problem with bridge!!

[96tbird]

I had mentioned threaded saddles in the first few posts. However. Because the string holes are outboard of the screw holes, the break angle would draw the saddles apart because you'd move the strings inward to fit the neck.

A short scale spacing bridge is required.

 

[MegaSwing]

Got it.

 

[JustForSport]

Either this:

I had mentioned threaded saddles in the first few posts. However. Because the string holes are outboard of the screw holes, the break angle would draw the saddles apart because you'd move the strings inward to fit the neck.

A short scale spacing bridge is required.

or this:

If a 4 string bridge is not avail in that string spacing, a 5 string bridge of the same style, with the correct spacing, but with the G side (1 saddle width) cut off and finished nicely may be one solution, as long as it is lined up/ mounted correctly.

 

[96tbird]

Here's two iterations. D & g relocated and flipped. For these two the string spacing has not changed but the saddles are all wonky due to the crazy screw angles.


D& G relocated and not flipped.

 

[96tbird]

Overhead view of iteration 1. AND NO MONGO!!!! It's not about being trite! I want to believe you.

 

[walterw]

thank you 96tbird for the real-world examples showing how it doesn't add up.

i'll try again (plain is me, bold is mongo, blue is me in response):

1. the grooves are in the middle of each saddle, so flipping the saddle itself means the groove is still in the middle of the saddle.
Yes, but it would be on the other side of the intonation screw.
more accurate to say the screw would be on the other side of the groove, which will be in the same place it was before you flipped it.

2. the saddles are already hard against each other, so there's no way to move the location of the upper saddles towards the lower ones. flipping the top two means trying to move the D saddle into space already partially occupied by the A saddle.
Moving the intonation screw will help mitigate that.
moving the intonation screw will help two saddles to occupy the same space at the same time? really?

3. the lower saddles are already flipped in that direction, there's no way to move them any more "bass-ward". (even if you could, that would just mean the E string missing the neck instead of the G)
I never said anything about the E or A string saddles, but you can work on those too if you want.
if those two saddles stay where they are, how are you imagining that the G and D saddles can be moved over any?

 

[Bobster]

I'm thinking about a 17mm bridge (same string spread as a Squier Bronco) should work.

Bob

 

[mongo2]

moving the intonation screw will help two saddles to occupy the same space at the same time? really?

Since the string hole to intonation screw hole distance on the bridgeplate in question is the same as the string groove to intonation screw hole distance on the saddle, it looks like flipping the saddle and moving the intonation screw will not shift the position of the saddle, but it will move the string and string groove closer to being in line with the polepiece.

 

[Matthijs]

Wow, that looks exactly like my very first bass ever (second hand in 1980). I still have the PU somewhere and the original bridge is still on one of my first DIY bass projects. It is a narrow bridge with only two saddles that is a b*** to set up properly.

You need to find a narrow spaced bridge for shortscale basses or one of thos threaded old school fender bridges.

 

[Matthijs]

This is exactly what my original bridge looks like.

That is most definitely not the stock bridge. The stock bridge is narrower than this bridge.

Do not realign the neck because that isn't the problem. If you do, you will end up with the same too wide string spacing problem and a crooked neck to go with it.

Finding the original bridge is the ticket but that might be tricky. There are a great many of them (under various names) that are considered junk and sitting unused in closets or the attic and maybe you can get a bridge from a TBer who would part it out. It's even possible that I still have one and I'll take a look through my pile of parts today. If I do have one, I'll PM you and you can have it for the cost of shipping.


[Invalid or Expired Link Removed])




It's likely that the original bridge looks like this. Find one and your problem will be solved.

 

[Matthijs]

Is this the correct bridge?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Tei...531?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item35d14a0bdb

That's it. But unless you want this to be all original I would not touch it. It does not set up well and I always had problems with the ball-end of E strings popping out. Come to think of it: the whole thing was a dog: microphonic pu, uneven frets, warped neck. It gave me a crash course in bass-repair. It's a wonder I stuck to playing bass.

 

[96tbird]

Since the string hole to intonation screw hole distance on the bridgeplate in question is the same as the string groove to intonation screw hole distance on the saddle, it looks like flipping the saddle and moving the intonation screw will not shift the position of the saddle, but it will move the string and string groove closer to being in line with the polepiece.

Tell me what you want and I'll try it and post a pic. Did you look at pics above?

 

[Zooberwerx]

That is most definitely not the stock bridge. The stock bridge is narrower than this bridge.

Do not realign the neck because that isn't the problem. If you do, you will end up with the same too wide string spacing problem and a crooked neck to go with it.

Finding the original bridge is the ticket but that might be tricky. There are a great many of them (under various names) that are considered junk and sitting unused in closets or the attic and maybe you can get a bridge from a TBer who would part it out. It's even possible that I still have one and I'll take a look through my pile of parts today. If I do have one, I'll PM you and you can have it for the cost of shipping.


[Invalid or Expired Link Removed])




It's likely that the original bridge looks like this. Find one and your problem will be solved.

I have the baseplate and all 10 matching mounting screws which I'd be glad to contribute to the cause. It's nicer looking than that POS on the 'bay but missing the intonation screws and saddles.


Riis

 

[walterw]

...flipping the saddle and moving the intonation screw will not shift the position of the saddle...

correct.

...but it will move the string and string groove closer to being in line with the polepiece.

impossible if the above is correct!

remember, the groove itself is in the center of the saddle; flip it over and it's still in the center of the saddle; it won't have moved at all.

 

[mongo2]

correct.

impossible if the above is correct!

remember, the groove itself is in the center of the saddle; flip it over and it's still in the center of the saddle; it won't have moved at all.

Yes, the string groove is in the center of the saddle so the flip to the other side combined with the shift of the intonation screw moves the string closer to it's pole. The groove in the saddle would be in line with the former intonation screw (now string) hole.

 

[96tbird]

Just as I did in this picture which you are willfully ignoring.

 

[walterw]

Yes, the string groove is in the center of the saddle so the flip to the other side combined with the shift of the intonation screw moves the string closer to it's pole. The groove in the saddle would be in line with the former intonation screw (now string) hole.

i think the changed placement of the intonation screw is throwing you off. the flipped saddle itself (and its symmetrical, centered groove) has no room to be moved anywhere. it will sit exactly where it was before.

 

[mongo2]

i think the changed placement of the intonation screw is throwing you off. the flipped saddle itself (and its symmetrical, centered groove) has no room to be moved anywhere. it will sit exactly where it was before.

It isn't. The groove and the intonation screw hole just swap positions when the saddle is flipped. Wouldn't hurt to try it with bazza99s bridge.

 

[walterw]

It isn't. The groove and the intonation screw hole just swap positions when the saddle is flipped. Wouldn't hurt to try it with bazza99s bridge.

the groove is in the center. it won't "swap places" with anything, it'll still be in the center.

the screw will now be on the other side of it, but the location of the groove will not change.

how are you possibly not seeing this?

i know it's the nature of the internet to have heated arguments over trivial matters, so this discussion is essentially silly, but...

 

[kedo]

the groove is in the center. it won't "swap places" with anything, it'll still be in the center.

the screw will now be on the other side of it, but the location of the groove will not change.

how are you possibly not seeing this?

i know it's the nature of the internet to have heated arguments over trivial matters, so this discussion is essentially silly, but...

Exactly. The spacing between the grooves will not change at all, regardless of the orientation of the saddles/intonation screws.