Here are some helpful tips for bassists to maintain their instruments on their own.
Adjusting your bridge, part 1
I wrote an article for Strings magazine that details (with picture examples too!) how to check to see if your bridge is in the right spot, and how you can move it back to the right spot on your own. Bridge maintenance is ESSENTIAL! Please click on the link below to read the article.
Adjusting your bridge, part 2
Most bass bridges have adjuster wheels in the legs so that the player can raiser or lower the bridge height. This is mostly done to accommodate seasonal changes where the player prefers the same string height. However some players like to experiment with different heights and often try to adjust one side higher than the other, which can lead to problems. I have 2 key pieces of advice for using the adjuster wheels:
Raise both wheels by the same amount. If you raise one 2 turns, raise the other 2 turns. It’s helpful to make a reference mark on both wheels so you can keep track of where they are.
Don’t struggle to raise or lower the wheel. I use New Harmony Music adjusters that are able to be turned under full tension of the strings, but many other metal adjusters might be very difficult to turn under the full tension of the strings. Detune the strings approximately a fourth lower and then adjust the wheels. If they still seem stuck, take it to a luthier.
More tips coming soonish…