Double Bass String Hieght Question

[normalbassguy]

This is officially my first TB post ever!

I bought a 2006 Paesold Upright and I love the sound but the action feels really high and is very straining on my fingers (blisters every extensive playing session...)

I'd like to lower the action but don't know if I can do that myself, how I would do it, or how low to go if I did!

Does anyone have any advice or good resources to help me with?

Much Appreciated,
Les Sellers

 

[normalbassguy]

I've played upright for over 10 years and have owned this instrument for 2 or 3. I play 50/50 arco/pizz Jazz/Classical. It's a full size bass so it has quite a punch. I'd love to lower the action to make it more comfortable even if it means losing some volume, (although not too much....)

 

[chriscrob]

If your bridge is adjustable you can start there---there will be discs that spin to raise/lower the bridge and therefore the action.

After that, depending on why the action is too high you would need to file the nut and the bridge. It is possible to do it yourself...but it shouldn't be too expensive to have a bass shop do it; you could even ask them to show you how in case you need to do it in the future. It's something you could definitely do on your own but it isn't reversible so you would just want to make sure you did it right the first time. The way the neck is set can also influence the action and that isn't something you could do at home.

 

[NoiseNinja]

You just adjust the highs on the bridge to your likings or as low as it can get without creating too much fret buzz.

 

[chriscrob]

You just adjust the highs on the bridge to your likings or as low as it can get without creating too much fret buzz.

Agreed. If you are getting fret buzz on your DB you are definitely doing something wrong.

 

[NoiseNinja]

Agreed. If you are getting fret buzz on your DB you are definitely doing something wrong.

My bad... Didn't see he was talking about a DB.