• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

problem with bridge!!

bazza99

bazza99

Aug 19, 2009
62
3
#1
Can anyone advise me with a problem I have re bass bridge. Is there any such thing as a “narrower” bass bridge, ie something like 75mm wide instead of the normal 80mm??

I have just refinished an old Silvertone bass and IMO it looks really good. The problem is that there seems no way to position the bridge where all 4 strings are properly aligned. So, at the moment, the G string starts to veer off course around the 6th fret (see photos). If I move the bridge to the left to accommodate this then the E string will be hanging close to it's edge!!

The only thing I can think of is a narrower bridge (mine is 80mm) OR is there such a thing as an individual saddle that I can put in bridge that is offset a bit so that the groove in it is slightly left, pulling the string with it?? The nut looks OK to me, properly positioned etc.

Any advice appreciated
 

Attachments

  • P1246094.jpg
    P1246094.jpg
    156.2 KB · Views: 289
  • P1246096.JPG
    P1246096.JPG
    72.4 KB · Views: 328
#2
Can anyone advise me with a problem I have re bass bridge. Is there any such thing as a “narrower” bass bridge, ie something like 75mm wide instead of the normal 80mm??

I have just refinished an old Silvertone bass and IMO it looks really good. The problem is that there seems no way to position the bridge where all 4 strings are properly aligned. So, at the moment, the G string starts to veer off course around the 6th fret (see photos). If I move the bridge to the left to accommodate this then the E string will be hanging close to it's edge!!

The only thing I can think of is a narrower bridge (mine is 80mm) OR is there such a thing as an individual saddle that I can put in bridge that is offset a bit so that the groove in it is slightly left, pulling the string with it?? The nut looks OK to me, properly positioned etc.

Any advice appreciated
 

Attachments

  • P1246094.jpg
    P1246094.jpg
    156.2 KB · Views: 274
  • P1246096.JPG
    P1246096.JPG
    72.4 KB · Views: 274
#6
bazza99 said:
I don't think the neck is the problem - it's perfectly square and straight!! It's gone back in exactly as before. Any other ideas??
Click to expand...

If the neck were perfectly square and straight to the body, the strings would have an even margin on both sides of the neck to the bridge.

If the bridge is in fact, not stock and too large, refer to the 96's links.
 
#7
Looks to me like the OP has it right. The string spread at the bridge is too wide for this neck. All I can suggest is try researching the many bridge makers to see if you can find one that is narrower. Off-hand, I don't know who makes one, but I'm sure it can be found.
 
#9
Very odd that the stock bridge doesn't fit properly.

The easiest/cheapest solution I can think of is one of those threaded rod style saddles.

Link Removed (top right)

The saddles are just short sections of threaded rod, so you can place the strings in whichever groove you want. The screws are all offset to the same side, while the bridge plate on your has the offsets reversed on two of them. So, you'll probably need to reverse the height adjustment set screws on two of the saddles so that you can put them in upside-down.
 
#10
If it's the stock bridge I'd say loosen up the bridge and neck and see if you can't get them to line up better. Is the long axis of your neck running true to the body and is your bridge perpendicular to the long axis of your neck?

Only other thing I can think of is some kind of assembly SNAFU, like the bridge saddles in the sting holes and the strings in the bridge saddle holes.
 
#11
What about using the saddles in that bridge, but putting them in upside down and filing your own slots? Not sure if there's enough room there, but it might be worth a shot.
 
#12
To answer the OP question, Yes there is such a thing as narrower bridge spacing. It's common on vintage mosites and actually can take some getting used to.

If you bass is what I think it is...It originally came with a more basic bridge with two intonation riders/saddles (ala vintage fender) and did have slightly narrower spacing (ala mosrite). The bridge was probably replaced to give it individual saddles per string and better intonation. You could go with the threaded slider soloution but may find you create a sharp angle from the bridge end to saddle but may work just fine.
 
#13
I would get a hipshot bridge with narrower string spacing. The problem with the threaded saddles is they don't work so well for narrowing string spacing, as they tend to push the outside saddles outward and the strings tend to go along their normal path anyway. They are better for going wider and forcing the saddles against each other.

As for flipping the saddles, Im pretty sure the string groove goes all the way around.
 
#14
bazza99,

If you want to try a replacement bridge. You can check out Song-Il a guitar hardware company based in Korea. http://www.sung-il.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=b071_01

Their stuff is very commonly used. For example Carvin and ESP Ltd use a lot of their stuff.

They have dimension diagrams with the bridges for comparison.

You can purchase some items on Amazon, and eBay, as well as other vendors. They are more widely available in europe.

To start, measure your current bridge from the center of one string to the center of another. That will give you the spacing. Default 4-string spacing is 19mm (.750") but the range is from about 16.5mm - 20mm.

Best of luck,

Bob
 
#15
Good catch bobster. I have one of those bridges and it's pretty good, I didn't know the maker. . I also see that they have a 16.5mm spacing available; there may have others too. I didn't look.

The OP should measure the pole pieces of his pups to get an idea of what spacing to look for.
 
#16
Did you have the bridge disassembled? If so, perhaps you reversed the strings and saddle screws for one or more saddles. i.e. put strings through the screw holes. What you have done looks ok offhand, but maybe there's another way of assembling the bridge.
 
#17
Hopkins said:
I would get a hipshot bridge with narrower string spacing. The problem with the threaded saddles is they don't work so well for narrowing string spacing, as they tend to push the outside saddles outward and the strings tend to go along their normal path anyway. They are better for going wider and forcing the saddles against each other.

As for flipping the saddles, Im pretty sure the string groove goes all the way around.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'd probably go the same route.

Hipshot offers their A style bridge with 0.718" spacing.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back