Peter Michael

Thank you, I think that might be a more prudent way forward, Excited though I am about taking the bass apart, the perils are clear and obvious. There are some good recommendations on other threads on here for luthiers, I'll make some phone calls first before DIY Peter

Thank you everyone for your useful and well informed replies. @SubsonicSimpleton and @Rabbie - Thank you, This is what I shall try first - after much research I think, clearly a fallen soundpost is to be avoided. I'll update when I have done it/lost the sound post. And @jrixn1 and @NickA you have confirmed some fears I had about loss of volume, mistake averted so thank you The plan then is to turn around the bridge and see what we have got actionwise, if workable I will stick with it and work at technique. Great advice from all

Hello, Please can I draw on the knowledge and experience of you all. My Stentor Student (laminate all round) sounds great but the action feels high. Above say C on G string my left hand fingers need to move off the fingerboard what feels an exaggerated amount when changing strings. It is my first bass so I'm not sure if that is normalish. The G string is 14mm off the end of the fingerboard and 11mm above the fingerboard at octave harmonic (1/2 way). The corresponding measurements for E string are 9mm and 6mm (all measurements from bottom of the string). The scale length is 1020mm. I think I recall somewhere standard heights should be 10mm for E and 8mm for G at the end of the fingerboard. The bridge makes a 90degree angle to the top of the bass on the forward edge (upwards), so I think it is on the correct way round. I think I can lower the bridge by the correct amount at the G (and corresponding at D and A) , but this would come at a price of reducing the break angle over the bridge from 30degree to about 26 degree I think. In the acoustic guitar world reducing the break angle is a bad thing as it reduces volume loads. I guess, but don't know, basses might work the same way. Current volume is OK, but I do not want to lose a noticeable amount of volume. So my question, assuming my assumptions are OK, is; Should I reduce action or will the loss in volume be too high a price to pay and so should I just get a better technique? Thanks in advance for your wise advice

I had a similar problem back in August and got some good advice here about stretches. Trying to keep up with strerches before playing and it is helping.

Thank you all for your time and advice. Lots of good stuff there, off for a practice. Thank you Peter

Hello Basschatters, I would like to ask for some advice please. When playing pizz at a reasonably fast tempo for me, I guess about 140bpm plus, I get cramp in right hand. It usually starts after a few songs, and hits about a minute into any song. At the same time my hand tries to make itself into a sort of claw shape. Once cramps start I find it is hard to make a nice note, or a note at all even. I have cramps generally, so it may just be me, but I wondered if there is any technique, practise or tricks that might help . I have attached a vid of my right hand so you can see my technique, what there is of it. Apologies for lapses of tempo and intonation towards the end. Any advice would help a lot. Thanks Peter Right hand bass.mp4

Thanks all, very helpful. I think I'll stick to straight rhumba all the way (1, 2.5 and 4) with some of Spencer's variation when I get confident. The song is all round Em, Am and B7 so that sort of arpeggio fits nicely Nice vid Dad, I think aspirational for me at the moment. Thanks again for advice all

Perhaps some of you experienced players can help a new one. I am trying to find the best way to play rhumba - with guitar and violin. It is in 4/4. Rhumba rythmn accents are on the first, fourth and seventh half beats (ie at 1, 2.5 and 4 if counted in 4). I hope I've explained that right. However either pattern sounds messy or not with the music. Any tips or pointers on how to manage a rhumba on DB? What do others do? Thanks, all help needed. Peter