Two-Saddle Basses

[el_Bajo_Verde]

I'd call it a non quantifiable preference issue and call it a day. I know, this kind of thing drives logic driven people nuts.

Exactly! Glad someone understood what i was saying. Lol.

Well honestly, what did you expect? Did you think we would all just unanimously nod our heads in agreement?

Opinions vary, and you have to accept that sometimes, people's opinions will differ from yours.

 

[BlueAliceOasis]

This thread has set off my GAS.

 

[JJR58]

View attachment 977753

I'm putting together a tele bass with these on it. Swivel saddles.

Wilkinson?

 

[JJR58]

Wilkinson?

Ok, so i should have read the ealier posts.
Had a swivel Wilkinson on a Marcus Miller, it was awesome, great bridges.

 

[pasi]

There is a reason that Leo changed the bridge to four saddles, you know.
Look, I get "funky and old" being fun - but this is one case where it's just not all that practical.

Correct, two saddle bridge design can't just intonate correct .because you must set each string intonation one by one.four saddle is needed

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Correct, two saddle bridge design can't just intonate correct .because you must set each string intonation one by one.four saddle is needed

Well, facts haven't stopped "vintagistas" in the past - so why should it now?

 

[lz4005]

That's cool. Actually I'd prefer those to the swivel-saddles TBH.
I've used compensated saddles for Telecasters with the 3-saddle bridges. The makers shave a bit off the saddle on one side or the other. I've never seen that before for Tele basses.

Unfortunately RS doesn't sell just the saddles. Only the whole bridge. Still, for under $50 I might order one and do the switch next time I change strings on my 54 reissue.

If people would actually read the posts they're replying to they'd see that nobody is saying 2 saddle is superior, just that it's a relatively minor design flaw that can be worked around if you like the rest of the bass.
You can either set two strings dead on and leave two (the E and D) a bit out, or split the difference so each string is a little off but none are really bad. It's not that big a deal.

 

[2saddleslab]

While the absolutist negativley pontificate I'll just enjoy playing my properly intonated basses that much more. And thems the facts, baby!

 

[RED J]

Some in here just for the fight.

 

[pudge]

Don't sweat the small stuff.

 

[awilkie84]

Nope. Tension is within a pound between all strings. Here's a photo of the instrument I was talking about. Note all the saddles end up
in a straight line even though they are an octave apart. It's tuned aaA ddD ggG. I did not expect it to be accurately intonated, but it is.

I admit that math is a pain (at least for me) but once you understand the math equation its very easy calculator work.

If I were doing it for a 2 saddle bass I'd use 34" on the D&G and 34.1" on the E&A instead of the same scale length all across like this.

My #2 and #1:

Where did you get the fanned fret neck for the 4 string?

 

[andonbray]

1970-71 Musicmaster Bass
Intonation is a pain, but do able. Fun little bass to play.

 

[Nev375]

Where did you get the fanned fret neck for the 4 string?

Moses graphite

 

[twinjet]

Kinda fond of them myself.

You were the first person I was going to tag.

Someone clue me in: is the 2 vs 4 saddle bridge an aesthetic thing, or is there an advantage to going with 2?

 

[Antisyzygy]

Unfortunately RS doesn't sell just the saddles. Only the whole bridge. Still, for under $50 I might order one and do the switch next time I change strings on my 54 reissue.

If people would actually read the posts they're replying to they'd see that nobody is saying 2 saddle is superior, just that it's a relatively minor design flaw that can be worked around if you like the rest of the bass.
You can either set two strings dead on and leave two (the E and D) a bit out, or split the difference so each string is a little off but none are really bad. It's not that big a deal.

This issue has come up before, and pretty much the same thing happened. Some folks talk about how they love 51 Ps or telebasses and it's a fine bridge, some folks talk about how the bridges are a design flaw, etc.

 

[2saddleslab]

You were the first person I was going to tag.

Someone clue me in: is the 2 vs 4 saddle bridge an aesthetic thing, or is there an advantage to going with 2?

It's more of a nastalgic thing and I've always liked the concept going thru the body (there's a whole other can o worms). Certainly more fine tuning capabilities with a 4 saddle bridge. But Leo's original primative design has always been my favorite.

 

[Antisyzygy]

You were the first person I was going to tag.

Someone clue me in: is the 2 vs 4 saddle bridge an aesthetic thing, or is there an advantage to going with 2?

None. The two saddle design is more of an aesthetic thing.

Speaking of just the tele bass bridge :

I guess if I had to reach I'd say it makes a lower profile bridge. You only have two little metal tongues sticking out for the adjustment bolts.

Then I guess you would have a string through body by necessity. The strings need to be anchored to something.

 

[AndreasR]

I like being able to intonate my strings right.

 

[pacojas]

I like being able to intonate my strings right.

who really notices? the last Dusty Hill that i played had better intonation than my four saddle basses. a few cents out is very unnoticeable, ime. ymmv

 

[AndreasR]

who really notices? the last Dusty Hill that i played had better intonation than my four saddle basses. a few cents out is very unnoticeable, ime. ymmv

I notice. Once I brought a new bass to band practice that I hadn't given a personal set up yet, bit I was eager to gI've it a test run. It might only have been slightly off, but it just didn't sit well with the guitar.

Next time it was fine.

So yes, my mileage does indeed vary.