American Standard bridge placement?

[tornadobass]

I've had the bridge on my '60s American Standard set up at a 42" scale length for several years. Recently, I took the bass to a shop and it came back as 43".

If the bridge was actually set up centered at the notches, I think the length would be closer to 43.75".

Those of you with an American Standard, where have you placed your bridge? Any particular reason for your chosen location?

[M Ramsey]

The 43" range is about right. I'm no scholar, but I own two of them and the reason I bought the second one was so I wouldn't have to switch back to a 41.5" scale (Kay scale) if my Standard was in the shop.

This is not to say you can't fudge and modify the scale length on your own bass, but it was built with the longer mensure.

[Wallyphonic]

I have the bridge on my American Standard centered on the notches (about 43.5") I like the longer scale and didn't find it too hard to get used to. Plus, it sounds great!

Like M. Ramsey I bought a second A.S. to use as a back-up. Unfortunately the second one doesn't sound nearly as good as the first.

[M Ramsey]

Originally Posted by Wallyphonic

I have the bridge on my American Standard centered on the notches (about 43.5") I like the longer scale and didn't find it too hard to get used to. Plus, it sounds great!

Like M. Ramsey I bought a second A.S. to use as a back-up. Unfortunately the second one doesn't sound nearly as good as the first.

If you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself, get someone to help you tinker around with setup on your 2nd bass and I bet you'll get out of it what you want, soundwise.

I was at Ron Shuffler's home a couple years ago and played an American Standard he had for sale and it wasn't too impressive. I went back about a month, six weeks later and Ron had brought it to life, changing out the soundpost and doing a few other minor adjustments. It was right there with some of the best I have played.

It has the ability, it probably just needs some adjusting.

[tornadobass]

For now, anyhow, I set the bridge back to a 42.5 string length. This was a practical choice because going with 43.5 would have required a new bridge or raising the adjusters up more than 1/2". I would also have needed to move the sound post.

It turned out that the post was too close to the bridge, so the 42.5" length put the bridge 1 post width away from the post. The bottom end came back nicely after that and the string height is back to 9mm - 5mm, E to G.

All that seems to make the bass happy

[Wallyphonic]

Originally Posted by M Ramsey

If you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself, get someone to help you tinker around with setup on your 2nd bass and I bet you'll get out of it what you want, soundwise.
It has the ability, it probably just needs some adjusting.

I did the set-up on both basses myself. The 2nd bass still had it's "factory set-up" , super high nut, original warped bridge, etc. After I fit a new bridge, adjusted the nut, new tailpiece wire, and planed the fingerboard a little, it plays pretty good.

Problem is, it sounds thin, kind of cardboard box-y. No real low end. I tried moving the sound post a little south but it didn't seem to help. The sound post seems kind of tight ... not sure if that could be my problem.

Anybody have any ideas?

btw -both basses have the same strings plain gut G D A olive E

[Jake deVilliers]

A tight soundpost will definitely inhibit the sound. It should just be snug in its home, not jammed in hard. Tough to describe - its a 'feel' thing...

When you move a post out and down it generally needs to be carefully made shorter to better fit the new position.

[Wallyphonic]

Thanks for the advice Jake. I guess I'll try shortening the sound post and see if that helps. This will be new territory for me... I guess the worst that can happen is that I will have to get a new sound post fit by a pro.