Bridge Placment =/

[Simo98]

Hey guys,

Im just in the middle of building my first bass from scratch (bar the neck.. im cheating :P Build thread hopefully on the way ) and am measuring up where the bridge will go so i can arrange my pickguard around it.

I was under the impression that the centre of the 12th fret (on the dot markers) was supposed to be exactly half way between the bridge saddles (all set at centre) and the nut. However i have measured an existing bass of mine, and also a P bass scale diagram I printed out from the fender site, and on both of them it is not the centre of the 12th fret, but rather the bottom of the spacing on the wire?

Just checking, is this the correct way to measure this? it looks correct like this, wheras before the bridge appeared to be sitting too far foward.

Also this measurement with my neck, and also on my existing bass, is 870mm, which works out to be just over 34 inches i believe. Is a 34.25" scale normal for a Squier P bass neck? Measuring to the centre of the fret give 840mm, a 33" scale which would make more sense i believe? but if this is the case then my old bass, which is completely stock, is measured wrong?

any help would be greatly appreciated. Im a little confused

[Rocky McD]

I think you said you measured from the center of the 12 fret. Did you mean halfway between the 11th and 12 fret? If it is a 34" scale it should be 17" from the nut to the
12th fretwire and 17" from there to the bridge saddles. There is some difference of opinion on the strarting position of the saddles. I like the G string saddle to be out about 80% of it's extended travel. The other saddles should adjust progressively rearward.

[Simo98]

No Worries, looks like i might have it figured out.

435mm from the nut to the 12th fret wire, and a further 435mm to the bridge saddles, 870mm from the nut to the bridge in total.

Looks alright, i guess that makes it a 34.25 inch scale then?

[Rocky McD]

It should be exactly a 34" scale. Now, where you have the saddles set can change your measurements. Usually, the small G string will come closest to being 34", the larger strings progressively need to be longer for proper intonnation, the largest E string will typically be 1/4" longer than the G. When you initially set your G string saddle, don't set it at it's longest setting (end of travel). Leave a little adjustment both ways.
Rocky

[Rocky McD]

I don't know if you have mounted your bridge yet, if not, locating it perfectly in alignment with the neck, strings, pickups can be challenging. You must mount the neck and pickups to check the alignment with a string. It is easy to get it offset if not careful.
Rocky

[draftsmann]

Originally Posted by Rocky McD

I don't know if you have mounted your bridge yet, if not, locating it perfectly in alignment with the neck, strings, pickups can be challenging. You must mount the neck and pickups to check the alignment with a string. It is easy to get it offset if not careful.
Rocky

The method I've used when assembling a "partscaster" guitar was to tie a piece of nylon sewing thread between bridge, over saddles, over nut and then to tuner. You only need one for the highest string and one for the lowest. Stretch the threads and it'll immediately show up whether either string is too close to the edge of the neck. There is enough tension for that purpose, but obviously much less than with real strings. No reason why this wouldn't work for a bass - obviously the nut and bridge slots are much wider, but again you're aiming for the high and low strings to be correctly aligned so they are equidistant from their respective edges of the neck.

HTH.

Adrian