I'm a newbie to bass. I received my instrument as a gift. I know it is a 2000 MIA P-Bass. However, it has the split-P and J-bridge pickups, so I think it is a P-Bass Plus.

It also has a strange bridge/saddle. I broke one of the saddles and the repairperson told me I'm not likely to find a replacement floating around. Here are photos:

Bridge: http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y273/Arbitrator/P1010115.jpg
Saddle: http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y273/Arbitrator/P1010110.jpg

Questions:
- Is this definitely a P-Bass Plus? Deluxe Plus? P-Bass Special? Are they the same thing?
- What is the name of this type of bridge?
- What is this type of saddle called?
- Do you know of a place where I can order this saddle?

If I can't replace the saddle, I might start over with a new bridge. Since this is a 3-screw setup, I thought the Badass III might work.

However, since my bridge is so strange, I don't want to assume the screw holes will line up. Does anyone know if they do or don't? Will the action be thrown off?

Thanks in advance!

It is not the bog stock Fender bridge. If Fender don't sell that bridge anymore you can take the broken parts to a metal work shop and get them to make a new part.

I think it is fairly safe to assume another 3 hole bridge will fit. Any bridge has action adjustment, it should be ok.

Since my first post, I've discovered a few things:

- My bridge is the cast "fine tuning" bridge, and was made by Schaller (but it has Fender stamped on it).
- The Badass III will not fit, because its screw hole pitch is 19 mm, while my bridge's screw hole pitch is 23 mm.

Since that bridge was made by Schaller (although they, too, discontinued it and know nothing about it), I'm asking for anyone with a Schaller bridge to post their screw hole and string pitch measurements. I'm specifically curious about this model with the roller saddles:

<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y273/Arbitrator/3e_1_b.jpg"></a>

Jonny, I'm trying to avoid machining a new saddle because that will cost at least $80. At that point, I might as well buy a new bridge, because I'll have something with (hopefully) readily available parts in the event of future problems.

Last night, I attempted a screw extraction on the saddle. Since the stupid screw is brass, it just stripped away inside. I switched to a bigger-size extractor, but that broke the saddle itself. :crying:

I'm also considering just going ahead and having them drill new holes in the body to install a different bridge. But that will, again, require a professional, and honestly, I don't like the idea of drilling more holes in the body anyway.

just call schaller up

I have one of those (3-D4) on a Peavey, but mount hole spacing appears to be 25mm, not 23mm. String spacing is variable.

Try contacting one of these to verify, or perhaps Schaller can send you a replacement saddle.

http://www.schaller-guitarparts.de/1251.htm

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Bass_bridges/Schaller_4-String_Roller_Bass_Bridges.html

EDIT: sorry, I didn't realize you'd already contacted Schaller. Go to plan B
BTW, it appears a broken intonation screw is the problem, if so could you just flip the saddle and have a shop bore/thread the other "leg" for a new screw (it doesn't have to match the other three, just fit into the bridge)?

I... I broke one of the saddles and the repairperson told me I'm not likely to find a replacement ....!

Well, lets wiew the problem from another angle. The detail that's broken seems to be the screw for adjusting the intonation. Adjust the intonation by moving the saddle by hand. Once the intonation is set you wont need the screw until the next time you change strings. Meanwhile the string will keep the saddle firmly in position.