Double Bass string spacing

[shwashwa]

just a question out of curiosity, not that i'm actually considering doing this, but you never know....
i have 2 basses, one really big one and one smaller one. i really love the set up of the smaller one. i can really get around on it, but it's not as good a bass as the big one. the big one is set up really nice too, really great fingerboard and bridge setup, but the thing that's stopping me from playing everything on this bass that i play on my smaller one is that the strings are farther apart. ( the string length on both is the same as well as the string height) is it possible to have new notches, or a new bridge with more narrow string spacing made even though the fingerboard is wide enough to accomodate the current setup? is string spacing something that is typically altered, or do you generally try to just let the width of the fingerboard determine this and space the strings evenly over the width of the board?

 

[Jake deVilliers]

You should be able to match your other bass's string spacing on the bridge. You're going narrower, right, so you won't run off the ends or anything.

Its especially neat and easy if you have adjusters - off with the old slots, up with the adjusters, on with the new spacing.

 

[1st Bass]

Are the strings spaced the same at the nut?

 

[shwashwa]

Are the strings spaced the same at the nut?

good question. i'll have to check. on the big bass the fingerboard does get alot wider at the upper register than on the small bass, so i was worried about having alot of extra fingerboard on the outsides if i brought the strings closer together

 

[paulunger]

I've done this on my bass before and it was not a problem. You'll probably have to get a new bridge. Check the nut spacing as well. A new nut shouldn't be a big deal either.

 

[Jeremy Allen]

I would just say "beware," because having a G string that's quite far in from the edge of the fingerboard feels kind of strange. (That's the situation on my current bass--I've gotten used to it, but it's different).

 

[shwashwa]

I would just say "beware," because having a G string that's quite far in from the edge of the fingerboard feels kind of strange. (That's the situation on my current bass--I've gotten used to it, but it's different).

i thought about that too. what if i were to leave the g string where is it and bring the rest closer to it?

 

[shwashwa]

i just measured the distance of my strings at the bridge, and on the big bass they're 28mm and on the small one they're 25mm. do you think that is big enough to feel a difference?

 

[moles]

I think that's enough to feel a difference.
Have you considered just spending some time with the bigger one exclusively? I mean, don't touch the smaller bass at all for at least a month or two - just to see what happens. I understand that might not work if your schedule is packed and you need to be on top of your game for upcoming gigs etc...but I think you might still have a chance to adapt to that spacing.
For what its worth - I agree that having the G that far away from the edge of the fingerboard might be weird. It might end up being worse - you'll be getting conflicting tactile messages from your left hand - needing to reach around further, but then not as far between each string. Thats the kind of thing that messes with my head, at any rate.

 

[shwashwa]

i played that bass exclusively for about 4 years. i didnt realize there was much of a difference until i picked up my old (smaller) bass after a while and i played better! i'd say that's enough of a reason to play the smaller one!
what about leaving the G where it is and bringing the other strings over toward it?

 

[Matthew Tucker]

If you bring the G string inward 1mm and space the rst at 25mm from that you'll be fine too. You likely won't feel 1mm difference on the g side to fingerboard edge.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

If you do a lot of jazz pizz playing, you may not want the E string too much farther away than it is now from the edge of the FB. This will change your hand position in getting to the E string relative to the edge of the FB. Even small changes like this can be difficult to get used to and if you're not careful, can lead to injury. I speak from experience on this one. For pizz, I think I'd be more inclined to move everything closer to the E side.