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Double Bass Full Circle to replace ebony adjusters?

Wilbyman

Wilbyman

Sep 10, 2003
3,834
108
49
Parkersburg, WV
#1
Hey guys, I was just checking out my ebony adjusters to see if the Full Circle would work in my bridge. It looks like the ebony adjusters have a bit bigger screw diameter. I was poking around some old threads and it appears Fishman was offering some inserts to make the Full Circle work in place of ebony adjusters. I'm not sure exactly what my ebony adjusters are but they look identical to the ones on the Lemur site.

Anybody know where inserts can be scored and whether or not this whole thing is possible without drilling/reaming/messing with the bridge?

W
 
#2
Wilbyman said:
Hey guys, I was just checking out my ebony adjusters to see if the Full Circle would work in my bridge. It looks like the ebony adjusters have a bit bigger screw diameter. I was poking around some old threads and it appears Fishman was offering some inserts to make the Full Circle work in place of ebony adjusters. I'm not sure exactly what my ebony adjusters are but they look identical to the ones on the Lemur site.

Anybody know where inserts can be scored and whether or not this whole thing is possible without drilling/reaming/messing with the bridge?

W
Click to expand...

Alas, I two have ebony adjusters. I'm not a luthier, but I believe they are actually bigger and it a new bridge is in order. I hope I'm wrong though. This is the reason that I've never installed a Full Circle on my bass, since I'm fairly certain that the thread sizes aren't compatible with the metal ones. I like the ebony, sonically I'm not sure that it makes any difference, but wooden adjusters, sound a little different to my ears.

Ric
 
#6
Try calling Arnold Schnitzer. I had the same problem, and his assistant Jed figured out a way (i think similar to what txstatebass is talking about) make it work so I didn't need a new bridge. Maybe Jed would be willing to explain it to you and/or your luthier.
 
#8
Here's the deal.. Plugging w. a dowel and re tapping for 1/4 20 thread has to be precise. You might luck out w. the glue sawdust thing, but it may not tap clean for a strong thread.
I had aluminum inserts made w. 1/4 20 inner and 7/16ths outer [ which is your ebony's thread size ] You can just use one for the E foot and keep ebony on the G side, or go for 2 matching aluminum. Contact me if you want to buy a set.
 
#9
Mark Carlsen said:
Here's the deal.. Plugging w. a dowel and re tapping for 1/4 20 thread has to be precise. You might luck out w. the glue sawdust thing, but it may not tap clean for a strong thread.
I had aluminum inserts made w. 1/4 20 inner and 7/16ths outer [ which is your ebony's thread size ] You can just use one for the E foot and keep ebony on the G side, or go for 2 matching aluminum. Contact me if you want to buy a set.
Click to expand...
I made a set of aluminum inserts like the ones Mark has a couple of years ago. The inserts avoid the problems of plugging, re-drilling, tapping and the possibility of getting out of alignment. You even have the option of returning to your ebony adjuster(s) if for some reason the Full Circle doesn't work for you. I put a couple of drops of loctite on the Full Circle threads so the insert threads move in wood, but you could glue the insert in permanently if you want.
 
#12
There is one other consideration with the inserts that must be addressed. In addition to the threads, you have to also increase the diameter of the unthreaded end of the adjuster. When I made my set, I used a short length of wood dowel the diameter of the hole in the bridge feet and drilled a hole in the center for the adjuster on my lathe. An aluminum insert for the unthreaded end would probably work as well or better. How do you handle this problem Mark?
 
#13
Bob Branstetter said:
There is one other consideration with the inserts that must be addressed. In addition to the threads, you have to also increase the diameter of the unthreaded end of the adjuster. When I made my set, I used a short length of wood dowel the diameter of the hole in the bridge feet and drilled a hole in the center for the adjuster on my lathe. An aluminum insert for the unthreaded end would probably work as well or better. How do you handle this problem Mark?
Click to expand...

Hey Bob-

Mark indicated he will provide a metal tube will take care of the unthreaded end.

Will
 

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