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Old 07-27-2007, 06:27 PM
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Arrow String Spacing at the Bridge..

I searched through Arnold's Set-up specs and I see that the subject of String Spacing at the Bridge has been mostly left out here. It is mentioned that a 5-String Bass usually has tighter spacing than a 4-String BUT, what are the normal or various Spacings used for the 4-String and How and Where do we measure this.

First off, like with any other Spacing measurement my belief is that we should always measure from center-to-center and not in between the Strings. Once the notch is made and filed correctly assuming the spacings are even, the distance between the thicker strings will measure less in between than between the thinner ones. The 'E' and 'A' will seem slightly closer to each other than the 'G' and 'D' but that is just an illusion as the center measurements being the same, the thicker strings just take up more room from side to side thickness wise.

So, with that out of the way, what are these measurements and which are better for whom?

In my earlier youth I used a very narrow spacing averaging 23.5mm-24mm or about 15/16". I played Jazz and practiced Classical Solo pieces as well as a few Orchestral type bowing jobs but more on a commercial level than in a regular Symphony. Actually, I still have that old Bridge to look back on when ever needed. Boy was that tight!

More recently I moved up to about 1"-1 1/16" or 25.5-26mm. Every time I get a new Bass or have a Bass set-up I always tell the Luthier that I want no more than 1 1/16" or 26mm depending on the language. Perfection is not possible when slotting wood no matter who does it including me. Actually, there is not a single Bridge that I can recall I did not re-cut myself if just a slight tweak if not more.

Recently I was playing this old English Lott Bass that was left for evaluation here and I could almost swear it's one of the easiest playing Basses I can recall ever playing. When I measured the spacing it was averaging 27.5-28mm wide to the centers. That is about 1.100" (overall average was 1.111" or so). The Nut is spaced at 10.5mm or just over 3/8". The widest I have ever played was the Dodd which arrived with 12mm Nut spacing and about 28mm Bridge spacing. No adjusters and the strings were HIGH off the FB. I adjusted that Bass and got it down to about 27mm and 11mm at the Nut.

My Martini Bass here at the office has 10mm at the Nut and had 26mm spacing up until a few hours ago. I just re-cut the spacing to simulate the Lott and left it at about 27.8mm or 1.095", just under 1 1/10".

This new spacing for the Martini not only feels comfortable, it also sounds as if the Bass has just gained a few more ounces of Power. Can this be possible? By spreading the strings across the Bridge only 3/16" wider overall the Bass gets louder? Actually, I left the 'E' alone which was a tad on the low side and re-cut all the others with the 'G' moving over the most. From my tighter spacing before, the 'G' was way inside the fingerboard and hard to go up into thumb position. I kept missing the string having to reach over more as I jumped into Thumb position.

Now, the Strings are much better centered over the Top of the Bridge and it plays easier as well.

Please, share you String spacing stories here or ask questions if you need help. I do know what widths Orchestra players need to play with the Bow. It's just that for years, I preferred not to go wider than I had been used to.
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