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Thunderbird Club

#323,225
/\/\3phist0 said:
The intonation issues is less about an incorrect placement of the bridge, than it is about loose tolerance parts used for the bridge components on the “vintage” assembly.

My VP has a HORRIBLY sloppy bridge assembly, the bridge wants to lean towards the nut. The 64 less so.
The lean is bad enough that it REALLY affects the intonation. The threads on the posts and inserts are so loose the post can move almost a MM! Forward and back/side to side. when you look at the lean it’s cumulative contributions of slop in the threads and the slots in the bridge/post joint.

I partially corrected the issue by placing strips of solder in the threads of the sleeves in the body.

I’m devising a thin u shaped brass shim to go on the nut side of the post, under the bridge plate to take up the slack in that assembly.

I’ll chronical my attempts to correct these mechanical shortcomings.
Click to expand...
That stinks.
In my case, it really is location with a slight infusion of orientation. If you look carefully at my VP, the two low strings saddles are up against the wall because the bridge was installed closer to the fretboard than it should have been. It's also slightly crooked, with the low string end slightly closer to the fretboard than the other end.
 
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#323,228
Miles_ONeal said:
The EBCFs and Thunderbuckers are a great combo. But if I try different strings, those are on the list.
Click to expand...
2 of my 3 basses went back to EBCF’s.
The 3rd to follow.
After trying numerous different others, and all had their strength and weaknesses.
The EBCF’s just work for me as the all purpose strings.

Of course all my pick up choices do not lack in the low end department.
 
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#323,229
Miles_ONeal said:
For once! Woohoo!
Click to expand...
The sound of my thinking would terrify mere mortals.

The EEG machine broke the needle arm.


1752084499125.png



Just kidding
 
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#323,230
/\/\3phist0 said:
The intonation issues is less about an incorrect placement of the bridge, than it is about loose tolerance parts used for the bridge components on the “vintage” assembly.

My VP has a HORRIBLY sloppy bridge assembly, the bridge wants to lean towards the nut. The 64 less so.
The lean is bad enough that it REALLY affects the intonation. The threads on the posts and inserts are so loose the post can move almost a MM! Forward and back/side to side. when you look at the lean it’s cumulative contributions of slop in the threads and the slots in the bridge/post joint.

I partially corrected the issue by placing strips of solder in the threads of the sleeves in the body.

I’m devising a thin u shaped brass shim to go on the nut side of the post, under the bridge plate to take up the slack in that assembly.

I’ll chronical my attempts to correct these mechanical shortcomings.
Click to expand...
Mines dead tight and dead level. The bridge anchors and body bolts are metric on the Eppi models and not on the Gibson models. You might have a situation where someone has replaced the metric bolts in your bridge with Gibson ones, thus the thread mismatch and bridge tilt.
 
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#323,233
/\/\3phist0 said:
The intonation issues is less about an incorrect placement of the bridge, than it is about loose tolerance parts used for the bridge components on the “vintage” assembly.

My VP has a HORRIBLY sloppy bridge assembly, the bridge wants to lean towards the nut. The 64 less so.
The lean is bad enough that it REALLY affects the intonation. The threads on the posts and inserts are so loose the post can move almost a MM! Forward and back/side to side. when you look at the lean it’s cumulative contributions of slop in the threads and the slots in the bridge/post joint.

I partially corrected the issue by placing strips of solder in the threads of the sleeves in the body.

I’m devising a thin u shaped brass shim to go on the nut side of the post, under the bridge plate to take up the slack in that assembly.

I’ll chronical my attempts to correct these mechanical shortcomings.
Click to expand...
That’s weird. My ‘17 bridge is solid.
 
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#323,239
/\/\3phist0 said:
See the gap?
Below the screw cap and the bridge plate?
View attachment 7271326
That is the slop. Next string change, check how loose the joinery is.
Click to expand...
There is zero space between the bottom of the bolt head and the shoulder on the lower part of the nut. That is an optical artifact of the angle of the photo.
 
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#323,240
GBassNorth said:
Mines dead tight and dead level. The bridge anchors and body bolts are metric on the Eppi models and not on the Gibson models. You might have a situation where someone has replaced the metric bolts in your bridge with Gibson ones, thus the thread mismatch and bridge tilt.
Click to expand...
As I recall, the claw on one of my VPs leans just a bit. But the one on my '64 has as well for at least 40 years.
 
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