Your saddles have been removed at some point and refitted the wrong way round, just look at how the offset string grooves don't line up with the string anchor holes. your saddles need to be turned so that the grooves are the other side of the intonation adjustment screws...
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string - pup misallignment
- Thread starter stamos
- Start date
brummiejon said:
No, those are not the originals.
They are too wide, they will not fit between the studs.
The original owner insists he has never changed the saddles.
Anyway, I tried to align them and all 4 of them do not fit between the two large mounting bolts (PIC1). If pressed to tight them the D string holding bolt cannot be seated properly (PIC2).
If I loose the E saddle it is obvious that there is not enough space for all 4 of them (PIC 3)
Judging from the side, however, saddles are hollow, and seem to be original.
PHOTOS 3,4,5 WILL FOLLOW WITH NEXT POST
Well they didn't grow bigger and they don't fit so he obviously is lying or he is the second owner. You could have some saddles made, find an old bridge, or put on a Hipshot vintage style. The bass is worth spending the dough on though.
Here's something to try, put the E saddle in the area of the post, tune up and intonate it. I am hoping it will rest against the post thingy. Then intonate the others. since the strings anchor to the left, they will all pull toward the E string holding everything in place. You might have to compromise on the G string's intonation.
Here's a site I found all about MM's funky bridges and the evolution of this silly design. Link Removed
As for the weaker sounding D and G, you do know you adjust the pickup height to even out the volume from each string, right? I mean you know that the pickup doesn't have to be level with the body right? The D and G have waaaay less steel swinging above the magnets resulting in a smaller signal generated, so that side of the pickup should be raised to compensate, Right? If you don't know these things already, now you do, Happy day!
Oh and when some guys say the string needs to be precisely over the center of the pickup pole... nonsense, a bit to one side is fine, especially with those big MM poles. Those guys don't understand magnetic fields very well and should read up on it for their own peace of mind.
Here's a site I found all about MM's funky bridges and the evolution of this silly design. Link Removed
As for the weaker sounding D and G, you do know you adjust the pickup height to even out the volume from each string, right? I mean you know that the pickup doesn't have to be level with the body right? The D and G have waaaay less steel swinging above the magnets resulting in a smaller signal generated, so that side of the pickup should be raised to compensate, Right? If you don't know these things already, now you do, Happy day!
Oh and when some guys say the string needs to be precisely over the center of the pickup pole... nonsense, a bit to one side is fine, especially with those big MM poles. Those guys don't understand magnetic fields very well and should read up on it for their own peace of mind.
Go to the link I posted. It looks like they fit between the posts on all evolutionary steps of these bridges. But it also shows the saddles as hollow til the mid eighties. The left hand break after the saddles dictates that at least the e has to be on the post, which should support the others, stepped out as 'normal' intonation usually looks.
Set that e on the post, step the others out, intonate the e first and then if its supported by the post, intonate the others and see what happens. This is just an attempt to work around this problem. It may well be how its supposed to work.??
Set that e on the post, step the others out, intonate the e first and then if its supported by the post, intonate the others and see what happens. This is just an attempt to work around this problem. It may well be how its supposed to work.??
here is a new musicman "style" bridge for @ 19.00 on ebay. i bet it would solve the problem.
CHROME MUSIC MAN® OLP® STYLE 4-STRING BASS BRIDGE | eBay
CHROME MUSIC MAN® OLP® STYLE 4-STRING BASS BRIDGE | eBay
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Yeah and the properly offset intonation screws would solve the silly string break left problem with the original design! The only way I can figure it is Leo designed it that way to avoid a CBS lawsuit.
More pics. Doesn't look like they fit?? Hollow saddles......I'll say one thing, these bridges have built in funky!
More pics. Doesn't look like they fit?? Hollow saddles......I'll say one thing, these bridges have built in funky!
Attachments
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,633
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
if you want to send me your four saddles, i'll machine them narrower so they'll fit between the studs.
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,633
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
stamos said:
Look at the picture above: post 56, the first of the two I posted.. It clearly shows.that the G is above the post. The saddles are all stepped down to the E that is against its post and supports them all since they are pulled to the left by string tension.
That picture shows an intonated bass. It has the same design bridge as yours. They changed the saddles in later years to smaller that would fit.
Do you know how to intonate your bass?
The saddles do not line up on an intonated bass. They all sit in different positions. Your post #44 pic is what it should look like.
