Two-Saddle Basses

[ajkula66]

It's more of a nastalgic thing

Fair enough.

and I've always liked the concept going thru the body (there's a whole other can o worms).

Just one?

Certainly more fine tuning capabilities with a 4 saddle bridge. But Leo's original primative design has always been my favorite.

The way I see it...if someone were generous enough to gift me an early example of P-Bass, I'd most likely leave it "as-is", but it wouldn't see much playtime either. If I were to start building a custom '51 P or '68 Tele Bass from scratch, it would most certainly sport a different bridge...

My $0.02 only...

 

[2saddleslab]

Fair enough.



Just one?



The way I see it...if someone were generous enough to gift me an early example of P-Bass, I'd most likely leave it "as-is", but it wouldn't see much playtime either. If I were to start building a custom '51 P or '68 Tele Bass from scratch, it would most certainly sport a different bridge...

My $0.02 only...

Different strokes, pal. More power to ya.

 

[ajkula66]

Different strokes, pal. More power to ya.

I'm a strong believer in different strokes. As well as in playing whichever instrument works best for one's particular needs.

Just to make it clear: my "just one" was referring to the potential can(s) of worms that a discussion on strings-through would open...way more than just one, IMO.

 

[Kirk Bryant]

My 1957 beloved P, I owned from 1967-2007. Every ding was me, note thumb rest wear.

 

[MetsMan75]

My Custom Parts Build. B Hefner body and Musikraft neck. Haven't decided on a pickguard yet...its between white, black, red tort and pearloid.

 

[FloridaSam]

 

[Snaxster]

Who else shares my love for two-saddle Fenders, and basses in general?

Let's see 'em!...

Yeah, I'm into it. If nothing else a two-saddle bridge lets me use phenolic saddles. The creamy aggregate sound of the raw-sounding single coil pickup, the intonated-just-well-enough strings, the lightweight ash and the maple, and the phenolic bridge saddles is like nothing else I own.

A short demo:

Both tracks feature the bass’s volume knob backed off a bit, and are through a Kern tube preamp set clean. The low bass track has the bass’s tone knob rolled off about 90%, and the “deep” switch engaged on the preamp. The melody track has the bass’s tone knob wide open.

I improvised the music into a phrase sampler, then made a copy that’s three phrases long with fade in and fade out. There is no other processing. Apart from a little spillover at the end of the melody track, which sounds like a flam and a moment of treble harmony, it’s pretty tight. It’s a demo.

There is no preamp overdrive in this recording. Any spongy, wooly, growly sounds you hear in the low bass are only me playing to the instrument's inherent qualities.​

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Big Tex Guitars 1951 style P bass
O.C. Duff Pickups custom SCPB pickup
Webbtecca Musical Industries bridge plate and phenolic saddles
Fender Japan pickguard, aged Fender covers, roundwound strings (probably Dark Horse)

 

[Kirk Bryant]

So after reading this thread a couple of weeks ago I pulled the trigger on a Mary Kay Blond 50's body. (Contours) and have been looking at necks and parts. For those who have built one please give me your selections for your two saddle bridge and everything else. I plan on making this fairly true to a mid 50's P bass. I haven't picked up anything else yet but am leaning towards an All Parts Tele neck as they fit the build. I'll refin with vintage nitro. I'm thinking one ply black PG. probably going light weight on tuners and am undecided on the pickup. I will say I owned the Blue Squier 50's and thought it sounded quite close to my old 57'. I know I could spend a whole lot more on the PU but I'm trying to keep the cost down and may do upgrades down the line. So any and all suggestions are welcome on any and all parts. Hope everyone had a safe holiday.

 

[jhb138]

This is the bridge I used for my FrankenTele.

 

[jhb138]

Check out this bad boy. Mojo for days!
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[Kirk Bryant]

Funny, zombie thread, someone just liked a comment I made here years ago. So, I shall, quite belatedly post the finished product which came out great except for one thing. It's too damn heavy for my old back now.
It sounds fantastic, Seymore Duncan Antiquirites PU, Wilkensen bridge. We did ferrules for string through. More for vintage authenticity rather than a belief of superior sound or tone from the string through. Vintage tint on the neck with a light sanding of the back.
Feels great, looks great, sounds great!

 

[mongo2]

I like the elegant simplicity of the two saddle design but I don't appreciate the intonation issues with the two saddle bridges I've had so I replaced them with four saddle bridges. On my SCPBs I found Fender Deluxe bridges from the '90s are a direct replacement. Plus those bridges have the option of top load or through body stringing.

 

[kodiakblair]

Right. It's time to give myself a shake and glue up some boards