Full Circle to replace ebony adjusters?

[Wilbyman]

Hey guys, I was just checking out my ebony adjusters to see if the Full Circle would work in my bridge. It looks like the ebony adjusters have a bit bigger screw diameter. I was poking around some old threads and it appears Fishman was offering some inserts to make the Full Circle work in place of ebony adjusters. I'm not sure exactly what my ebony adjusters are but they look identical to the ones on the Lemur site.

Anybody know where inserts can be scored and whether or not this whole thing is possible without drilling/reaming/messing with the bridge?

W

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by Wilbyman

Hey guys, I was just checking out my ebony adjusters to see if the Full Circle would work in my bridge. It looks like the ebony adjusters have a bit bigger screw diameter. I was poking around some old threads and it appears Fishman was offering some inserts to make the Full Circle work in place of ebony adjusters. I'm not sure exactly what my ebony adjusters are but they look identical to the ones on the Lemur site.

Anybody know where inserts can be scored and whether or not this whole thing is possible without drilling/reaming/messing with the bridge?

W

Alas, I two have ebony adjusters. I'm not a luthier, but I believe they are actually bigger and it a new bridge is in order. I hope I'm wrong though. This is the reason that I've never installed a Full Circle on my bass, since I'm fairly certain that the thread sizes aren't compatible with the metal ones. I like the ebony, sonically I'm not sure that it makes any difference, but wooden adjusters, sound a little different to my ears.

Ric

[Wilbyman]

Thanks Ric...I think you are correct. I like the ebony adjusters too. I will likely just stick with my tried and true (ok, tried and a little gnarly) Underwood.

[christ andronis]

Did you try calling Fishman directly?

[txstatebass]

My luthier came up with an interesting solution. He filled the holes with some glue mixed with sawdust and redrilled a hole to fit the full-circle. Kinda roundabout, but it works great on my buddy's bass.

[milomo]

Try calling Arnold Schnitzer. I had the same problem, and his assistant Jed figured out a way (i think similar to what txstatebass is talking about) make it work so I didn't need a new bridge. Maybe Jed would be willing to explain it to you and/or your luthier.

[Wilbyman]

Cool, thanks for the suggestions guys. I am in West Virginia and go to Bob Beerman's in NC for my luthiery needs, might have to send the bridge down or wait til the next trip with my bass.

W

[Mark Carlsen]

Here's the deal.. Plugging w. a dowel and re tapping for 1/4 20 thread has to be precise. You might luck out w. the glue sawdust thing, but it may not tap clean for a strong thread.
I had aluminum inserts made w. 1/4 20 inner and 7/16ths outer [ which is your ebony's thread size ] You can just use one for the E foot and keep ebony on the G side, or go for 2 matching aluminum. Contact me if you want to buy a set.

[Bob Branstetter]

Originally Posted by Mark Carlsen

Here's the deal.. Plugging w. a dowel and re tapping for 1/4 20 thread has to be precise. You might luck out w. the glue sawdust thing, but it may not tap clean for a strong thread.
I had aluminum inserts made w. 1/4 20 inner and 7/16ths outer [ which is your ebony's thread size ] You can just use one for the E foot and keep ebony on the G side, or go for 2 matching aluminum. Contact me if you want to buy a set.

I made a set of aluminum inserts like the ones Mark has a couple of years ago. The inserts avoid the problems of plugging, re-drilling, tapping and the possibility of getting out of alignment. You even have the option of returning to your ebony adjuster(s) if for some reason the Full Circle doesn't work for you. I put a couple of drops of loctite on the Full Circle threads so the insert threads move in wood, but you could glue the insert in permanently if you want.

[dperrott]

I contacted fishman a long time ago and asked them about this issue. They said they weren't planning on selling one that would work with wooden adjuster bridges. At David Gages shop they said it wouldn't work well to try to fit it into my bridge. I would like to try one...oh well
David

[Wilbyman]

I'm going to buy an insert from Mark, sounds like it will work fine. I will update this thread when I get it all hooked up.

Will

[Bob Branstetter]

There is one other consideration with the inserts that must be addressed. In addition to the threads, you have to also increase the diameter of the unthreaded end of the adjuster. When I made my set, I used a short length of wood dowel the diameter of the hole in the bridge feet and drilled a hole in the center for the adjuster on my lathe. An aluminum insert for the unthreaded end would probably work as well or better. How do you handle this problem Mark?

[Wilbyman]

Originally Posted by Bob Branstetter

There is one other consideration with the inserts that must be addressed. In addition to the threads, you have to also increase the diameter of the unthreaded end of the adjuster. When I made my set, I used a short length of wood dowel the diameter of the hole in the bridge feet and drilled a hole in the center for the adjuster on my lathe. An aluminum insert for the unthreaded end would probably work as well or better. How do you handle this problem Mark?

Hey Bob-

Mark indicated he will provide a metal tube will take care of the unthreaded end.

Will