Strings not straight

[Buster53]

I’ve pulled out my vintage 1960s Apollo bass for first time in years. Actually it was restrung in 2016 and been stored since. In going over it I noticed the strings are running at an uphill angle from nut to the body.

The E string is a smidge more than 1/8” from top edge of neck at the nut but at the body it’s almost off the fretboard. The G starts 1/8” in from the edge at the nut but it’s a full 1/4” in at the body.

This is a Kawai (Japan) built with bolt on neck. How would I fix this?

 

[Bent77]

Bridge is not centered

 

[jchrisk1]

You should be able to loosen the neck screws and adjust the neck until the strings are equal, then tighten the screws back down.

 

[Abner]

Since it has a floating bridge, I would try and move that over a little first. Loosen the string tension somewhat first.

 

[Pilgrim]

That's a set neck - he can't move the neck.

Move the bridge.

 

[Abner]

This is a Kawai (Japan) built with bolt on neck. How would I fix this?

OP would beg to differ.

Still, agree with you, bridge first.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

I’d probably try to move the neck. Loosen the strings, loosen the neck screws slightly then pull the neck towards the treble side and hold it there while you tighten the neck screws. It could be because the picture isn’t straight on but the neck looks off center in your first picture. However, moving either neck or bridge could solve the issue and both are relatively inexpensive fixes.

 

[JW56789]

IF this little axe doesn't have a locating pin of some sort from the bridge to the top, it's simple enough to slack off the strings, ease the bridge in the right direction, and tune back up, it's just one of those 'floating' bridges like most archtop jazz guitars. While you're back there, check that the trapeze tail piece isn't loose, either.

 

[Buster53]

IF this little axe doesn't have a locating pin of some sort from the bridge to the top, it's simple enough to slack off the strings, ease the bridge in the right direction, and tune back up, it's just one of those 'floating' bridges like most archtop jazz guitars. While you're back there, check that the trapeze tail piece isn't loose, either.

Thanks. No it is a floating bridge easily moved. As Bent 77 noted right away the bridge is not centered so I’ll try moving that first.

 

[202dy]

The neck is a bolt on.

The bridge floats.

Moving the bridge won't fix the problem. The strings will move the bridge right back to where it is now, because they are each in a straight line between the nut and the tailpiece. It is a problem with geometry. It's not about hardware positioning.

Moving the neck is the way to fix the geometry.

 

[Buster53]

The neck is a bolt on.

The bridge floats.

Moving the bridge won't fix the problem. The strings will move the bridge right back to where it is now, because they are each in a straight line between the nut and the tailpiece. It is a problem with geometry. It's not about hardware positioning.

Moving the neck is the way to fix the geometry.

I'm thinking you are correct. I did play with moving the bridge and sliding slightly toward the G and even positioning it on a diagonal straightened the strings down the neck but screwed the alignment from the bridge to the tailpiece. I'll try moving the neck tomorrow.

 

[96tbird]

Could just be parallax from the Camera angle, but the tailpiece bracket looks bent toward the bass side to me.

 

[Turnaround]

It may not be the case here, but on my violin bass the tailpiece was skewed. That's probably because there's more tension on the G and D strings than on the E and A strings, so it tends to pull the tailpiece to one side. It maybe just the angle of the photo, but it looks like this may be the case here:

If so the solution is to put a shim under the right side of the tailpiece to angle it back to a more normal potition. Then you can shift the bridge to the right and everything should line up.


EDIT: 96tbird beat me to it by three minutes.

 

[Buster53]

It may not be the case here, but on my violin bass the tailpiece was skewed. That's probably because there's more tension on the G and D strings than on the E and A strings, so it tends to pull the tailpiece to one side. It maybe just the angle of the photo, but it looks like this may be the case here:

View attachment 4510280

If so the solution is to put a shim under the right side of the tailpiece to angle it back to a more normal potition. Then you can shift the bridge to the right and everything should line up.


EDIT: 96tbird beat me to it by three minutes.

Hmm. I looked and it does seem perhaps the tailpiece is slightly askew. Loosened the strings and could easily push the tailpiece back in line and that helped.

Looking even closer it seems the “U” shaped bit is off. Where it slips thru the mounting part seems it should slide left slightly which would move the strings.

Failing that, what would you use for a shim and where would you place it?

FYI I’m likely going to upgrade the pups and put new strings on so will address it then.

 

[LoveThatBass]

Could just be parallax from the Camera angle, but the tailpiece bracket looks bent toward the bass side to me.

Looks that way to me also

 

[Arie X]

sort out the tail piece, shift the bridge over, check intonation, repeat as needed.

 

[Turnaround]

Failing that, what would you use for a shim and where would you place it?

Loosen the strings and then take out the screws that hold the tailpiece on. Place a wedge (smaller than shown) between the body and the downside of the tailpiece so that it corrects the angle shown. Screw it all back together and tuner 'er up, shifting hte bridge to the right as you go. You may have to experiment with the size of the wedge to get it to line up just right.

 

[Buster53]

So here she is, restrung with D’Addario black nylon tapewounds. I stumbled onto a felt washer in my “junk” drawer and it proved the perfect shim under the right side of the tailpiece to straighten the strings. Not bad for a 53 year old lady!

Thanks all for the advice, especially Turnaround!

 

[jbrew73]

Now the bridge pickup looks out of alignment. You may need to loosen the neck and find a bridge and neck setting that gets everything in proper alignment.

 

[Buster53]

Yeah, think I’m going to take it to my local luthier and let him have a go at it. Needs a truss rod adjustment too I think as the action at the 12th fret upwards is much too high.