Question on bridge placement

[AndyMania]

Is it crucial where the bridge goes? I have seen (Like Fodera) where the bridge is near the edge of the body and others where it is more inwards. Or will it not matter since the tuners will be used to get the exact pitch?

-Andy

 

[mikeyswood]

It is very crucial that it be the same distance from the 12th fret as the 12th fret is from the nut. The placement on the body is all in the design.

 

[strangedejavu]

Here use this: http://www.stewmac.com/FretCalculator

Depending on your scale length your bridge placement can be in quite different places. But it is important to place the bridge in a place that you can still intonate the saddles... As straight forward as it is, this fret/scale calculator will tell you exactly where to mount your bridge on most style bridges going off of the mounting screws....

 

[Rocky McD]

The bridge must be placed at the proper distance from the nut. The shape or style of the body should have no influence as to where the bridge is mounted.
Rocky

 

[HogieWan]

If the body is made where the bridge is away from the edge, that puts makes the bass sit further left (for a righty) when hanging from a strap. That makes the nut further out from the player.

 

[AndyMania]

Ok great. Thanks guys.

 

[Headless Llama]

Not to complicate matters, but I ran across this issue. Also is the answer thanks to the people here in the LC.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=615480

 

[AndyMania]

Another stupid question. Which part is the saddle?

 

[strangedejavu]

The saddle is the piece that the indvidual string sits on that makes each individual string adjustable...

Another stupid question. Which part is the saddle?

 

[AndyMania]

Ok thank you very much strangedejavu. Now when I calculate the distance from the 12th fret to the bridge, do I measure up to the first set of screws or to the last set (closest to the edge of the body)?

 

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Ok thank you very much strangedejavu. Now when I calculate the distance from the 12th fret to the bridge, do I measure up to the first set of screws or to the last set (closest to the edge of the body)?

You measure to the top of the highest (smallest diameter, G in case of EADG) string saddle. Make sure that the bridge saddle is adjusted nearly all the way towards the nut. That way You have enough room to intonate the heavier strings. Just as the previous posters said.

Regards
Sam

 

[Headless Llama]

Ok thank you very much strangedejavu. Now when I calculate the distance from the 12th fret to the bridge, do I measure up to the first set of screws or to the last set (closest to the edge of the body)?

Slight correction. As a machinist looking at measuring something, I would have to say that the nut is "zero". All measurements should come off of that reference. So if you are doing a 34" scale, you should be measuring 34" from the nut down to the bridge saddles. Not 17" from the 12th fret.

I know that this is nit pickin, but it is a good rule of thumb to have as few references as possible when taking measurements.

 

[HogieWan]

As a machinist looking at measuring something, I would have to say that the nut is "zero". All measurements should come off of that reference. So if you are doing a 34" scale, you should be measuring 34" from the nut down to the bridge saddles. Not 17" from the 12th nut

but you are going to intonate with reference to the 12th fret, not the nut

 

[ehque]

If you are placing the bridge on an instrument already designed, then the above information is sufficient. Extend your saddles almost all the way (furthest from the string mounts) then place the bridge such that the G-string saddle is 17" from the 12th fret (or 34" from the nut, it really doesn't matter since its an approximation anyway and you can finetune it later)

However, if you're designing a bass from scratch, a bridge closer to the edge of the body allows for a shorter reach for the first fret, less neck-dive and a generally more comfortable bass.

 

[M0ses]

but you are going to intonate with reference to the 12th fret, not the nut

But you placed the 12th fret only in reference to the nut. He gives good advice - the nut is the best fixed point to use as a reference point. If you mess up the 12th fret and measure from there to the bridge, your bridge will be messed up too. But if you measured both from the nut then your bridge will be right even if you mess up the 12th fret.

But like he said, this is really just nitpicking because if either one is wrong, your bass is gonna be worthless anyway.

 

[Headless Llama]

but you are going to intonate with reference to the 12th fret, not the nut

It is just a good practice to get into, so you do not compound any mistakes. From Invalid Link Removed

Notes on fret layout
The most accurate way to lay out your scale is making all measurements from the nut (using the "fret to fret" distance only to confirm your layout). Laying out frets only by measuring fret to fret will compound error. For example, if you're laying out frets by marking with a scribe and your accuracy is plus or minus 2 millimeters, you could be off by as much as 24 millimeters at the 12th fret.

 

[HogieWan]

It is just a good practice to get into, so you do not compound any mistakes. From Invalid Link Removed

I agree that it's the best way to measure, and if the 12th if off a bit, the bridge saddles would have room to compensate.