Double Bass String height difference for arco

[Swampyankee2]

The luthier who repaired the bass made the adjustable bridge to replace the original, which had warped. As an experiment, i took the original nonadjustable bridge and steamed it and flattened it, which seems to have worked at least for experimenting. I installed it and it gives the D a bit more height over the A and G. Of course, as has been said here, the biggest improvement will be in my bowing technique. But the old solid bridge seems to improve the resonance and sustain.
I will keep an eye on it to see if it reverts back to its warped condition.
But if the originsl bridge shape was good enough for my Dad, who played it in jazz bands for decades, who am I to question.

 

[Swampyankee2]

Sometimes old gut strings end up being the best option!!! What did you replace them with? Spirocore E and A over gut D and G is my favorite vintage Kay setup for sure.

Get you some finger nail clippers and the finest grain sandpaper (for auto detailing) that you can get to maintain those strings. They might need a good coat of oil (only where you DONT bow -oil can foul bow hair real fast.). Lots of options - I used to use mineral oil, but use olive oil now a days… Let us know if this improves the situation.

The luthier installed Pirasto Obligato strings, which were his recommendation. Not sure how they compare with Spirocores

 

[Alexis Duntov]

+1 for taking it to Upton bass for a checkup. They are within two hours of you. And kudos for tackling arco.

 

[Swampyankee2]

Sometimes old gut strings end up being the best option!!! What did you replace them with? Spirocore E and A over gut D and G is my favorite vintage Kay setup for sure.

Get you some finger nail clippers and the finest grain sandpaper (for auto detailing) that you can get to maintain those strings. They might need a good coat of oil (only where you DONT bow -oil can foul bow hair real fast.). Lots of options - I used to use mineral oil, but use olive oil now a days… Let us know if this improves the situation.

Jbars, I tried putting the gut G and D strings back on. I like the sound for pizzicato but bowing those two is setting my arco skills back a bit. LOL
My arco technique is pretty rudimentary, but it seems the gut strings are much more sensitive to proper bow technique.

 

[Brad_Pearson]

As a quick fix: You could have the G string slot filed down for a 1-1.5 mm lower string height at the end of the board. You'd be surprised at how a slight adjustment there can open up the D string for the bow. Since you have adjusters you can raise it until the G is at the same height as it was previously (if you find it too low after). You may then want to drop the E and maybe the A string slightly, but you may not feel the need.

Some people fear adjusting the bridge adjusters unevenly but done within reason I've never noticed a downside adjusting my own basses, same goes for cheating a bridge slightly east/west to better balance the strings relation to the board. Either of those approaches could also mitigate any distracting unevenness after lowering the G.

Edit: Looking back at your photo, the D appears to have been cut for gut. That slot can be filled with stew-mac nut powder, and good quality thin super-glue, and a shallower slot cut to raise it from where it was previously.

The root cause of all this is a board with a too large radius at the end of it. A more rounded board makes regulating relative string heights while preserving bow ability much easier.