Double Bass Un-notched F-holes - bridge positioning method?

[moles]

@David Potts - that's fantastic... never would have thought of that. I'll have some time this weekend to take a look and see if I can do slightly better than where I have it at the moment.

I suppose an update is in order as well anyway, but after measuring, taking the (old-style copper) Realist off and gently knocking things around - I've got it sitting relatively straight at a nearly exact 41" mensur. Still feels just a tad off regarding note placement at the heel... but that could be player error. It's definitely an Eb neck... It's more or less getting better but I'm also finding some hilarious bits and pieces. Like the black rubber tubing that was inserted into all the nut slots (dead-ish open strings you say-? Hmmm...) and the fact that the bridge is actually warped on 2 planes.

So, give the bridge an emergency steaming/reshaping and got some stiffer card material in the nut slots that needed raising, while I search out a luthier that's open for business these days.

I'm still kinda curious about IDing this bass if possible, so belated NBD pics will get posted in another thread.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[David Potts]

One more suggestion for the nut slots too low is to remove the nut and raise it with a piece of thin veneer (or stiff cardboard) then re glue into position. IME the nut is often not strongly glued and a few spots of PVA glue is enough because string tension and geometry does the rest. Before letting down all the strings lay the bass on its back on a bed, wrap a piece of cloth around the top of the tail piece, mark where your bridge is currently with pencil dots and hold the post in position with some heavy books above and below the bridge. Your luthier would probably do the same.

Cheers and keep safe. DP