Quote:
Originally Posted by Yeong Cham
Hello all,
I have two basses, both made in Reghin, Romania. They are of the same size and have the same kind of labels. Not too much information on these basses on the net (probably they are not historically significant?), but believed to have been made in a state owned factory back in the late 70’s. I would like to get them properly set up (for mostly arco playing) and the first thing is to get the bridges replaced (unless the luthier thinks that the fingerboard needs to be dressed first). I’m hoping to get some advice here, to be more informed before I take one of them to the shop, just so that I will not make unreasonable requests and offend people at the shop.
All things being equal, how much wood between the crown and the heart is ideal? I’m asking because the bridge on my bass is very short. Please see the attaches image. The string height (in mm) at the end of the bridge for: E=10, A=10.5, D=9.5 and G=8.5.
I am going to take the bass to the local luthier. I know that they cut their own bridges but if they follow the “industrial standard” (Despiau, Aubert) it would mean I’m gonna end up with a bridge looking just like my existing one and I really don’t like the look of it. Mind you the feet of the existing bridge are only about 0.5mm thick. I think the feet should be thicker than that, which means I will lose even more wood between the crown and the heart. Only way I can think of getting more wood between crown and heart without increasing string height is to shorten the legs. Does the length of the legs of the bridge have a direct/huge effect on sound?
I’ve also attached an image showing the overstand at 24.5mm. I don’t think that this is particularly low, and the arch of the table doesn’t seem particularly high. Maybe it’s the angle of the neck/heel?
Thanks in advance for your input.
Cham.
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Wow, such a low Bridge with such high string height. I don't know if these are carved or laminated basses but being generic Romanian Factory basses, they need work that could cost more than the value of the Bass.
The Overstand at 24.5mm is very low. I think that 35mm is much better and almost a minimum. The Bridge should be about 6.5" or 165mm high in the middle with the Strings over the fingerboard at the end from about 5mm/G to 9mm/E or so. I play lower even.. To go heigher, raise the bridge adjusters that you should have as well.
To get this Bridge height with lower string height which will allow better Bow clearance at the C bouts as well as easier upper register fingering, you need a combination of good overstand (35-40mm) and proper Neck pitch in the Block. In your case, moving the neck out will only increace the Bridge by about the amount moved unless the Pitch angle is increased as well. You need a lot more angle to go from about 5"/128mm to 6.5"/165mm.
This is what I consider a normal set-up to play the bass in todays world. Anything less is a struggle. This Bass in my opinion was set-up wrong when it was made in the factory. It might be cheaper to get another bass and sell or trade this one in.