How to adjust action at the bridge

[RxFunk]

Title really says it all, I'm unsure as to how I can adjust my action from the bridge. Here's my bridge

[JLS]

Originally Posted by RxFunk

Title really says it all, I'm unsure as to how I can adjust my action from the bridge. Here's my bridgeAttachment 313845Attachment 313846

Here: ALL BASIC SETUP QUESTIONS ANSWERED HERE

[bassteban]

Read the stickie near the top of the *hardware, setup & repair*- 5th one down I think

[RxFunk]

Originally Posted by bassteban

Read the stickie near the top of the *hardware, setup & repair*- 5th one down I think

That would probably be a good place to check...

[bassteban]

Hey, no worries- I hope I didn't come off all snarky or w/e. The answers to most basic questions are already written down somewhere in here, it's just a matter of knowing where to look. And it never hurts to ask- Ill give you credit for posting in the right forum!

[skychief]

Hmmm... seems as tho theres 4 missing hex screws in the saddles. I would recommend considering an after-market bridge with the proper saddle adjustments. That one is is clearly poorly designed.

[bassteban]

Originally Posted by skychief

Hmmm... seems as tho theres 4 missing hex screws in the saddles. I would recommend considering an after-market bridge with the proper saddle adjustments. That one is is clearly poorly designed.

I can't make it out on my iPad, but I'd be rather surprised if Ibanez produced a bass that couldn't be setup properly. There may be some atypical height adjustment screw that doesn't show from this angle.

Edit: Duh, got the pic bigger- still, I'd be shocked if the height can't be adjusted. Hard to assess w/o bass in hand

[RxFunk]

Originally Posted by bassteban

Hey, no worries- I hope I didn't come off all snarky or w/e. The answers to most basic questions are already written down somewhere in here, it's just a matter of knowing where to look. And it never hurts to ask- Ill give you credit for posting in the right forum!

Haha, thanks, a lot of the time, when I go to post something, I start looking in the section and find exactly what I'm looking for, I just have to dig a little more sometimes I guess.

[RxFunk]

Originally Posted by skychief

Hmmm... seems as tho theres 4 missing hex screws in the saddles. I would recommend considering an after-market bridge with the proper saddle adjustments. That one is is clearly poorly designed.

Is that the first picture I have up? The four holes, because I believe there are in fact screws in there. I ask only because I'm not 100% on what the saddle actually is. not sure why this pic is on this comment , but I can't get it to go away, so just ignore it

[Stilettoprefer]

Yeah, toss that bridge in the trash and find one that actually works like a bridge is supposed to. There needs to be 4 more adjustment screws than there currently is. By cranking on those screws, you're just gonna tilt the saddles sideways. I can't believe that ibanez would make something like that!

[skychief]

Originally Posted by RxFunk

Is that the first picture I have up? The four holes, because I believe there are in fact screws in there. I ask only because I'm not 100% on what the saddle actually is. not sure why this pic is on this comment , but I can't get it to go away, so just ignore it

Yes, the 4 screws are there, but only on one side of the bridge saddle. There needs to be complimentary adjustments on the opposite sides so theres not that torturous twisting of the strings. (ouch!) I mean, strings are designed to "bend" but not as those obtuse angles as shown in the pics.

Anyways, this is where your string-height adjustment will be made; at the bridge saddles. To a lesser degree, perhaps the nut might be dialed in to lower the action. But I would seriously consider a replacement bridge to start before any tweaking on the nut. imo.

[RxFunk]

Originally Posted by skychief

Yes, the 4 screws are there, but only on one side of the bridge saddle. There needs to be complimentary adjustments on the opposite sides so theres not that torturous twisting of the strings. (ouch!) I mean, strings are designed to "bend" but not as those obtuse angles as shown in the pics.

Anyways, this is where your string-height adjustment will be made; at the bridge saddles. To a lesser degree, perhaps the nut might be dialed in to lower the action. But I would seriously consider a replacement bridge to start before any tweaking on the nut. imo.

