first build completion/setup problem.

[mjwhit]

so i have just finished my first build (sorry for the photo quality)


my problem is the action is way high, because for some reason or another the bridge is too high. I think it is because i applied polyurethane then attatched the bridge overtop.

I filed down the nut, and the trussrod/relief is perfect.
Am i ment to file down the saddles in the bridge? they are as low as they can go but i probably need another 1-2 mm

I can see two options: file the saddles, or route out a few mm from the body. Which should i do? or possible 3rd option? thanks

[stflbn]

Shim the neck pocket. Or file the saddles down.

If it's a neck-through... file the saddles down.

[Dirk Diggler]

You could also just rout out under the bridge the desired amount. Make a template and it would be a piece of cake.
Good luck,
Dirk

[tZer]

Originally Posted by Dirk Diggler

You could also just rout out under the bridge the desired amount. Make a template and it would be a piece of cake.
Good luck,
Dirk

I had to do that too - same problem - action way too high and no further recourse at the neck end of the equation...

I routed under the bridge and was good (enough) to go. I actually routed too much (doh!) and ended up putting a thin piece of wood in the relieved area.

But I think the routing option is better than filing the saddles.

[Foreman_]

It looks really great!

[Diogenes]

Very nice job indeed! If it were mine I would rout out a bridge pocket to solve the string height problem (this is a neck through, right?).

[millsbass5]

I really like the looks of recessed bridges.It just makes an instrument scream "handcrafted".

[vbasscustom]

hows a wood bridge for you then, i love them, non adjustable, just floating one peice wood bridges, mmmmmm

[tZer]

Here are some pics of how I handled it:

Here's the bridge-recess routing jig - As Dirk said, with a jig, it's easy:



Maybe a little TOO easy (or I didn't measure twice...) but I went too deep...


So I routed the entire central core area and glued in some thin padauk pieces:


And all's well that ends well:

[Arx]

Yeah, If it's a bolt on, just shim the neck so it's tilted back slightly.

Otherwise, I'd suggest routing the body. Filing saddles is a cheap and dirty hack that might get you by if it only needs to move a little bit. I've done it, but it's not usually the nicest.

[Zombbg4]

Way to make lemonade out of lemons, i like the padauk pieces.

[Fred19137]

For me when i made my first The neck angle was wrong this may be the case for u. I simply put a quarter between the neck and body to shift the angle and though it may be said to affect the sound I dont care that one was my first and I cant tell anyways.

[Dirk Diggler]

Nice improv tZer, hats off to you!
Actually I think it looks very nice and intentional in the finished bass, great match to the fingerboard too.
To me stuff like that is why I really enjoy making basses, every one poses it's own problems, and improvisation to cover/mutate and change, that's the magic.
Dirk

[tZer]

Dirk - thanks, man!

I agree - it's like jamming - you take where your at and make it work. Sometimes it comes out better than anything you could have planned.

[bjlevine]

I vote for the routing the bridge pocket option. I think it would look very cool to have the base of the bridge flush with the body of the bass.