Relocating a bridge lower

[fatboy250]

I have a Fender P-bass and was thinking of adding another set of P pups. What I was thinking about doing was moving the bridge lower on the body. This would allow me to route for the other set and have them at least 1/2" lower than if I left the bridge in place. Would this cause any problems that you guys can think of on a fretless? I could see how it would affect a fretted, but since it would be fretless would there be any other unforeseen problems that I need to consider?

Also is there some mathamatical way of determining a "best" location for pups based on string length? Especially if I consider relocating or adding another neck pup (3 sets!! )

Thanks,
Jason

[TheEmptyCell]

Your intonation would be thrown way off.

Why exactly do you want the pickup farther back?

[Son of Magni]

Well, your neck dots would be useless. And your string tension would increase. Other than that I can't think of any problems you would have. But for a difference of a half inch I'm not sure why you would really want to bother.

[BillyB_from_LZ]

Originally Posted by TheEmptyCell

Your intonation would be thrown way off....

A voice from the Copper Country!!!

Actually, on a fretless, moving the bridge back will simply lengthen the scale length...intonation is set relative to that.

If it's a lined fretless you'll have "issues" if unlined you'll need to recalibrate your playing.

Originally Posted by fatboy250

...Also is there some mathamatical way of determining a "best" location for pups based on string length? Especially if I consider relocating or adding another neck pup (3 sets!! )

Mathematical placement of pickups? I'm not sure. Best thing to do would be to try out a number of basses and see what harmonics are located above the pickups...that might give a clue.

My 5 string Hoyt/Warmoth J5 has a body designed (AFAIK) for a 34 in. scale bass, but Karl put a 35 in. scale neck on it... All this really means is that the pickups moved relative to their expected locations, but it sounds great.

For three pickups, take a look at the Stu Hamm Urge bass...two Js and a P. The other example to draw from might be a Yamaha Billy Sheehan Attitude bass...big ol' Gibson-like humbucker up by the neck (ala EB series bass) and a P in the P position. Add to that a J like a PJ and there you go...

For two Ps find a photo of an old BC Rich bass or find that Vantage thread in basses...there are some double P basses there.

If you're going to install three Ps, then the only way to amplify it would be with a POD

Have fun!

[Akami]

Originally Posted by fatboy250

I have a Fender P-bass and was thinking of adding another set of P pups. What I was thinking about doing was moving the bridge lower on the body. This would allow me to route for the other set and have them at least 1/2" lower than if I left the bridge in place. Would this cause any problems that you guys can think of on a fretless? I could see how it would affect a fretted, but since it would be fretless would there be any other unforeseen problems that I need to consider?

Also is there some mathamatical way of determining a "best" location for pups based on string length? Especially if I consider relocating or adding another neck pup (3 sets!! )

Thanks,
Jason

I didn't move the bridge, but I did shorten the scale length of my Strat years ago when I had the fingerboard replaced and they recalibrated it just a little shorter, which caused no problems whatsoever.

Especially since you're fretless you won't have to do a thing other than to plug unused screw holes.

[fatboy250]

Originally Posted by TheEmptyCell

Why exactly do you want the pickup farther back?

Seems as if it would need to be to locate another set at the bridge. Maybe I could just get a measure from someone who has a 34" scale bass with dual P's? A Precision elite II measurements would be ideal probably since I have a precision to start with. That would answer just about any question I had with the dual P set up. If I went to 3, I'm not sure where I would get my reference.

Anybody have time to measure their dual P setup? I guess the reference point would be to the centerline of each pickup in relation to the 12th or 20th fret.

This would be valuable information since I don't know anyone with this type of bass.

Thanks,
Jason