ahpook Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 (edited) i'm now working on the 'pookbass', which is a body and glued-in neck i bought a while back from ebay, and had howard of howard's bass place do some work on (gives you an idea of how long i've had it !!) now that the other project i was working on hasn't worked out, i'm determined for this one to work. i mounted the schaller bridge and machine heads last night, but i've come across a problem...the strings lie against the neck, so they can't even vibrate. now - is this a trussrod issue or will i have to jack the bridge up by a bit ? the schaller bridge i originally used came with an insert to raise it off the body a bit, but that's been sold to a friend years ago, and the one i'm using now hasn't got the 'shim' do i need a bridge with more 'height' ? i don't remember this problem from the first fitting of the parts, but i'm not sure if i used the 'shim' last time... any ideas would be great Edited June 1, 2008 by ahpook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 Original badass bridges are wicked tall and theres a few floating about that won't fit Fenders. A well fitted block of wood would also work. The trussrod only changes the curve in the neck, which should be only just off totally straight (can check by fretting a string at either end of the fingerboard and seeing if there is a gap, when strings are at full tension). I'm guessing you've already taken the adjusting the grub screws on the bridge as far as is sensible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted June 1, 2008 Author Share Posted June 1, 2008 yeah, i've tried using the bridge to raise the action, but that didn't work. as for checking the relief, at the moment the strings are so flat against the neck that it's not possible. i wish i could remember if i used the schaller bridge plate when i did the first fit...although i'm beginning to think that i must have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 [quote name='ahpook' post='210666' date='Jun 1 2008, 06:31 PM']yeah, i've tried using the bridge to raise the action, but that didn't work. [b]as for checking the relief, at the moment the strings are so flat against the neck that it's not possible.[/b] i wish i could remember if i used the schaller bridge plate when i did the first fit...although i'm beginning to think that i must have.[/quote] Try slipping a block or something under the strings but in front of the saddles, just enough to raise the strings off the leading edge of the neck then you can tell if you have some relief or not. Either way if the bridge is so low that the strings are flat (even with the saddles jacked up) you are going to have to jack the bridge up somehow or as has been suggested get a taller bridge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 (edited) [quote name='ahpook' post='210666' date='Jun 1 2008, 06:31 PM']yeah, i've tried using the bridge to raise the action, but that didn't work. as for checking the relief, at the moment the strings are so flat against the neck that it's not possible. i wish i could remember if i used the schaller bridge plate when i did the first fit...although i'm beginning to think that i must have.[/quote] When I fitted a Schaller bridge to a Fender Musicmaster many years ago, I had exactly the same problem. I fitted a plate underneath to bring the bridge up a bit. It's not a trussrod related problem. The plate I used was Schaller one, made no doubt in anticipation of this problem, but I'm sure you could either make or get made something similar to suit your needs, and would be cheaper. Hope this helps, good luck with the build. Edited June 1, 2008 by nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted June 1, 2008 Author Share Posted June 1, 2008 [quote name='nick' post='210693' date='Jun 1 2008, 07:13 PM']When I fitted a Schaller bridge to a Fender Musicmaster many years ago, I had exactly the same problem. I fitted a plate underneath to bring the bridge up a bit. It's not a trussrod related problem. The plate I used was Schaller one, made no doubt in anticipation of this problem, but I'm sure you could either make or get made something similar to suit your needs, and would be cheaper. Hope this helps, good luck with the build.[/quote] it does indeed - many thanks darn...now i actually have to go buy a new schaller bridge just to get the shim !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 [quote name='ahpook' post='210695' date='Jun 1 2008, 07:18 PM']darn...now i actually have to go buy a new schaller bridge just to get the shim !![/quote] Why not just get one made, would be cheaper. All you need to do is find someone with ability to cut (and drill) small piece of steel plate possibly 2mm to size - a backstreet welder, or small engineering workshop etc. If you had a decent jigsaw & file, you could probably do it yourself - don't throw your money away on a new bridge! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted June 1, 2008 Author Share Posted June 1, 2008 [quote name='nick' post='210705' date='Jun 1 2008, 07:35 PM']Why not just get one made, would be cheaper. All you need to do is find someone with ability to cut (and drill) small piece of steel plate possibly 2mm to size - a backstreet welder, or small engineering workshop etc. If you had a decent jigsaw & file, you could probably do it yourself - don't throw your money away on a new bridge![/quote] hmmm....good plan. although 'backstreet welder' sounds...well....[i]highly[/i] dubious !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 [quote name='nick' post='210705' date='Jun 1 2008, 07:35 PM']Why not just get one made, would be cheaper. All you need to do is find someone with ability to cut (and drill) small piece of [b]steel plate[/b] possibly 2mm to size - a backstreet welder, or small engineering workshop etc. If you had a decent jigsaw & file, you could probably do it yourself - don't throw your money away on a new bridge![/quote] Ooooh, now would brass give any sonic benefits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted June 1, 2008 Author Share Posted June 1, 2008 [quote name='warwickhunt' post='210708' date='Jun 1 2008, 07:39 PM']Ooooh, now would brass give any sonic benefits [/quote] /clenches fist/ why i ouughta !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 [quote name='warwickhunt' post='210708' date='Jun 1 2008, 07:39 PM']Ooooh, now would brass give any sonic benefits [/quote] +1. Good idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muzzer Posted June 2, 2008 Share Posted June 2, 2008 If its any help, this guy on fleabay sells brass sheet [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-brass-sheet-offcut-1-2mm-thick-178mm-x-157mm_W0QQitemZ360057340649QQihZ023QQcategoryZ98641QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-brass-sheet-offc...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 2, 2008 Share Posted June 2, 2008 Another option might be to try some longer grub screws in the saddles if it's only 1 or 2 mm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted June 2, 2008 Author Share Posted June 2, 2008 thanks for the advice folks... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted June 11, 2008 Author Share Posted June 11, 2008 schaller are sending me a replacement spacer plate...for nowt ! hurrah and thrice huzzah ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 You could file the frets down!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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