Okay, I'll go see my luthier tomorrow(his shop's closed sunday), and see what kind of bridge he's got that will fit this, or if he can help me fix this one. Thanks skychief

[Scott in Dallas]

Don't those Ibanez bridges have a separate place to raise the level of all four strings at once, and then you use the small screws on the saddles to make fine adjustments to the action? Could have sworn I've set those up before.

[RxFunk]

Originally Posted by Scott in Dallas

Don't those Ibanez bridges have a separate place to raise the level of all four strings at once, and then you use the small screws on the saddles to make fine adjustments to the action? Could have sworn I've set those up before.

I hope so, because I don't really want to replace it.

[Growly Lytes]

Originally Posted by skychief

Hmmm... seems as tho theres 4 missing hex screws in the saddles. I would recommend considering an after-market bridge with the proper saddle adjustments. That one is is clearly poorly designed.

It looks like its only half finished or they forgot to add the rest of the adjustment screws.
There clearly should be another adjustment screw on the other side of each saddle which it doesnt ? How can you achieve correct string level with only 1 screw to adjust ?
Saddles should be flush with the plate.The saddles on your bridge are all on an angle which isnt good.
Ive never seen a bridge like that,thats wierd as !Throw it or have someone drill 4 new holes for adjusting the saddles so the are level.
Ibanez.........

[RxFunk]

Originally Posted by Growly Lytes

It looks like its only half finished or they forgot to add the rest of the adjustment screws.
There clearly should be another adjustment screw on the other side of each saddle which it doesnt ? How can you achieve correct string level with only 1 screw to adjust ?
Saddles should be flush with the plate.The saddles on your bridge are all on an angle which isnt good.
Ive never seen a bridge like that,thats wierd as !Throw it or have someone drill 4 new holes for adjusting the saddles so the are level.
Ibanez.........

Aw jeez, I really hope it's what Scott said it is. I'll take it to my luthier, and see what he thinks. His shop also sells Ibanez, so if need be, a replacement shouldn't be too hard to get.

[Scott in Dallas]

Originally Posted by RxFunk

I hope so, because I don't really want to replace it.

I don't have my Ibanez anymore, but the way I remember it, there was another screw that raised a plate beneath the saddles. Seemed like there was one on one side and two on the other, though. I can't see anything like that in the pictures you posted, so it's possible that's all there is.

Now you may be trying to fix a problem on the wrong end. If the truss rod is too tight you might be able to back it off and then lower the saddles back down. Any good setup guy will be able to tell you if that's the case, and with a little patience you can follow the setup guides here to figure it out.

If neither of those work, you could shim the neck to drop the amount that those saddles have to be brought up; I'm sure the bass was designed with enough movement so maybe it's just moved a bit. If it's a neck-thru bass, and adjusting the truss rod won't fix it, you're above my pay grade.

Good luck!

[RxFunk]

Originally Posted by Scott in Dallas

I don't have my Ibanez anymore, but the way I remember it, there was another screw that raised a plate beneath the saddles. Seemed like there was one on one side and two on the other, though. I can't see anything like that in the pictures you posted, so it's possible that's all there is.

Now you may be trying to fix a problem on the wrong end. If the truss rod is too tight you might be able to back it off and then lower the saddles back down. Any good setup guy will be able to tell you if that's the case, and with a little patience you can follow the setup guides here to figure it out.

If neither of those work, you could shim the neck to drop the amount that those saddles have to be brought up; I'm sure the bass was designed with enough movement so maybe it's just moved a bit. If it's a neck-thru bass, and adjusting the truss rod won't fix it, you're above my pay grade.

Good luck!

Thanks, I was gonna go see my luthier today, but I figured if I needed to pay for it, I should wait until I got paid(wednesday). So, I'll update on wednesday and let you guys know what's up then.