getting a perfect fit-adjusters

[Thomas Erickson]

Originally Posted by wayne holmes

Thomas, you got me to thinking about the reasons I have adjusters on my basses. -

-I can raise or lower the bridge
-they look cool
-if I sell a bass and the new owner likes the strings higher or lower, I can make it happen without changing the bridge
-if I change strings that have a different diameter or flexibility that raising or lowing the bridge will help the feel or action of the strings to the finger board
-a belief that the adjusters help the vibration, except for the times when I believe they don't
-adjusters allow for the installation of the Full Circle pick-up and facilitate the installation of other pickups
-adjusters help correct mistakes made(not that I ever make any) when making a bridge, notches, height of the bridge etc.,, without starting over

maybe others can add more reasons to have adjusters on bridges?

I think those are all pretty legit reasons for putting adjusters on a bass. Well, except maybe for the part about looking cool!

Personally, I don't tend to find enough difference between one string and another to change the height at the bridge, unless I'm switching to a dramatically different type of string, and I don't have any interest in pickups so that isn't an issue. I agree that having the ability to re-cut the bridge is a perk, although I've been known to glue a bit of veneer under the bridge feet in order to gain a little height - don't tell anyone.

I'm not opposed to adjusters - properly installed I doubt they have much effect on tone, at least that can't be compensated for elsewhere. In parts of the world where they're really needed I'm sure they're a blessing; I just hope bassists there are keeping an eye on the rest of their instruments as well! That said, I think they can be a bit of a crutch on the way to a good setup, and/or a kludge employed by lackluster luthier types, whereas a well-fitted solid bridge, along with a good complete setup is always going to be solid for any type of playing and most ordinary strings.

[wayne holmes]

KF1-Ken's Forum

But, KF2- YES! Thomas, it's always a very important factor in the fenestration of the adjusters present or not.


But, for the sake of the integrity of Luthiers from the NW to the NE, or from the KF2 region to the KF1 is what kind of glue should we glue down the feet to the belly of the bass. Or, is this a good idea, because, with adjusters, you don't need to glue laminated feet onto the feet because it defeets the whole purpose of fenestrating the adjusters, or you will kludge up the entire process.

Come on Man!

[Thomas Erickson]

what kind of glue should we glue down the feet to the belly of the bass

No, no... I would never glue the bridge to the bass! I was just talking about gluing a thin veneer of maple to the bottom of the bridge foot in order to gain a little height in the case where adjusters aren't present, and either installing them or fitting a new bridge isn't an option!

[wayne holmes]

I know Thomas- I was just pulling your leg-I am sure that someone else might pull the other one

always enjoy your post- you always add another side to everything, sometimes many sides

I think that we should have a worldwide confession of things that we have done

When I was building houses- there was a saying-"the best carpenters are the ones who know how to hide their mistakes"

I personally can't think of anything right now, but I remember getting so frustrated with setting a violin sound post that I seriously considered putting a speck of super glue on it.

[Thomas Erickson]

I think super glue is always a proper repair when it comes to violins!

[Arnold Schnitzer]

Originally Posted by wayne holmes

When I was building houses- there was a saying-"the best carpenters are the ones who know how to hide their mistakes"

"I cut it twice, but it's still too short."

"A good carpenter never blames his tools."

Two gems from the late Dan Schnitzer

[Thomas Erickson]

I regularly blame my tool when things go wrong - but usually the problem is that the tool isn't sharp... I wonder who's fault that is.

[Ken Smith]

Well, regardless of climate and height changes, adjusters give you just that, adjustment. If playing jazz in a big band, you wanna dig in a bit so you raise them slightly (with an amp usually). If playing with a jazz trio and playing solos, you might want them lower to play your solos easier. If playing Orchestra, like in a Big band, you may have to 'pound' the bass a bit and low action just wont do. If playing more solo or chamber type music with the bow, lower is a plus. Like having a window on your car door or your house. You can open it, close it, or adjust it anyway you like.

Regardless of the difference of sound if at all noticeable, I prefer the advantages of having the choice to raise or lower as needed.

[Thomas Erickson]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Well, regardless of climate and height changes, adjusters give you just that, adjustment. If playing jazz in a big band, you wanna dig in a bit so you raise them slightly (with an amp usually). If playing with a jazz trio and playing solos, you might want them lower to play your solos easier. If playing Orchestra, like in a Big band, you may have to 'pound' the bass a bit and low action just wont do. If playing more solo or chamber type music with the bow, lower is a plus. Like having a window on your car door or your house. You can open it, close it, or adjust it anyway you like.

Regardless of the difference of sound if at all noticeable, I prefer the advantages of having the choice to raise or lower as needed.

Ken - again, off topic a bit and maybe this has been covered, but I'm curious - do you feel that a *good* setup can cover all sorts of playing, or are you of thought that different types of music, playing styles, etc. require very different setups?

I tend to think that a well setup bass can be used to play almost anything, *but* that bass is a rare thing in our bass culture and that too often an instrument is "set up" to please a particular type of player, when in reality the "setup" is just pandering.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Thomas Erickson

Ken - again, off topic a bit and maybe this has been covered, but I'm curious - do you feel that a *good* setup can cover all sorts of playing, or are you of thought that different types of music, playing styles, etc. require very different setups?

I tend to think that a well setup bass can be used to play almost anything, *but* that bass is a rare thing in our bass culture and that too often an instrument is "set up" to please a particular type of player, when in reality the "setup" is just pandering.

Well the Set-up is one issue. The string height is another. With MY set-up, I can raise or lower the strings as needed for the style of music I am playing. All else stays the same for the most part.

Some basses in generally do not bow as well as others and some of the basses out there struggle to get a clear jazz-pizz sound/attack. Having a bass that works well for both is OK to a degree. My Panormo School bass, Martini and Gilkes worked well for all. The Hart doesn't do it for my ear in jazz BUT, how many venues in Jazz playing gigs would you feel safe to take one of these basses out? The Mittenwald and Mougenot works well for both as well as a few others I have had. I have a 3/4 Bohemian bass I take out when it's not a concert stage or posh venue. I once took my attr. Storioni to a Steak house and did 4 sets. I leaned the bass on the wall held up by the piano on the breaks. The best is to have the bass the best for the music. If it means having two basses then have two if you can afford it. I used the Panormo school bass last week at an upscale party and my Bohemian last night for an outdoor jazz concert. There was about a $100k difference in price between the two basses. I made double the money on the Panormo.. lol

[wayne holmes]

Thomas -- 'only super glue on violins" now, that's funny!


your last post- it didn't make any sense, and it bothers me that I understand everything that you said and I agree with you which also concerns me a little.

anyway, thanks for the laughs

Ken, you really nailed it-if anyone ever had to argue the case for the adjuster-your last post would be a great closing argument.; unless Thomas is the foreman of the jury

[Mike Mandelas]

What a great thread. I'm reading it in the magnificent Aegean island of Karpathos and it makes my day. Now i'm waiting to return home in order to fit a bridge according to all these specified. Thanks friends!
Mike

[wayne holmes]

Wow! thank you Milke! I don't think anyone has ever used the word "great" with any thread that I started- of course, I know that you are thanking the ones who gave some great input to my question-I am thankful for thier help, too. Have a safe trip- you want to tell us about your trip- see any good basses there, or anything connected to our bass world?

It's good people like you Mike that makes Kens forum so great.

Thanks Ken, and thanks for putting up with the likes of me! Wayne