Changing Sadowsky Tokyo V string spacing

[dirtbird]

hi everyone
i've a Sadowsky Tokyo with the Badass V bridge. Awesome bass, but the string spacing is a little bit too wide for my tastes. So, I'm thinking of buying a new Badass bridge and setting it up for a narrower spacing - I belive the Badass will allow down to 17mm spacing at the bridge, but this wouldn't necessarily be compatible with the pickup poll piece placement.
So, my question is: does anyone know whether there is a minimum spacing that is allowable (specifically in the Sadowsky) before the strings aren't in an optimal position above the poll pieces?

cheers
DB

ps if anyone knows what size fret wire was used on the Tokyos, I'd be interested in knowing that too, cos I think I could do with a re-fret.

[sunbeast]

I don't know if they're compatible (whether or not you would have to drill new holes), but I use a schaller roller bridge on one of my basses. http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,...s_Bridges.html
The strings sit on little rollers that allow you to change string spacing very easily- so you could try out different spacings to find the best compromise. I don't know about your particular bass, but generally basses with polepieces are less forgiving as far as different string spacings- meaning that you will have little leeway before you will lose volume balance between the strings (some strings will be directly over polepieces, some will only be a little above. In this case, you might want to think about some new pickups that have blades rather than polepieces, like Bartolinis or comparable. I assume you probably don't want to change the sound of your bass drastically, so my assumption is that you will only be able to change your spacing very minimally.....
I just figured I would give my $.02, as I change my pickups + string spacings constantly on one of my basses and found the Schaller to be a fantastic bridge that requires no permanent modification (like putting the saddle grooves in a Badass bridge), so you can experiment infinitely until you've found your perfect spacing.

Karl Zickrick

[dirtbird]

Hi Karl
thanks very much for your input - but like you say, I don't want to change the sound of the bass, so I'm perfectly happy with the current pickups and a replacement Badass bridge (or saddles) filed to a narrower spacing. So, ultimately it's the new string position relative to the pickup pole pieces that I'm concerned about.
To be honest if I can't do it, then I wouldn't be too disappointed , but in an ideal world... ;-)

I might just take some preliminary measurements to see if I can predict the outcome.

thanks again
db