Fretboard dot size?

[Blind Dog]

Is is common on basses to use a slightly larger fretboard dot? I have been using 1/4" on guitars but I was looking at a picture of an Ampeg bass and they look larger than 1/4" (6.35mm). I am building a Scroll Bass and wasnt it to look similar to the original. I see that LMI sells dots in 7, 8, 9 and 10mm. I looked at my fender basses and they look like 1/4".

These dots look larger than 1/4" to me. maybe it is an optical illusion...
What would look more like this? 7mm (.275") or 8mm (.314")

[rockelye]

The dots on my Ampeg AEB-1 are pretty exactly 9,6mm.

[Musiclogic]

a site I read said 10 mm and another guy said 3/8" so that 9.6 sounds like a good measurement.

[Blind Dog]

Originally Posted by rockelye

The dots on my Ampeg AEB-1 are pretty exactly 9,6mm.

Thanks for checking that for me.

9.6mm = 0.37795"
3/8" = 0.375

Is there any chance you could send me (or post) some close up pictures of the bridge/mystery pickup. From what I have read there is a magnetic pickup in the body with an air gap between that and a piece of thin steel and the bridge is mounted on a bakelite block on top of the thin steel.

Check out my scroll bass build thread if you are interested.

Thanks,
Mike

[Blind Dog]

Originally Posted by Musiclogic

a site I read said 10 mm and another guy said 3/8" so that 9.6 sounds like a good measurement.

I guess I'll buy 10mm abd file a little off, I don't see anyone selling 3/8" dots.

Thanks !

[tjclem]

Very cool funky bass I want to try building something like that.

[rockelye]

Originally Posted by Blind Dog

Thanks for checking that for me.

9.6mm = 0.37795"
3/8" = 0.375

Is there any chance you could send me (or post) some close up pictures of the bridge/mystery pickup. From what I have read there is a magnetic pickup in the body with an air gap between that and a piece of thin steel and the bridge is mounted on a bakelite block on top of the thin steel.

I guess the 3/8" will be the correct measure for the dots.
I´ll take off the pickguard and take some pics of it.
I don´t think I will be able to get pics of the diaphragm pickup itself cause the assembly is screwed to the bass body with some special screws. And from what i have read it is very delicate, and I won´t take the chance to rip off some wires... It looks like the bridge and the saddles are made of aluminum.

I have been following your build thread. Looks very promising, and I have thought of getting a custom built bass in the Ampeg Scroll style for a long time. I´m thinking of ordering one from Bruce Johnson at xstrange.com, but I can´t afford it yet.

If you haven´t talked with Bruce yet, I would definately give him a call.
He´s the leading resource on these basses, and is probably able to answer most of your questions.

Good luck in the building process!

Eirik

[Blind Dog]

I was not expecting you to take it apart. Just some close pics of the bridge sitting on the bakelite block from both sides.

I have not contacted Bruce Johnson yet but I have read everything on his website. I will probably get in touch with him at some point.

[rockelye]

Here are some pics. Hope it helps.

I uploaded 15 pics to Flickr. Let me know if you need hi-res.


Eirik

[Blind Dog]

Eirik,
Thanks !
I really appreciate you taking the time to make those pics. That is a great help to me.

Mike

[rockelye]

No problem. Just tell if you need close ups of other parts, and I´ll see what I can do.