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Wassup with this bridge?
- Thread starter Peaveylover
- Start date
In order to make proper intonation easier. The tailpiece is on straight, of course, which is also important. To understand better, take a look at the slant on a properly intoned bass. (To be fair, this slant may or may not occur depending on other factors.) You'll also notice that on the bass you posted, there are screws on each string saddle to help get the intonation as close as possible.
Intonation compensation.
See The Compensated Nut which happens to be a very timely and excellent explanation.
See The Compensated Nut which happens to be a very timely and excellent explanation.
As said above. That style of bridge has a comparatively limited range for the string saddles to move so it would get placed in an approximate intonation angle and fine tuned with the individual saddles.
I wouldn't worry about that as much. I've seen some guitars built like that. As long as each saddle is at the right distance from the nut for proper intonation you're good to go!
It wouldn't really factor in like you're thinking. Unless the saddle grooves were totally botched that shouldn't matter. Assuming it's the stock saddle the slots should be nice and the angle coming down to the bridge should be just fine. Strumming the strings you'd tell immediately if there was a problem with either.
As long as the string has a nice, sharp witness point set the area between the bridge and tailpiece should have minimal, if any, effect.
As others have already pointed out, the bridge is purposely oriented like that to give each saddle the maximum amount of movement (forward and back) so that the instrument can be intonated properly.
The issues I see with the bass are 1) the tail piece looks as though it is not square to the center line and 2) the odds of the saddles intonating in a straight diagonal line are pretty slim. Nothing can be done about the tail piece (if it is crooked, it doesn’t really matter too much), but that particluar V bass needs a decent set up.
The issues I see with the bass are 1) the tail piece looks as though it is not square to the center line and 2) the odds of the saddles intonating in a straight diagonal line are pretty slim. Nothing can be done about the tail piece (if it is crooked, it doesn’t really matter too much), but that particluar V bass needs a decent set up.
It does look a tad bit crooked to me .
Typical configuration more often seen on six string guitars. It’s to “pre-intonate” the instrument because the saddle adjustments don’t have enough range of adjustment to get the intonation set on all strings if that size bridge was placed perpendicular to the strings. The larger diameter strings generally requires the vibrating length to be a little longer than the smaller diameter strings, so the bridge is cheated that way slightly and the bridge saddle adjustment is to fine tune each string intonation.
Here’s a pic of a $4500 Les Paul that is much the same.
Here’s a pic of a $4500 Les Paul that is much the same.
It's because that style of bridge has limited movement to adjust the intonation, so they start with the bridge at a bit of an angle to help you get closer and still have some adjustment room. This Jazz Bass bridge is intimated correctly and you'll see the angle. It has +/- 1/2" or so of movement available. The Tune-o-matic bridge can only adjust +/- something less (that's the scientific term for it).
Compensates for the fact that each string center (12th fret) the 2nd harmonic is not exactly at the same place due to some fun standing wave mechanics. In most cases the nut witness point is perpendicular and the bridge witness point(s) are compensating.
Also, Flying V, welcome to badassery.
Also, Flying V, welcome to badassery.
please send me the bass in question and I will thoroughly investigate….
The old Gibson 'tune-o-matic' bridge, unchanged for 70+ years. Strangely an improved design called the 'Gibraltar' bridge (above) was developed in the 70's and used by Gibson on some models and by Ibanez. It has more travel on the saddles and doesn't need to be angled, so none of the potential problems compared to the older bridge, but the tune-o-matic remains on Les Paul's and many other models.
Just tradition keeps the old, less well thought out model so popular, just like Telecaster guitar three saddle bridges, (though now you can get compensated saddles for them), or two saddle 51 P bass bridges and a host of other primitive designs and products.
Still thousand of people have managed alright with tune-o-matic bridges for decades, so I wouldn't worry too much.
The tailpiece isn't fully on the post on the "E" side from what I can see. The posts seem in line.
