Replacement Bridge

[xgsjx]

Well I whipped the strings & the bridge off my bass to give it a nice thorough waxing & when I was popping the strings back on the saddle on the E popped up.
The alan screw stayed in the rest of the saddle & on further examination, discovered that the D & G saddles are also broken. So now I need a new saddle (that octaver is getting further away every day ).

So I need to ask you guys what my options are.

The bass is an Ibanez SR1000e, made in 1989 (in Japan) & the bridge on it is an Omni Adjust which is apparently made by Gotoh & string spacing is @ 19mm.

Here's a couple of pics showing the bridge...


[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/xgsjx/5864441787/][/url]


[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/xgsjx/5840432981/][/url]

They were taken 4 months ago.

I'd like to replace it with a decent bridge, but I don't want to be spending £100 or more just now on something if something for £30 is gonna do the job fine for now.

[Ou7shined]

Presumably it was functional before you took it off. Can you explain a bit more why the bridge is broken?

[xgsjx]

It's still functional as in "the strings go over the bridge & it plays ok", but I was going to raise the action for an upcoming gig (fret clank is getting on me thruppnies).

if you look at the top pic you can see a locking screw at the end of each saddle, well the saddle is completely cracked right across. I think I may have over tightened them last time I was playing with the action.

I'll take a pic & upload it just now.

[Ou7shined]

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1318634010' post='1404778']
It's still functional as in "the strings go over the bridge & it plays ok", but I was going to raise the action for an upcoming gig (fret clank is getting on me thruppnies).

if you look at the top pic you can see a locking screw at the end of each saddle, well the saddle is completely cracked right across. I think I may have over tightened them last time I was playing with the action.

I'll take a pic & upload it just now.
[/quote]

Nice one I can't really make out too much from the pic.

[xgsjx]

Close up of the cracks


[url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/xgsjx/6245033600/"][/url]

If I take the strings off I can lift the saddles out without having to do anything (except from the A saddle).

Edited October 14, 2011 by xgsjx

[Ou7shined]

Just seen your pic on Flickr. Yeah it's fecked.

Schaller 3D would be a good replacement, although it doesn't have the same 4 screw design.

[xgsjx]

Cheers, I'll have a look at the Schaller. A bit of wood filler & I should be fine re screwholes

[Ou7shined]

Mmmm not really. If the new bridge's holes don't impose on the old holes then just leave them.. otherwise plug them with kebab skewers etc. You might as well put sticky tape over them if you are going to use wood filler.

[xgsjx]

Thanks I'll forget wasting money on wood filler (got plenty of wooden skewers).

So would any bridge of that style be ok as long as the string spacing is the same?

[Ou7shined]

Aye.
The good thing with the 3D is that it has lateral adjustment so it can be made to fit many spacings... and it looks a bit like your Ibby one... from a distance.

[xgsjx]

Good stuff Now I need to convince the wife just why this is so important.

I don't mind if it looks different from the Ibby one, as long as it does a good job. I even toyed with the idea of fitting this...



Maybe not.

[Ou7shined]

Nah your limiting your intonation adjustment span with that 'un.

[xgsjx]

Just having a look around, are the £30 shots worth buying or are they crap? Thomann & Axesrus have some cheapos, or is that just what they are?

[Grand Wazoo]

Fitting that one will require additional drilling into the body. You could probably find the original replacement saddles and keep your bridge as is, if you ask a Gotoh official dealer they might even find the original parts.

[xgsjx]

Now that's something I never thought of. I'll have to check out whom my nearest dealer is.
If not, I'm safe with a drill. No Leerdammer makers here.

[TRBboy]

I would try emailing Headstock Distribution who are the Ibanez UK distributors. When I worked in an Ibanez dealership they were always pretty good at getting hold of spares.

Might be worth a try.

[xgsjx]

I've emailed headstock Distribution to see if I can get replacement saddles from anywhere.

If not, I'm looking at the Shaller 3D & have also noticed the Babicz bridge, which looks cool & is about the same price.
Question though. Are these bridges worth the extra £40-50 over something like this...

[url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/goeldo_hw50b_bass_3d_steg.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/goeldo_hw50b_bass_3d_steg.htm[/url]

or this

[url="http://www.blackdogmusic.co.uk/ViewItem.php?ItemID=238"]http://www.blackdogmusic.co.uk/ViewItem.php?ItemID=238[/url]

?

[Ou7shined]

You will get a second hand 3D for around £30.

Most of the expensive bridges offer no real word difference over the cheaper options apart from tougher materials and better adjustment at best.

Neither of those 2 you linked to have lateral adjustment which I personally would insist on having.

[xgsjx]

Cheers min,

I'm off a searching for 2nd hand.

[lemmywinks]

You might want to look at the cheapy ~£15 ones from eBay sellers Papa Ds and CH Guitars. I bought one for a project and was impressed with it, proper chunky black unit that's miles better than other budget offerings. Not a big heavy chunk like a Badass buyt certainly more substantial than your usual cheap bridge.