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Does this bridge setup look odd
- Thread starter drewphishesp
- Start date
You said this thing has proper intonation? Those saddles look dead straight in a line....could be wrong, but that is not something that happens often. Anyway, the further back you screw them, the more that screw will want to touch the plate due to your low saddle setting (that string will force the saddle downward, the screw is upward on the back plate, forcing the nose to take a dive). I’ve swapped the screws for shorter ones before just to deal with that seemingly rare issue. But, you know, if it’s intonated, plays fine, feels good.....it’s good. Personally, the silk over the saddle doesn’t bother me, but I’m sure many would have issue with it.
In my experience, this is something that happens with this type of bridge when you want to combine a low action with a certain amount of relief. I don't think this is an issue as long as you have enough break angle on the saddles, which seems to be the case here.
The only possible problem I see is premature wear of the small screws, but if the intonation is right, I would say that everything is good. Others might mention things I did not think about, though.
The only possible problem I see is premature wear of the small screws, but if the intonation is right, I would say that everything is good. Others might mention things I did not think about, though.
It looks to me like you've mounted the bridge about 1/2" too far forward on the body. Move the bridge back, and the saddles will be closer to the front of the bridge, which will straighten up the intonation screws, and get the silk windings off of the saddles.
Bridge was mounted in the same holes that came stock on the bass. The pictures deceiving as the other saddles are not the same as the e
I do notice that the "E" string saddle is not parallel to the bridge plate. That should be corrected. The fact that the string's silk is on the saddle may also be impacting the intonation for that string...as well as it looks like it is not breaking over the saddle well....either because of the silk or it needs a little downward push just past the saddle to ge it to sit right.
I hope this helps.
If this is a regular issue, then I’d probably move the bridge back a bit if it gets to the extremes of the saddles touching the backplate. The new position would hide the old screw holes. I’ve had to move stock positions before, once on a MIM Jazz. Figured with CNC it wasn’t possible that this move was necessary....but it was. Sucker was also crooked so I fixed that issue as well.
Looking at your pictures though, I’d let it ride, check other possible issues first. Check the relief on your neck. If there is a lot of relief, you might want to straighten it out. The low saddles may be compensating for too much relief, as was hinted earlier in this thread. By straightening the neck, you will also need to push the saddles toward your headstock, alleviating your issue, and the saddles would need to be raised slightly....could solve the issue....assuming there is too much relief in the neck in the first place.
Looking at your pictures though, I’d let it ride, check other possible issues first. Check the relief on your neck. If there is a lot of relief, you might want to straighten it out. The low saddles may be compensating for too much relief, as was hinted earlier in this thread. By straightening the neck, you will also need to push the saddles toward your headstock, alleviating your issue, and the saddles would need to be raised slightly....could solve the issue....assuming there is too much relief in the neck in the first place.
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Everything seems fine tbh. Saddled are low cause it's flats and I like low action. Neck is pretty straight.
Turnaround
Commercial User
Two problems stand out from your pic:
First is the tilt on the E string saddle that someone else has mentioned. And there's a big arch in the E from the saddle towards the pickup. You need to get that straightened out and then you will find that the intonation on the E string is flat and you can move it forward, with luck to the point where the silk wraps are no longer on the saddle.
Turnaround is right, but with my OCD I would shim up the neck a bit.
Yes, but you're assuming that the new bridge's screw holes are the same distance back from the normal saddle position. They aren't. Many aftermarket bridges are not direct bolt-on replacements. It's obvious from looking at it that the saddles are too far back on the bridge base, by about 1/2". That's causing the problems with the intonation screws being tilted at the crazy angles, and the strings being bent up so sharply over the saddles, and the silks ending up on the saddles. All those things will be fixed if you move the bridge base back to its correct position.
String was just tilted like that because I loosened it to take a pic. It sits flat now intimates fine
Also it's a direct fender replacement bridge that I replaced and old rusty one so pretty sure same bridge specs
Also it's a direct fender replacement bridge that I replaced and old rusty one so pretty sure same bridge specs
