DIY
Bass Care
Lubricating
your strings with some graphite will help you get rich and play
better???
Get
rich? Well not exactly but it will save you destroying strings
and warping your bridge which are expensive purchases.
Everyone
has seen bridges that are bent and strings that are unwinding
where they pass over the bridge. These things can be avoided
easily by loosening each string one at a time and with a HB
pencil blacken the slot where the string runs through the bridge
and at the end of the finger board, the nut. Make sure the string
passes through the slot easily before retuning. If the string
catches or is tight then the slot will need filing. Never take
all the strings off at once as this can cause the sound post
to fall over.
Every
day the strings exert pressure on the bridge pulling it one
way or another. Sometimes it is you tuning the bass and other
times it is the weather causing the bass to expand and contract.
This generally pulls the bridge forward towards the player and
if the tension is not released it will warp the bridge. Once
the strings are lubricated you will be able to push gently but
firmly on the top of the bridge and release the tension. (Ask
someone who knows if you are unsure how to do this)This will
help your bass vibrate easier and save you money. However, if
your bridge is already bent it's too late. Go and see your local
luthier.
