john, i bow to you as obviously more knowledgeable... but, for 19.00 it's not much of a risk. buy one and try it out while you're sending your bridge to john to be modded...
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string - pup misallignment
- Thread starter stamos
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john, i bow to you as obviously more knowledgeable... but, for 19.00 it's not much of a risk. buy one and try it out while you're sending your bridge to john to be modded...
OK I went and found the Pre Ernie Ball Music Man club and PM'd one member to come over here and take a look. Hopefully he'll show up and set the OP straight on his problem. 
John thanks, but I'm far away (greece)
Don't you think it's better to buy some new ones from ebay?
96tbird said: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.
Good suggestion regarding fixing the E string first and continue to the right.
+1 on the polepiece alignment... although it does look better when they do align.
Those saddles are not original, though. The design of the bridge relies on having the saddles between the studs. Finding replacements may be hard. I would really try to shave off a bit of their ends, being hollow will be even easier. But I'd still try the suggestion above, it Just might do the trick!
Edit: incredible, so some designs only used the left stud and relied on sideways pull to keep all saddles together with the G above the post...
Ingenious, if weird
Learnt a new thing today!
Personally, and IMHO, people's eye's convince them that poles need to directly under the strings. There really isn't a negligible difference if they're off a bit, but people's eye's will not allow their ears to understand that.
I'd personally be much more concerned about the OP's bridge issues that are pulling the strings over to the left.
I'd personally be much more concerned about the OP's bridge issues that are pulling the strings over to the left.
That is how they are made. Pull to the left.
Pic 1, from the Music Man Org site: Link Removed
you can clearly see that they are supposed to pull left.
Pic 2 the OP's bass. He needs to set it that way and then intonate.
STAMOS, Do you understand how to intonate a bass?
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96TBIRD thnks. I got your point you are correct.
E string should be set first next to the bolt and the other will follow in turn.
I have set the saddles this way as you saw in the pic but D,G could not intonate properly and the alignment issue of G string was improved but not fixed .
Can you pls explain the intonation process in more detail, maybe I did something wrong and I will try it again
- Feb 16, 2008
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- John K Custom Basses
from one Greek to another
, it wouldn't cost much to send the whole bridge (or just the saddles) to me and back to you via priority mail international. i'd machine them narrower for you for free so all you'd pay for is the shipping. priority mail international is pretty quick too.unless you can get the original musicman ones for it, no.
Intonation of strings:
Begin with the E: tune it up. (and all strings)
Strike the harmonic above the 12th and compare to the 12th Fretted note.
If fretted note is flat, move saddle closer to neck.
If sharp move it away from neck.
Continue on with the A,D and G strings.
Your saddle positions should look like the picture above. In general, this is usually how an intonated bridge would look. Any two sets, gauges or types of strings will need to be adjusted for. When you change strings you should check for intonation in this way.
Begin with the E: tune it up. (and all strings)
Strike the harmonic above the 12th and compare to the 12th Fretted note.
If fretted note is flat, move saddle closer to neck.
If sharp move it away from neck.
Continue on with the A,D and G strings.
Your saddle positions should look like the picture above. In general, this is usually how an intonated bridge would look. Any two sets, gauges or types of strings will need to be adjusted for. When you change strings you should check for intonation in this way.
from one Greek to another
unless you can get the original musicman ones for it, no.
If he did do this John, I would think that due to the left tension, only the right side of the G saddle would need to be trimmed. As you can see in the pic of his bridge above, they are all centered nicely over the mute thumbscrews, pulling tight to the E and the G is just barely too wide. Trimming it would sure alleviate any intonation issues with getting that G right and would allow him to carry on happily forever.
BTW JohnK, since you are Greek, does the K stand for Kanbiuldabassanopolous?
OT! JohnK your Model 4025 #3 Mapleglow gives me GAS bad! Sadly I could never justify a purchase of such an instrument. Just beautiful and an outstanding concept. I agree that Rick should have thought of this!
- Feb 16, 2008
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- 23,633
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thanks!
BTW JohnK, since you are Greek, does the K stand for Kanbiuldabassanopolous?
that's actually pretty close
. it used to be Kalogeropoulos before my dad changed it to Kallas. Good news!!
I totally dismantled the bridge and the problem was not the size of the saddles (which seem original indeed).
The problem was the wrong high adjustment of the saddles, creating an angle at the saddle positioning (especially for A) pushing the other saddles at the sides when aligned together.
The photos show the difference both before and after where difference is obvious.
I totally dismantled the bridge and the problem was not the size of the saddles (which seem original indeed).
The problem was the wrong high adjustment of the saddles, creating an angle at the saddle positioning (especially for A) pushing the other saddles at the sides when aligned together.
The photos show the difference both before and after where difference is obvious.
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from one Greek to another
QUOTE]
John, thnks a lot for your offer. I was ready to send it to you before fixing it. Really appreciate it (especially since you are greek...)
- Feb 16, 2008
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- 23,633
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- John K Custom Basses
that's great, however i can see by this pic..........
...........that you neck is possibly not aligned properly in the neck pock which results in making it not align as well as it could with the pickup and bridge. your E string is closer to the edge of the neck than you G string is, so slightly loosen all of the neck screws about 1/2 to 3/4 turn and push the headstock toward the treble side to align it and retighten the neck mounting screws. also the A string saddle is on a big angle and should sit level on the bridge bass plate.
...........that you neck is possibly not aligned properly in the neck pock which results in making it not align as well as it could with the pickup and bridge. your E string is closer to the edge of the neck than you G string is, so slightly loosen all of the neck screws about 1/2 to 3/4 turn and push the headstock toward the treble side to align it and retighten the neck mounting screws. also the A string saddle is on a big angle and should sit level on the bridge bass plate.
that's great, however i can see by this pic..........
...........that you neck is possibly not aligned properly in the neck pock which results in making it not align as well as it could with the pickup and bridge. your E string is closer to the edge of the neck than you G string is, so slightly loosen all of the neck screws about 1/2 to 3/4 turn and push the headstock toward the treble side to align it and retighten the neck mounting screws. also the A string saddle is on a big angle and should sit level on the bridge bass plate.
This is a picture before fixing and although the photo angle is somehow misguiding us, probably the neck needed some repositioning here. However, I dismantled the neck from body too and I think I have fixed it now , but will have a second look tonight (to be certain)
