Checking And Adjusting The Angle Of Your Bridge (Upright Bass)

[@olafluthje1920]

These two hints to set the angle and the position of the bridge are great and an adjustment on my bass was due and easily done. Many thanks.

[@johnljspiro]

Thank you, very helpful and practical. Thanks for showing those of us who don't have fancy tools or workspaces how we can take care of our instruments.

[@Zaul2410]

super useful i just had to make a little twiching and my bass was just really comfortable again, this is super important, we just take the adjustments for granted. thank you

[@wadeleach9476]

Tremendous help. I recently ordered a realist lifeline pickup, and I had to removed the adjuster to put it through the clip. It didn’t just clip around the adjuster like I thought.

[@hbhowtoherman3147]

Great video (nice bass tunes in the background on intro and outro). You have remembered me to be more caring at my 3/4 bass. You've showed me the way how. Thanks!!

[@stringmatrix]

Thank you!!

[@daniellejonesdoublebass]

This is great 👍 I also found it helped me to loosen the strings as well… thankyou for the video!

[@oscareduardoangulo2250]

I allready love your channel, I live in Germany for six years.

[@stringmatrix]

Thank you very much!

[@CrustyCow]

Very good video with great tricks and instructions!!

[@jazzbrew68]

For the past month I have been struggling with playing... culprit? My bridge was WAY out of alignment. Action was sky high and I didn't understand the problem. This video got me straight. Thank you my friend!

[@stringmatrix]

That's great I am happy that I could help you Eric!

[@alexrichardson9125]

This is the best and simplest procedure I have seen. Thank you so much.

[@m.hughes2521]

This is great information, thank you so much from the wilderness.

[@leoneddy1492]

Very good information Thank you

[@flippatmedbernt]

Very helpful. Thanks a lot

[@FenderBassmanJazz]

Thank you for the excellent information. Much appreciated sir.

[@deaddiamond3698]

Very much appreciated! Great information

[@themusiccovenant]

Nice video. What is the correct strings height for a comfortable thumb position playing? I believe string height is measured from end of the fingerboard to the String above?

[@Edmouk]

Merci pour ces précieux conseils !

[@jagkluke]

An excellent video. Thank you so much!

[@eduardosalgadofuentes2319]

Hello sir. Many thanks for Your vídeo... I have a question. Wich are the Best hights of the strings (E/A/D/G) and how can i set up them... Many thanks un advance!

[@stringmatrix]

Hello Eduardo, there is no real "best height". It depends on your taste and the type of strings you use. I normally have 7 to 10 mm (G to E) measured at the end of the fingerboard. But that's already high. 1 or 2 mm less are better for a start. But I recommend going to a specialized bass workshop to have them make that setup.

[@manuelgil8476]

Thanks for this video. I have a question, to make these bridge adjustments, should I loosen the strings slightly or not?

[@manuelgil8476]

Sorry for this question. I watched the video again and I saw that you indicate the need to lower the strings by a semitone. Thanks.

[@stringmatrix]

Great! Yes it's good to loosen them a little, maybe even a whole tone.

[@enriqueormenovillafuerte5791]

Hi, thanks for the video...what about the tunning of the octaves? I do have to move my brigde to other place to get it right..cheers.

[@vickymay9222]

Great vid. Cheers frum SpoCanada

[@dexterjones4902]

Should you loosen the strings to do this

[@esitoris]

Hello there StringMatrix, Very useful this!!! Many thanks. Do you have some instruction on setting up the strings as well by the way? (Bought my first upright bass 2day ti start learing. In the process of placing the bridge (before I did find your video ;) ) amd at tuning => The D-string broke very soon. Ordered a new set but of course I would like to avoid the same issue agaian Thanks in advance StringMatrix!

[@stringmatrix]

Hello Elvis, good idea for a new video, thanks! In the last months I was too busy to make new videos, I hope I will find some time soon. It is unusual that a string breaks while setting it up. Which type of string was it?

