Precision Bass Bridge Location?

metro_area · #1 05-20-2010, 12:15 PM

This might seem like a stupid question, but I'm having a heck of a time finding an answer for it.

I just bought a Fender-licensed P Bass body, as I'm building up a project bass. The body came without any sort of holes / marks / guides / etc for the placement of the bridge. There is simply a routed hole for the pickup ground wire, and that's it.

Does anyone know of a template / equation / measurements for where and how I should properly position the bridge? I'd appreciate any insight.

mulchor · #2 05-20-2010, 12:20 PM

There's some guidance there from the hole for the grounding wire.

The real answer is you want the bridge positioned such that it works with the neck -- center the strings over the pup and so that the saddles of the bridge are 34" from the nut.

Put the neck on first. Measure it, mark it, measure it again.

metro_area · #3 05-20-2010, 12:32 PM

Wow, my first post and it was answered within 3 minutes! Amazing, thank you so much!

Should I extend the saddles all the way out when measuring the 34" from the nut, or set them where I 'think' the setup will eventually find the saddles?

mulchor · #4 05-20-2010, 12:37 PM

Myself, I'm a hobbyist, not a pro.

So I aim for the saddles to be right in the middle of the bridge at scale length, so if I'm off I have some room to go either way.

metro_area · #5 05-20-2010, 12:38 PM

Fantastic. Thanks again!

lug · #6 05-20-2010, 12:40 PM

Extend ths saddles almost full out and measure 17" from the 12th fret. In theory, you should never have to be shorter than 17 inches from the 12th to the saddle on a 34" scale bass. I'd leave just a tiny bit left just.....because.

Dadagoboi · #7 05-20-2010, 12:53 PM

With a vintage type bridge leave about a quarter to 3/8 of an inch of thread showing past the G saddle. You can either measure 34" from the fret side of the nut or 17" from the 12th fret to the center of the saddle. It's very important to get the bridge centered and perpendicular to the neck. So find the centerline of the body/neck and make sure the center hole of your bridge is on it. Drill that hole first, screw bridge down fairly tight, make sure it's squared up and then drill remaining holes, etc.