Is moving a bridge a big deal?

[sokolasty]

I saw sometimes that one must move bridge written in a way like it's difficult thing to do.

I moved bridge in my bass because I detuned from EADG to ADGC and I couldn't move saddle roll anymore and bass wouldn't intonate. I drilled five new holes ~5mm to the rear and screwed bridge to body. 15 minutes work.

Did I do something wrong assuming it's easy peasy operation? Is there anything more than few new holes?

 

[Zooberwerx]

I saw sometimes that one must move bridge written in a way like it's difficult thing to do.

I moved bridge in my bass because I detuned from EADG to ADGC and I couldn't move saddle roll anymore and bass wouldn't intonate. I drilled five new holes ~5mm to the rear and screwed bridge to body. 15 minutes work.

Did I do something wrong assuming it's easy peasy operation? Is there anything more than few new holes?

That’s pretty much it. I insert sacrificial plugs in the existing holes to prevent “blow-out”, use painter’s tape to map out the new placement, and double-check string paths with elastic cord.

Did you re-set witness points before determining original placement would not accommodate the new string gauges?

Riis

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Compared to replacing a truss rod or resetting a neck on an old Yamaha acoustic that may or may not have been assembled with epoxy moving a bridge isn’t terrible. There are some issues that can crop up however. Yours moved enough to be off of the old screw holes but drilling a new hole on the edge of a plugged or doweled hole can be a bit more “interesting.” There’s also the possibility of finish damage. Plus some folks don’t have the tools or the confidence in their use or just plain ol’ don’t want to take sharp objects to their baby. If you’re having an intonation issue there are a number of steps that can be taken to try and solve or mitigate the problem before bridges have to be moved.

I’m glad that moving your bridge worked out well and accomplished your goals but in different situations it can be more complicated and there’s no reason to look down on someone who’s reluctant to try the same on their instrument.

 

[sokolasty]

Thank you for your answers

@Matt Liebenau
I did not intend to look down at anyone. If my post makes such an impression - sorry.
For me things are tools.
Adding thumb rest? Clear, to every guitar.
Adding side handles to 18kg combo? Of course.
Wheels? Of course.
Internal bracing in cabinet? Did just today.

@Zooberwerx
I have no idea whether I reset any witness points
Bridge now covers the original holes, so they aren't visible.

I moved bridge, adjusted roughly scale length and checked at every fret and drew a chart and had open office calculate linear regression, because adjustment at 12h fret only wasn't good enough. Then I readjusted, checked again and so on

I had issues with open A (D in my tuning), it was 5cents flat but I found out that string was not bent enough on a nut.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Thank you for your answers

@Matt Liebenau
I did not intend to look down at anyone. If my post makes such an impression - sorry.
For me things are tools.
Adding thumb rest? Clear, to every guitar.
Adding side handles to 18kg combo? Of course.
Wheels? Of course.
Internal bracing in cabinet? Did just today.

@Zooberwerx
I have no idea whether I reset any witness points
Bridge now covers the original holes, so they aren't visible.

I moved bridge, adjusted roughly scale length and checked at every fret and drew a chart and had open office calculate linear regression, because adjustment at 12h fret only wasn't good enough. Then I readjusted, checked again and so on

I had issues with open A (D in my tuning), it was 5cents flat but I found out that string was not bent enough on a nut.

Re: witness points. We see this on occasion when the end-user does not adequately address the witness points (clean breaks / bends) required to establish a true string speaking path. The thicker gauge strings are notoriously resistant when “wrestling” into submission.

Riis

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Thank you for your answers

@Matt Liebenau
I did not intend to look down at anyone. If my post makes such an impression - sorry.
For me things are tools.
Adding thumb rest? Clear, to every guitar.
Adding side handles to 18kg combo? Of course.
Wheels? Of course.
Internal bracing in cabinet? Did just today.

@Zooberwerx
I have no idea whether I reset any witness points
Bridge now covers the original holes, so they aren't visible.

I moved bridge, adjusted roughly scale length and checked at every fret and drew a chart and had open office calculate linear regression, because adjustment at 12h fret only wasn't good enough. Then I readjusted, checked again and so on

I had issues with open A (D in my tuning), it was 5cents flat but I found out that string was not bent enough on a nut.

