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17.5mm bridge string spacing Fender Precision bass

S

SteveMoodie

Oct 2, 2008
226
112
New Zealand
www.thethomasoliverband.com
#1
Hi all

I have a AVRI 61 Precision bass that I love the sound of (owned and played the heck out of for around 8 years). However, I'm still frustrated by the 19m string spacing at the bridge - I play palm muted with a pick and it's not an easy experience.

I'd like to have 17.5mm string spacing but I don't want to buy a massive adjustable bridge. I want to keep the vintage style bent-L design.

Does a Fender vintage style bridge with 17.5mm string spacing exist?

PS - I've scoured the web for a hours but can't finding anything.

PPS - I've tried using the threaded saddle grooves but it's physically impossible to get it down to 17.5mm (esp. on the E and G strings).
 
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#2
No it doesn't exist. You can modify one; though you'll have to make a compromise or two. Buy an EXTRA set of threaded saddles. place them side by side as if they are mounted on the bridge and determine where you want the strings to go. Mark the location with as sharpie or dab or paint. Grab your handy dandy triangular file and file the selected groove deeper, much deeper. Beg, borrow, or steal a few feet of picture hanging wire. now mount the saddles and before you attempt to tune slip a couple wraps of the picture wire around the intonation screws and twist the ends together. Now tune. The two outside string anchor holes may need to be moved closed to the center.
 
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#5
#6
thanks for that. Both of those bridges aren’t direct replacements because the holes don’t line up. I’ll have a think about whether I want to drill new holes from 1mm difference


kodiakblair said:
Can you live with 18mm spacing ?

David Konig sells modified Wilkinson bridges.

Retrovibe 18mm spacing bass bridge top load. Hand modified Wilkinson hardware | Retrovibe

Is 2 saddles an option ?

Korean hardware company Sung Il make a 2 saddle bridge with 18mm spacing.

Bass bridges > BB 017 1 페이지
Click to expand...
 
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#9
SteveMoodie said:
Thanks but it’s not a bent plate / vintage design.

I feel like there’s maybe a gap in the market here
Click to expand...
You're definitely in the minority on wanting a 34" scale 4-string with narrow spacing like that.

I'd just get a threaded-saddle bridge and figure out where the strings need to sit, then file a slightly deeper groove.
 
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#10
SteveMoodie said:
Thanks but it’s not a bent plate / vintage design.

I feel like there’s maybe a gap in the market here
Click to expand...

Not a gap, maybe a crack. The demand is too small to make it worthwhile to fill. 32 kilo, 1.4 M, 12 year old children play with 19 mm string spacing everyday; some of them are phenomenal.



 
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#11
SteveMoodie said:
Thanks but it’s not a bent plate / vintage design.

I feel like there’s maybe a gap in the market here
Click to expand...
Shipping, exchange rate and duties will make buying any bridge expensive.

Phone a few engineering shops in NZ , I'll bet one of them can knock you up a 17.5mm BBOT bridge. Your existing bridge will act as the template for the mounting screw holes.
 
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#12
SteveMoodie said:
Hi all

I have a AVRI 61 Precision bass that I love the sound of (owned and played the heck out of for around 8 years). However, I'm still frustrated by the 19m string spacing at the bridge - I play palm muted with a pick and it's not an easy experience.

I'd like to have 17.5mm string spacing but I don't want to buy a massive adjustable bridge. I want to keep the vintage style bent-L design.

Does a Fender vintage style bridge with 17.5mm string spacing exist?

PS - I've scoured the web for a hours but can't finding anything.

PPS - I've tried using the threaded saddle grooves but it's physically impossible to get it down to 17.5mm (esp. on the E and G strings).
Click to expand...
Screenshot 2024-04-20 at 11.41.22 AM.png
 
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#13
Maybe you can try the saddles from this bridge with you existing plate. I do not thing you will need to redrill or oval the holes.
Wilkinson WOB41T 57mm (2-1/4 inch) 4-String Bass Bridge Threaded Saddles for Precision/Jazz Bass, Chrome https://a.co/d/gWcoAmm

$18 is not a huge expense and if it does not work, you can return it. I would try that.
 
