Gollihur Music - Upright Bass Specialists: Instruments, Pickups, Preamps, Amplifiers, and Accessories

You’d think the job is pretty straightforward-- however, there are things you can do that will make the job a bigger success -- please read all of these tips first, as an overview for the best results and least risk to strings & bass!!

Change one string at a time. If you remove all the strings and relieve the pressure on the top of the bass, the sound post (wooden dowel under the G-side bridge foot spanning front to back) can fall. It’s held in only by the pressure of the bridge against the top of the bass. A good precaution, under any circumstance, is to tape a pencil to a stick and draw a circle around your current sound post position (assuming you’re happy with your bass’ sound), in case of accidental bridge collapse during transport. That will make returning the sound post to the preferred position easier.
Loosen the first string... Once it is loose around the post you can usually grab and disengage the section going through the hole using a pair of long nose pliers, which then allows you to pull the string out without a lot of machine turns.
Inspect string routing in the headstock before you start to change them. It’s a good idea not to have strings rubbing against each as you tune, so check to see how they are currently wound around the string roller and routed through the headstock so you can imitate or correct placement. It’s a good time for housecleaning: a vacuum, cloth rag, q-tips, and other tools are good for removing dust and debris.
Check bridge and nut “slots” as you change each string. They should be indents, never deeper than half the diameter of the string; deep slots can pinch a string, dampening true pitch, harmonics, and sustain—and possibly break the string! You may want to use a small rattail file (or folded sandpaper) to round them to better accommodate the string's diameter, if the new strings are larger than the old ones. Also, be sure the surface is smooth and there is a smooth path angling down from both sides of the bridge - that indent should be a very smooth path for the string at both bridge and nut. If the nut slots are too wide and cause buzz, a quickie emergency fix can be made by laying a little gel formula super glue in there to narrow the string path.
Lubricate the indents You can use some pencil lead (graphite) to act as a lubricant - you really don't want the strings' metal wrap to catch on the bridge or nut and ruin the string.
Insert the string end into the roller. The weight and stiffness of the string can dictate how you fasten it. If light, you can twist the end of the string around the part exiting the roller a couple times, otherwise having the string cross over the end, holding it in place, can do the job. Neat winds are nice although not always necessary; I use a string winder that fits into my electric screwdriver so I have a free hand to guide the string neatly onto the roller, and you’ll get the best results if you keep tension on the string as you wind. Be sure not to wind the string on the roller so the string ends up rubbing against the inside wall of the headstock, cross over and start winding the other way to avoid this... and keep in mind where you want the string to end up (see string routing topic above).
IMPORTANT! Watch and correct the bridge’s attitude, now and in the future. As you tune up the strings can have a tendency to pull the top of the bridge towards the fingerboard -- keep an eye on it, as that pull will eventually warp the bridge and possibly cause it to collapse. This happens not just at changing time, but each time you tune! I used to give the top of my bridge a gentle karate chop to put it back into a perfectly perpendicular position. Now that I am older, wiser, and more susceptible to pain, I use the spine of a bad paperback book.
Don’t remove and reinstall strings if you can help it. Many double bass strings are often made of a variety of materials, and almost all do not take kindly to being twisted, which can result in breakage or poor sound. If you must reinstall a string, let it lay naturally and don’t fight where it wants to go; twist the entire string from the tailpiece end if it’s not laying naturally.
Patience, Grasshopper. Strings can take a while to stretch, especially synthetic/perlon core types (3+ days!), so it may not be a good idea to change strings Friday night for a Saturday gig. Give them time, play them in, so they gradually acclimate to your bass.
Bass buzzes and rattles can be elusive, but I’ve often found them to originate from loose string ends vibrating against each other or against the headstock. If one develops that’s one of the first places to look!

You'll find detailed descriptions of the strings I sell on my Strings Page, to help choose a string that meets your needs and taste. String gauges are also shown. I hope you find this and that information helpful.

Bob Gollihur	"Double Bass Pickup and Mic Systems, Strings, Electric and Acoustic Upright Basses, Strings, Amps, Accessories, and more..."	Shopping Cart \| Wishlist \| My Account
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