If you bump the nut with a tape measure it's about 30.25"" to saddles. I have the same strings.
Yeah,
^This^, pretty much. But, there's a little more to it, and, just to be sure, you need to take a couple of measurements. A bass's scale length is set at the
lightest string; the G string, in this case. So, carefully measure from the fret-side of the nut (the front) to the middle of the 12th fret. Then double it - and that's your
actual scale length. Yeah, it probably
is 30 1/4", but... check it, and be sure.
- Place your bridge on the bass so that the G string saddle on the bridge is at your exact scale length. Lots of us like to use a couple of strips of painter's tape to mark that position - 'cause, trying to string the bass back up will almost certainly move the bridge out of position. And the whole procedure is annoying enough as it is; having to do it repeatedly 'cause you keep moving the *@#**! thing just makes it worse. But, if the right spot is marked, it's easy to put it back...
- String the bass up, and tune it. Theoretically, the G string should also intonate with no adjustments. And, sometimes it happens (it did with my VB-100), but even if it doesn't? It
should be very close, at least...
- Tune the other strings, and check the intonation. The only 2 strings you can actually intonate are the G and E strings; if you get lucky, the D and A strings will be close enough that you can move the little saddles enough to intonate them, too. If you're
really lucky? It will tune up and all the strings will intonate with no trouble at all. Which is what happened with mine. That bridge in the picture is actually "perfectly" intonated. Those Roto 88 Tapes ore the only strings it will do that with, though. As you can imagine, those are what it always wears...
I'm really impressed with how smooth the fret ends are, they don't require any work. One question I have is the pickups, is this tilted position the normal setup? Wouldn't it be better to have the whole pickup flush with the strings?
