GFS / Grizzly bridge intonation?

[Tristan]

So I ordered one out these for a parts bass.

It has arrived, and while the construction is good, the design seems horrible.

There is a little hex screw that holes the saddle in intonation... the thing is, it will be covered by the string, and i'll have to loosen the string, to get at the screw, move the saddle (hoping i moved it to the right place) retighten and then tune the string up again. Seems like a pain so I am not sure I want to install.

Am I missing something?

Thanks

[96tbird]

No, that about sums it up. Fun, right?

[Tristan]

That's ridiculous. Have you used one, 96t?

Oh well, time to get a Gotoh I guess...

Thanks for reply
Tristan

[96tbird]

I bought a set of four individual bridge pieces, same saddle setup. I hated the setup for the same reasons you do; PIA to set up. I ended up using this:VERY NICE DIECAST BASS GUITAR BRIDGE precise action adj | eBay
It's a nice piece, cast zinc, good price. That seller also has a lock down version, same as on the Carvin website:CHROME DIECAST BASS GUITAR BRIDGE THROUGH BODY OR TOP | eBay

I have seen both used on boutique basses online. One warning, the zinc saddles may have burrs on the height adjustment screw holes. Mine jammed and it was a PIA to get it out. So It's good practice to run a tap through a few times to clean the threads up. Metric is required.

[Tristan]

Cool thanks for the heads up.

I'll probably just get the Gotoh off stewmac... its about $24 and tried and true.

I'm amazed that someone bother making a new bridge design inherently worse than the most basic bridges around... ah well.

[mordechai]

I've used some bridges like that. One from a Spector performance series bass and then those individual string bridges from bestbassgear.com

With both the set screw to lock the saddle was at an angle clear of the string and I was able to unlock it without loosening the string. Trouble is that even once it's unlocked it's pretty hard to move when it's under thirty pounds of tension.

Now I play a Hofner. I must be some kind of glutton for punishment.

[dmusic148]

I don't see what the big deal is. You have to loosen the strings a lot before you move the saddles on ANY bridge. With this one, you have to loosen them a bit more and remove from the bridge. So what? It's not like you have to do it once a week.

[96tbird]

Originally Posted by dmusic148

You have to loosen the strings a lot before you move the saddles on ANY bridge.

What? Never have I ever loosened to intonate. Move saddle, tune, check 12th. To each his own.

[dmusic148]

It's typically difficult to move a saddle when it's under full tension. So I loosen my strings first. To each his own.

[Foamy]

Originally Posted by 96tbird

What? Never have I ever loosened to intonate. Move saddle, tune, check 12th. To each his own.

Right. But if you don't, you're subject to a handful of things that can bite you. Depends on a number of factors. Like hanging up on a string winding somewhere in the bridge Or if it's one of the traditional Fenders, sometimes the bolt does not go flush with the back of the plate.
So it's intontated until something pops.
I'd always recommend loosening if you want to be certain it's one and done.

[Tristan]

Yeah, I was thinking I *MIGHT* be able to get at the screw without moving the string, but even then, theres something to be said for having the saddle move according to the direction of the screw turn. You know, like how the REVOLUTIONARY fender bridge worked LOL

Having to manually push the saddle to where you want seems like a big, inaccurate step backwards imho

[96tbird]

Yeah, oops too far, begin again.

[walterw]

they actually work just fine; i loosen that screw (which is, yes, at an angle so it clears the string), then gently tap the saddle forward or back with a small hammer hitting a big screwdriver or whatever (wooden dowel if you're paranoid about scratching anything), re-tighten, re-tune and check.

[Tristan]

Thanks everybody for the replies.

I could probably make this work, but my final decision is to trick this puppy out with high tech 1960s style Turn n' Tune technology.

[FunkMetalBass]

I just keep the screw loose, tune, check intonation, detune, move the saddle, repeat.

It's really not much different than the usual setup technique. But to each his own. I like the way they look, and since intonation adjustment is uncommon, I can deal with the added bridge adjustment step.