[@jonwilliamgarson]

I play mostly bluegrass and western swing. 1) What type of adjustable bridge would you recommend to replace the current bridge which has no adjustment left? 2) At the nut, the strings are almost touching the fingerboard, leaving me with how to lower the action further, currently higher than near the nut, down the neck without causing buzz? Thank you!

[@stringmatrix]

Hi! Difficult to answer your questions: 1) I don't really know about the advantages/ inconvenients of different bridge types. A good bass Luthier (preferably one that is not only into classical setups) will know more. If the present bridge is still good, he may also suggest to put adjusters in that bridge. 2) it is totally normal that the strings almost touch the fingerboard at the nut. Some say: it is correct if a business card fits between string and fingerboard. So yes you'll have to lower the height of the bridge. And to avoid buzzing you need an optimal fingerboard concavity (there's probably another English word for that). And here too: only experienced luthiers know all the details about this and how to realize it.

[@cedcobasse]

thanks a lot

[@ArkRed1]

My upright bass has a rattle when I play an open G string. I gripped the tuner button and it stopped rattling. Any suggestions for stopping this rattling key. The D, E, and A do not rattle. Super glue where the button and the shaft connect perhaps? This is an old German made bass with brass tuning keys. Any help greatly appreciated.

[@stringmatrix]

Check all the screws. If this doesn't help, then the "spiral shaft" (I don't know how this is called correctly) or the "gear" might be worn out. In this case, you can get help with elastic bands which should pull the problem-key in a certain direction. Experiment with elastic bands. It's not a beautiful repair, but even some orchestra players do it this way because the "correct" way would be to replace the whole tuning device.

[@TheBassfresh]

Very helpful!

[@angel29476]

Hello! my bridge is flat on the one side and curved on the other. Which side goes where? Does the flat side need to look up and the flat side towards the foot? I ve been struggling adjusting the bridge, this video helps in other questions I've been having, thank you

[@stringmatrix]

The curved side is the one that you can see when you play the bass. I should have said this in the video... Good luck!

[@angel29476]

@@stringmatrix Oh dear, I have put it wrong then. Probably the reason I have a hard time tuning it correctly. Thank you!

[@walkingbasss]

Where can I get the black protectors the are on the left side of the base? Thank you

[@jersmith1486]

The G string on my upright buzzes starting at the d second octave. Should i adjust the bridge height?

[@Rowina579]

Thank you

[@FUN_RECORDING]

Many thanks for the useful videos! Great. Can you make an video / or tell me about the height of the strings. I'm playing Rockabilly music and I don't know if my heights is good. And if it's too high, is there a way to bring it down? Thank you soo much for your help in advance. regards, Marco from Lelystad (Netherlands)

[@stringmatrix]

Thank you! Hmm I am not a specialist, but I will think about it. The optimal height also depends of the type of string and of your personal taste. My standard height (measured at the end of the fingerboard) is G: 7 mm, D: 8 mm, A: 9 mm, E: 10 mm. But for steel strings that's already quite high.

[@rockincarbonara]

Hello! Well, i am Playing Rockabilly since 34 years now. You can use a simple trick: You can check the height of the strings, by putting the tip of your middlefinger straight on your fingerboard on the height where you actually use to slap. Then check at every single string on which point the string crosses your fingertip. For the slap-tecnique, you need to undertake the string with the half of your fingertip (Still meaning the middlefinger). If the string is setted too low, you will not be able to undertake the string enough. Your finger will "Slip away". If the Height is too high, you surely will be able to pick up the String mit your fingertip, but you will need too much strengh to make the string sound, wich will hurt you on your wrist after a while. So at last, every single String should be around 10 to 12mm high from the point you use slap on the fingerboard.

[@scottknabb2927]

Very informative video, thank you. I have been playing bass guitar for 30 years and was gifted a 3/4 bass that may have been made in China. It is in average condition, but it wont stay in tune and it appears that the top of the bridge is bending toward the headstock. I think the strings are causing the bridge to bend, and that the strings are not 'gliding" over the bridge, and are instead pulling on the bridge. I was thinking of replacing the bridge, or filingthe grooves slightly to give the strings a little more room. Any suggestions?

