Double Bass What do I risk if I let the bridge like this ?

[Lionel Albert]

Hi !

I modified my bridge, what do I risk if I let the wood between the strings ?

 

[Fretless55]

I would say the crown of the bridge needs to shaped down so the strings aren’t buried in their slots. A hemi of the string diameter above and below the slot is the Goldilocks zone for best string response in my experience.

 

[Lionel Albert]

Thanks !

 

[Fretless55]

If you do decide to shape the crown of the bridge, it may also be a time to have bridge adjusters installed.
I know they aren’t as common in Europe as in the US. When I had it done it was about 75 bucks.
I really don’t use them that much, but they do keep the bridge/slot placement sound when adjusting the string height.

Just my two cents…

 

[Ed S]

What do you mean you "modified" your bridge? What did you do to it? Or is the entire bridge new?

I also am not sure what you mean by "let the wood between the strings." Are you referring to the excessively deep grooves/slots?

 

[Lionel Albert]

What do you mean you "modified" your bridge? What did you do to it? Or is the entire bridge new?

I also am not sure what you mean by "let the wood between the strings." Are you referring to the excessively deep grooves/slots?

I've been playing the double bass for a little bit more than 7 months.
The action was too high like from 12 mm to 16 mm (from G to E).
I used nut files to reduce the action, I did it three times, now the action is about G (7 mm) D (8 mm) A (9 mm) E (10 mm).
It sounds different, more comfortable and I've got sustain.
It's a cheap bass, it's the bridge that came with.
I wanted to experiment.
I wondered if it could damage the strings.
For esthetic reason maybe I should remove the wood between the strings then when I'm ready for that, like @Fretless55 suggests, I will get a new bridge with adjusters and will shape it.

 

[fdeck]

The only problem is that it will frighten the neighborhood children if they see it. Also, lowering the action like that now means that the bridge is too thick, and all of the unneeded material on top could be choking your sound.

I've worked on my own instruments, with the exception of my new bass. I think taking care of the bridge could be done slowly with sandpaper. You'll know when the slots are about 1/2 string width deep.

Now watch like a hawk to make sure the action doesn't change over time, which could indicate structural issues with the instrument. Also, a too-high bridge could mean that it's placed incorrectly, too far north on the bass.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Check bridge position. If it is right at the f-hole markings, checking you are happy with height and bow clearance (string to string angle), file the bridge down. If the slots are too low, you can still mix some wood dust with superglue to build up the grooves. The wood at the sides helps. But when you are done, file the bridge crown down.
I was told the hooves should be 1/3 of the string diameter deep, but the E might need it 1/2 the diameter deep to avoid jumping out of the groove with lower tension strings and/or a hard attack or bow stroke.
You can also sand the thickness a bit down then and don’t forget to round the grooves a bit towards the top to avoid catching the string by the edge.
Finish with lubrication of the grooves with the softest pencil you can get.

What can happen if you don’t …
Typically nothing if the string glide well into the slot grooves, but if you try a thicker string later, you can easily ruin it when it gets clamped in.

 

[Ed S]

I used nut files to reduce the action,

So you used files to deepen the slots on your bridge to lower the action of your strings? Gotcha.

Can't imagine what possible damage it would cause your strings, but I imagine having the strings sit that deep isn't doing the sound quality any favors.

 

[Lionel Albert]

Thanks @Ed S
In another forum someone did the same thing I did.
He told me a funny thing :

"I am told ( by the better bass player who sits next to me in orchestra) that if the slots are too deep it will spoil the tone and reduce sustain. But she has a fancy carved bass. I did the same as you ( deep slots for lower action) then filed the bridge down to make the slots shallower ... No huge difference in sound but it looks better and it stopped her telling me it was wrong."

I can't tell you about sound quality since I changed the strings (from steel to tapewound) before I modified the bridge.
It was nice but then it sounded better even if I really liked the sound I had with steel strings with very high action but there was no sustain and a limited chance to know exactly what was thumb position.

 

[Lionel Albert]

Thanks all for your advice, I will remove the wood between the strings, even if it doesn't change anything it's worth to do it even for esthetic reasons, no double bass bridge looks the way mine does.
There might be a reason why they have looked like this for centuries so I will do it.

 

[loukash]

There might be a reason why they have looked like this for centuries

My – admittedly completely uneducated – guess would also be that in case you might need to temporarily remove a string from the groove, it will be easier to do so with shallow grooves, as you won't have to fully loosen the string to pull it off, and also with less risk of damaging the bridge.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

I thought that is your Halloween bridge …
Needs steel cables to clean between the teeth, silk won‘t work well there …

 

[Anne Millington]

You might risk funny noises or buzzes, as there is usually less wood for the string to touch. No bad bad stuff though, as far as I can see.

 

[Lionel Albert]

You might risk funny noises or buzzes, as there is usually less wood for the string to touch. No bad bad stuff though, as far as I can see.

Thanks, Ive got no strange noises or buzzes but because of the new strings it sounds very round and full of sustain like a fretless bass guitar...
When I bow them now it's nasal like a Baroque sound (viola da gamba)...
I'm a bit disappointed by the strings but it's OK.

 

[Anne Millington]

Thanks, Ive got no strange noises or buzzes but because of the new strings it sounds very round and full of sustain like a fretless bass guitar...
When I bow them now it's nasal like a Baroque sound (viola da gamba)...
I'm a bit disappointed by the strings but it's OK.

Hmmm. I might suspect the strings are being entrapped or damped by the deep channels. You'll know for sure once you get a better bridge setup, and you might want to get a check of the sound post position.

 

[Lionel Albert]

Hmmm. I might suspect the strings are being entrapped or damped by the deep channels. You'll know for sure once you get a better bridge setup, and you might want to get a check of the sound post position.

This is how it sounds : sorry, I'm discovering the instrument and the new strings.

 

[Lionel Albert]

It's very inspiring, I think I'm going to buy wood carving tools even if everything is alright.
This way maybe I will be able to shape a bridge, I said to shape not to build.
Thanks !

 

[Fretless55]

If you’re going DIY. I’d go with sandpaper before carving tools.
Slow and steady win the race.

But first decide what you want to be the final result, don’t let what you’ve done decide where you are.

 

[Lionel Albert]

If you’re going DIY. I’d go with sandpaper before carving tools.
Slow and steady win the race.

But first decide what you want to be the final result, don’t let what you’ve done decide where you are.

It sounds good and looks bad.