Neck set - bridge height question

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Arnold Schnitzer

That's a little high, especially if the top arch is high. If so, you are putting the bow arm far from the player's body and inviting shoulder stress. I think 6 1/2" to 6 3/4" is good for a 7/8 bass, unless the c-bouts are really wide.

Well, on the subject of playability measurements it my be interesting to study my big Gamba bass playability-wise which has wide c-bouts with a 46mm overstand and a bridge height of almost 6 3/4" with string heights of 4.5mm/G - 9.5mm/E strung with Evah Weich protos. On the C-bouts, it is interesting to note the while the upper F-eyes are spaced at 190mm between them the bar is set inwards a bit requiring a 170mm bridge to sit over the middle of the bar. Luckily, we were able to re-use the Bridge that was with the Bass when I aquired it because anything over 165mm is difficult to find. This Bridge has some nice tight grain to it as well. I was happy it cound be reused.

Big basses and those with higher/deep shoulders (or combined) need extra special attention to detail over the normal 3/4 or 7/8th basses because if you can't play it, what good is it. The true Panormo's and basses of that School are ofter the larger 7/8ths to 4/4 in size by today's standards. Playability in its measurements in my mind are equally important to any other detail of the bass.

Arnold, since my Bass is done already maybe you can critique it from the #s and pics listed to possibly guide others as far as what's best and what's not. Some time sonner than later you will see this 'big boy' in person and have a better birdseye type view of it but for now I am sure you can say a few things on the subject that might benefit us all.