You’re good. I didn’t mean to say you were looking down on anyone, I just couldn’t figure out another way to phrase it. I guess I was trying to say that we all have different talents and skills and just because I don’t think twice about taking a router or chisels to wood or about tearing apart and rebuilding the equipment I work on for my day job, other people are mystified by those workings but that’s ok because they can probably do a dozen things that mystify me.

 

[sokolasty]

Re: witness points. We see this on occasion when the end-user does not adequately address the witness points (clean breaks / bends) required to establish a true string speaking path. The thicker gauge strings are notoriously resistant when “wrestling” into submission.

Riis

So I did it unknowingly

I improved string bend/brake at nut.

 

[Zooberwerx]

So I did it unknowingly

I improved string bend/brake at nut.

Lather / rinse / repeat at the bridge saddles. Otherwise, the strings have the tendency to create an arc / lazy loop as they pass over the saddle. This plays havoc with action, string height, intonation, and tuning stability.

Riis

 

[fretlessman71]

Lather / rinse / repeat at the bridge saddles. Otherwise, the strings have the tendency to create an arc / lazy loop as they pass over the saddle. This plays havoc with action, string height, intonation, and tuning stability.

Riis

...and TONE! They just plain don't sound as good.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I saw sometimes that one must move bridge written in a way like it's difficult thing to do.

I moved bridge in my bass because I detuned from EADG to ADGC and I couldn't move saddle roll anymore and bass wouldn't intonate. I drilled five new holes ~5mm to the rear and screwed bridge to body. 15 minutes work.

Did I do something wrong assuming it's easy peasy operation? Is there anything more than few new holes?

It's a very simple thing to do. Some people are just scared.

It's just a piece of wood

 

[Engle]

Re: witness points. We see this on occasion when the end-user does not adequately address the witness points (clean breaks / bends) required to establish a true string speaking path. The thicker gauge strings are notoriously resistant when “wrestling” into submission.

Riis

I played bass happily for about 30 years before I discovered Talkbass and learned about witness points and dead spots

 

[Clark W]

I saw sometimes that one must move bridge written in a way like it's difficult thing to do.

Well London bridge got moved from England to Arizona, so anything's possible when it comes to moving bridges I guess.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Well London bridge got moved from England to Arizona, so anything's possible when it comes to moving bridges I guess.

A London bridge, not THE London bridge

 

[Thegreatzambini]

I saw sometimes that one must move bridge written in a way like it's difficult thing to do.

I moved bridge in my bass because I detuned from EADG to ADGC and I couldn't move saddle roll anymore and bass wouldn't intonate. I drilled five new holes ~5mm to the rear and screwed bridge to body. 15 minutes work.

Did I do something wrong assuming it's easy peasy operation? Is there anything more than few new holes?

In essence, if you know all the things to check and Measure before you do it, it is actually quite easy…. But yeah, if you don’t, there’s a few ways to screw it up and fixing it sucks. and like somebody else mentioned here if the new screw holes are too close to the original holes, it’s best to fill those with dowels.

 

[Clark W]

A London bridge, not THE London bridge

 

[Rabidhamster]

I saw sometimes that one must move bridge written in a way like it's difficult thing to do.

I moved bridge in my bass because I detuned from EADG to ADGC and I couldn't move saddle roll anymore and bass wouldn't intonate. I drilled five new holes ~5mm to the rear and screwed bridge to body. 15 minutes work.

Did I do something wrong assuming it's easy peasy operation? Is there anything more than few new holes?

They just mean it’s a big thing like almost nobody will want to buy your used bass afterwards, and many people are too incompetent to drill 4 straight holes.

 

[sokolasty]

many people are too incompetent to drill 4 straight holes.

Or they think it's difficult or dangerous?
I let my daughter drill 3mm holes in wood when she was six. She had fun, for ten minutes and got bored, obviously.
Cultural thing?

 

[Geogio]

Gary Willis talks about a much easier solution using a steel tube positioned behind the bridge and routing the E through the tube ( 1") , it's a hack for sure but it is a hack that's been in play for a few decades now.

Willis discusses it here and there is a pdf online.

 

[Geogio]

A London bridge, not THE London bridge

Yep... it's at Lake Havasu which has become a high dollar area to live in.

 

[wiscoaster]

..... and many people are too incompetent to drill 4 straight holes.

Drilling holes in wood isn't exactly a societal and cultural requirement of a competent adult.