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#14
kgbeast said:
Maybe you can try the saddles from this bridge with you existing plate. I do not thing you will need to redrill or oval the holes.
Wilkinson WOB41T 57mm (2-1/4 inch) 4-String Bass Bridge Threaded Saddles for Precision/Jazz Bass, Chrome https://a.co/d/gWcoAmm

$18 is not a huge expense and if it does not work, you can return it. I would try that.
Click to expand...

Not really, they're selling the King his clothes. Just try getting all the strings 16mm apart, then try to get them 22mm apart; you'll find at least one an impossible task.
 
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#15
kodiakblair said:
Shipping, exchange rate and duties will make buying any bridge expensive.

Phone a few engineering shops in NZ , I'll bet one of them can knock you up a 17.5mm BBOT bridge. Your existing bridge will act as the template for the mounting screw holes.
Click to expand...
^this^
Not sure about NZ but here, technical schools with machinist programs take on such projects. All you need do is tell them what you want and supply the stock to make it.
 
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#17
It looks like there's 25.5mm center to center on the 3 mounting screw holes. The safest bet is to measure against your bridge as Fender's bridge specs may have varied over the years.

Edit: the thread title says 17.5mm but Schaller’s webpage with the specs for the 3D-4 show the minimum string spacing as 18mm if that affects your decision.

schaller.info

3D-4 | 1213

3D-4: patented 4-string bass bridge The roller bridge saddles reliably minimize string breakage while maintaining intonation and tuning stability. 3-dimensional adjustment of string height, intonation and string spacing (with roller bridge saddles). Str…
schaller.info schaller.info
 

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#18
Thanks for the input Matt. Appreciated.

I am exploring options for my first ever Pbass, mainly for home recording, and considering a deviation from my traditional 5/6 string preference to a more traditional 4 string. I am accustomed to 16.5mm string spacing a'la Warwick Corvettes and thumbs, and more recently Muckelroy fretted and fretless basses, again with the specified 16.5mm spacing. My Roscoe 5 string fretless also has that spacing as specified by the original owner.

Don't have a P bass yet... considering the realtively new American Ultra II pbass with both P and J pickups...I hope to find one at one of the local GC's to test drive...Still in the research phase.

I had an older model Sadowsky 4 but the non-adjustable 19mm spacing was impossible for me to get used to and decided to give up on a 4 for a while...
I recently discovered John Mayer's bassist Sean Hurley and would like to try to emulate his sound and playing style.

I was hoping to get the spacing of a 4 string pbass to at least 17-17.5mm, perhaps through a replacement bridge that allows that kind of spacing. I don't really care about keeping a modern bass "original" so if swapping the bridge out will allow me to reach 17mm , I'm all for it.

There seems to be multiple options for Pbass bridge replacements. Any recommendations and first hand experiences would be appreciated.


🍻
 
#19
How about installing single string mono rail bridge, that'll give you practically any string spacing you'd like, only limited by the width of the bridge pieces themself, which usually is about 15mm.

Nothing wrong with having very specific preferences, just means you know what kind of specs makes YOU play optimally.

I could post a video with a one armed man playing amazing bass, but I wouldn't recommend you cutting off an arm.

No need to handicap yourself.
 
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#20
sissy kathy said:
Not a gap, maybe a crack. The demand is too small to make it worthwhile to fill. 32 kilo, 1.4 M, 12 year old children play with 19 mm string spacing everyday; some of them are phenomenal.



Click to expand...

Bah, that is nothing.

Also she plays short scale basses!

I raise, and give you one armed bass player!

On a full scale bass even!

How about cutting off an arm:
 
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