[@geofharris5546]

Scott it helps to rub a thick soft pencil (B or softer) in the bridge grooves to coat them with graphite. You can do this by detuning one string at a time, keeping the others up to pitch

[@scottknabb2927]

@@geofharris5546 Thank you very much

[@loslatinos2875]

Hello, I am really interested on finding measure information for 1/4 size contra bass. I only need to know the distance in cm, mm or inches between the body and the neck. I am thinking the highest point of the neck to the body. can you tell me ? please. thank you.

[@stringmatrix]

Sorry, I don't have a 1/4 to check this. Good luck!

[@timhill8720]

Hi I'm new to the bass and would like to learn a rockabilly style of play do I have to position the bridge in a particular place to play that way ?

[@stringmatrix]

As far as I know the bridge position is the same regardless of your playing style. But the bass setup (especially choice of strings and action) should probably be adapted to rockabilly.

[@timhill8720]

@@stringmatrix thankyou for your reply it helps 😊

[@vickymay9222]

Hi Tim. My husband plays jazz, AfroCuban jazz, swing, bluegrass, traditional Ska@$ in the Skatalites], rockabilly n psychobilly psychobilly on both upright and electric upright. No setup alterations are necessary, other than the fact that you're going to want your strings higher off, for galloping, pizzicato n slap -@-Billity. Cheers

[@zombieprepper01]

I’ve just always tried to get it in the same spot or close to it

[@maciejjanus2023]

Solid

[@MoeWeisner]

What is the maker and year of your bass? I have a 2005 Roderich Paesold Bass, and yours looks just like it!

[@stringmatrix]

It's an Otto Rubner from 1960 but the top was made new around 2000 by Peter Emich.

[@gil_evans]

@@stringmatrix Peter Emich! Bought my bass from him. Very happy with it and his repair work. Too bad he is retired now. Do you have any recommendations for a good bass luthier in southern Niedersachsen?

[@stringmatrix]

@@gil_evans Leider habe ich keinen Tipp... Es ist eigenartig, in Hannover gibt es keinen Bassspezialisten, und alle fahren nach Bremen (M. Henkel), Celle (M. Stemann), Hamburg oder Berlin. Ich hatte letztens bei Markus Däsch in Aschaffenburg etwas machen lassen, er hat super gearbeitet - leider ist es eine weite Fahrt von Hannover.

[@gil_evans]

@@stringmatrix Ok, trotzdem danke. Habe dich letztens bei den JazzSummit-Aufnahmen gesehen. Hoffe, du bist zufrieden mit euren Aufnahmen.

[@stringmatrix]

@@gil_evans Ah ja jetzt erinnere ich mich!!

[@oscareduardoangulo2250]

What strings do you recomend for both arco and pzzicatto?

[@stringmatrix]

I'm not an arco specialist and it also depends on what kind of a pizz sound you want. But as a general "thing in the middle" to start with I would say Pirastro Evah Pirazzi Weich (light).

[@oscareduardoangulo2250]

@@stringmatrix Muchas gracias!

[@bassfiddlesteve]

Nice video, but I would recommend putting the pillow under the neck heel rather than the under the scroll when placing the bass on the floor.

[@stringmatrix]

Good idea, thank you for this!

[@brucehulsey2672]

I appreciate that you show how to check alignment between the f holes but you don't explain how to change it. Is this something only a luthier should do?

[@stringmatrix]

That's a good point. I should have shown it. If you loosen the tension (maybe one whole step on each string) you can adjust the position by hitting the sides of the bridge's feet carefully with your palm.

[@mattnati]

what strings are those?'

[@stringmatrix]

These should be the Efrano gut strings. I have a presentation video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqa3fGmkZbutpdk

[@pgroove163]

👍

[@Jesuswinsbirdofmichigan]

#67_🇺🇸

[@deutsche_lyrik]

Oha....Handwerkslaien am Werk