your own bass is that if you get it wrong, you can always whack it over and try again.....get someone else to fix your bass for a day or fix it yourself for a lifetime....

pm sent.

j.
Click to expand...

James - Thanks, and I'll reply to your PM shortly!

KUNGfuSHERIFF - that's an interesting idea. While I don't have a spare French bow lying around, until my setting tool arrives, I could probably fashion something similar with a 5/16 or 3/8 dowel and a birch plywood bit similar in shape to a frog.
 
#20
With some help from my new buddy James at kaybassrepair.com, I now well on my way with my sound post. Bass is strung back up, action is back where I like it and I'm ready for my audition tomorrow. Heck, I even have time to practice a few of the charts before I go :)
 
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