Hipshot Type A bridge question

[Ahzidal Engineer]

I recently purchased a six-string Hipshot Type A bridge for a bass that I'm building. Because I prefer to have really tight spacing, I purchased a bridge with the tightest possible spacing, .669 . Most Hipshot Type A bridges have slivers of metal that run up between each saddle, presumably for maintaining the rigidity of the saddles. However, my .669 does not have those slivers. I'm assuming that that is for the purpose of achieving the tighter spacing, but I'm concerned that not having the slivers will decrease my tone quality. Is it worth it to sacrifice tone for spacing, or should I go up to the next tightest spacing of .708? Maybe I'm just being overly-picky here, but nonetheless, I'd like to hear your input. (I added some pictures to give you some idea of what I'm talking about).

This is the .669

Versus a wider spacing:

 

[Zooberwerx]

In a word, no. The absence of partitions will not affect the tonal qualities. Hipshot has apparently compensated by placing a trough / track beneath each saddle to maintain alignment. Speaking from experience, I would center all my saddles and then adjust once the strings are in place.

Riis

 

[Dave W]

The "silvers" exist to have the different bridge spacing options, that's all.

 

[Zooberwerx]

The "silvers" exist to have the different bridge spacing options, that's all.

I believe he's referencing the partition / wall which creates a dedicated channel for each saddle block as seen in the second photo (6 string / gold). If you closely at the first photo (black / 6 string), the partitions have been omitted more than likely due to spatial constraints. If it weren't for the guide tracks beneath each saddle block, they would probably butt-up against one another once under string tension. Both bridges pic'd have laterally adjustable saddles and the same locking grub screw.

Riis

 

[Ahzidal Engineer]

Yes, the partitions/walls are what I'm referring to, I didn't know the word for them.

 

[Dave W]

Yes, that's exactly what I understood. I still think they're only there to create the string spacing across the different bridges.

The actual saddle and corresponding spacing adjuster are the same on every bridge, so getting 16mm spacing on one and 20mm spacing on another needs those partitions to create the difference.

The ones that have the partitions may be a little more stable if you measured it in a lab but I don't think you have much to worry about in the real world. As mentioned there are routed channels under the saddle to help keep it in place.