Help with my String/Bridge Height

[Calvin Marks]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

When people try my basses here at 4-5mm, they ask me to raise it for them. My Martini is about 4mm and a tight feeling bass as far as the tension goes. If it was not as tight, 5mm would work better. With Flexocor or BelCantos, 4mm is fine for me but with Evah's, 5mm works better. These being the lowest possible heights for playing softly. For digging in, they need to be higher and my FB camber/curve is nearly flat. My Gilkes (Jilkes) has a bigger camber just due to the wood settling itself in the neck and FB and is usually tight as well. That Bass plays better slightly higher than the Martini. Go figure..

Arnold (above) has worked on both of these basses and has seen many many top pros play on them in his shop. He can go into better detail as far as the various heights here and there vs the playability soft thru heavy playing.

Now, if you just bought some old German shop bass with a long Eb neck and a thinned fingerboard I could understand you having problems due to the bass being out of repair set-up wise but, I am under the impression here that you have a brand new handmade bass. In my opinion, we should not be having this discussion. It is no rocket science to get a bass to play fairly well especially if it just left the makers hands. Did someone mess with the bass since it was made or has been fiddled with over and over by someone else who is not qualified to be doing so?

I have to say that between strings and set-up issues, you have been on at least 2 forums 'hunting' for answers way more than you did about the actual build of the bass before hand.

Please fill us in on how you got to this point and condition of bass IF we are talking about the new one you just had made.

Same bass. It came with these string heights from the maker. I also put in about 2 years of research as to what I exactly wanted, and I got that, apart from the fingerboard camber issues. I'm honestly just looking for advice. You guys are used to playing great basses, so all I want are answers.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Calvin Marks

Same bass. It came with these string heights from the maker. I also put in about 2 years of research as to what I exactly wanted, and I got that, apart from the fingerboard camber issues. I'm honestly just looking for advice. You guys are used to playing great basses, so all I want are answers.

Playing even a Plywood bass, it must be set-up correctly. Bad set-up is just that, bad unplayable set-up. Even a 100k bass can have a bad set-up.

If you want answers and demand them to guide you perfectly, HIRE a Bass set-up consultant. Short of that, you are stuck with the answers given on the Forums. Sorry!

[Calvin Marks]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Playing even a Plywood bass, it must be set-up correctly. Bad set-up is just that, bad unplayable set-up. Even a 100k bass can have a bad set-up.

If you want answers and demand them to guide you perfectly, HIRE a Bass set-up consultant. Short of that, you are stuck with the answers given on the Forums. Sorry!

Ken, what's with the hostility?

I don't demand anything. I share my experiences and hope that someone like yourself or Arnold will shine some light onto this scenario as you both have experience with bass set-ups.

I don't know of any "set-up consultants", at least in my area. Perhaps the best solution is to pack my bass up and drive south of the border and get it set-up properly once and for all.

[Drake Chan]

Originally Posted by Calvin Marks

Ken, what's with the hostility?

I don't demand anything. I share my experiences and hope that someone like yourself or Arnold will shine some light onto this scenario as you both have experience with bass set-ups.

I don't know of any "set-up consultants", at least in my area. Perhaps the best solution is to pack my bass up and drive south of the border and get it set-up properly once and for all.

I didn't see any hostility in Ken's post(s), although he did write "suck" as a typo for "stuck" (I hope! ).

And I think you answered your own question. The forums can only answer so much, IMO.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Drake Chan

I didn't see any hostility in Ken's post(s), although he did write "suck" as a typo for "stuck" (I hope! ).

And I think you answered your own question. The forums can only answer so much, IMO.

Yes, Typo.. 'sTuck' was the word.. sorry.. Thanks for pointing that out..

[Calvin Marks]

http://www.performances.org/press/08...arMeyer-01.jpg

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Calvin Marks

Ken, what's with the hostility?

I don't demand anything. I share my experiences and hope that someone like yourself or Arnold will shine some light onto this scenario as you both have experience with bass set-ups.

I don't know of any "set-up consultants", at least in my area. Perhaps the best solution is to pack my bass up and drive south of the border and get it set-up properly once and for all.

I was just responding to your statement;

You guys are used to playing great basses, so all I want are answers.

I have you a huge first reply with all the details in a set-up and Arnold agreed 'what I said'. There is nothing more I can ad to it without having the bass in my hands if there is even more to say.

[Calvin Marks]

Doesn't Edgar Meyer and Jeff Bradetich play with super low action? Probably much lower than 4mm on the G.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Calvin Marks

Doesn't Edgar Meyer and Jeff Bradetich play with super low action? Probably much lower than 4mm on the G.

I don't know what they use but they play the bass the play with the action the use. Is that the string height they would use in your shoes looking for a job in an Orchestra or did it take years to get to that and an instrument and set-up to match?

I can't answer you on that. Jeff and I were staying at the same hotel last week at the ISB by chance. Maybe had you asked me 2 weeks ago, I could of asked him one morning at breakfast!

[Arnold Schnitzer]

Calvin, it's important that the fingerboard arch be set properly before the bridge curvature can be worked out. If the fingerboard is too flat (cross-ways) the outside strings will have to be low or you won't be able to bow the bass. If you are going to use 25mm spacing at the bridge, which is quite narrow (27-28 is "normal"), the fingerboard will need to be more arched than usual. I hope this is clear and helpful...