75 Jazz Reissue Intonation Problems

[Wasabi1264]

Hi, folks...

I have a 75 Jazz Reissue (American) I picked up some years back off of eBay. The original owner had swapped the bridge with a Hipshot A style bridge. The problem is that I can't intonate the bass. No matter how close to the neck I get the saddles (the entire length of the screw), the fretted notes are running flat. The neck is set up nicely, but it's at least 15 cents flat on each string.

Is this common?

I'm considering finding an original bridge, but let me know your thoughts on if that will solve the problem. It is definitely a hearable difference.

 

[megafiddle]

Measure from the nut (fretboard edge of nut) to center of 12th fret.
Then measure from center of 12th fret to the take-off point on the
G string saddle. The take-off point is where the string is free of the
saddle, where it first loses contact with it (on the neck side of the saddle).
It should be equal or possibly up to an 1/8" longer for the fret to saddle
distance.
My 2012 Jazz measures 17" nut to 12th fret, and 17 1/8" 12th fret to saddle.
That's with .046 to .105 round wound strings.
Actual length depends on your strings and action.

If you can get the G string saddle to 17" from the 12th fret when it is adjusted
as close as possible towards the neck, then the bridge should be ok.

 

[walterw]

just so.

the distance should be exactly the same, 17", from nut to 12th fret as from the 12 to the G saddle (with maybe 1/16" or so extra). the D might be the same or close to it, and the A and the E will stagger back from that point.

i'd suspect bad strings first (DRs, by chance?)

 

[mongo2]

Also, check the witness points.