where to site the bridge?

[Kevo]

Can anyone help me out here? I am building a bass to my own liking, I already know that the bridge should be positioned exactly the same distance from the twelfth fret as the distance between nut/zero fret and twelfth fret, the problem I have is what part of the bridge do I measure to?
Given that the saddles are staggered I'm thinking it cant be measured to the saddles, is it to the back of the bridge (where the strings thread through) or is there a mystic line somewhere between?
Any info would be greatfully received

[J.D.B.]

You measure from the crown of the twelfth fret to the top arc of a nearly fully extended saddle. That way you assure enough rearward adjustment to get set up.
Josh

[Kevo]

Thanks Josh

[maurilio]

Originally Posted by J.D.B.

.....to the top arc of a nearly fully extended saddle. That way you assure enough rearward adjustment to get set up.
Josh

Don't do that, no!
You're right about mesuring from the 12th fret, to the middle of the saddles, but with the saddles set at 2/3 (even 1/2) forward way on the bridge (BTW, what kind of bridge and what neck radius?). In this way you still have room to go both way depending on the strings.

M

[J.D.B.]

Can the minimum length of suspended string of a scale, say 34", ever be LESS than 34"? I've never seen that. I could be mistaken, though, I've only built nine, so far.
Josh

[Kevo]

Ta very much for that.
The neck is a washburn that I bought a while ago, never been fitted to a guitar, radius seems almost non existent, i.e. flat, I will measure action with a micrometer to be sure, bridge is a standard P Bass style, body will be Gibson SG shape.