Raising bridge height on the cheap

[AndyBass]

So I need to raise my bridge more than the adjusters allow (a luthier did a bit of a botch of the profile, then another lowered the height too much trying to even it out) and I don't have the cash for a new one. So...I have a plan. 1.Buy cheap bridge 2.cut off feet, leaving majority of bridge intact 3.drill holes for the existing adjusters to fit, meaning the bridge feet which are ok can still be used 4.file indents for the strings in the top bit myself. That should work, yeah? If not any other cheap, Macgyver-style fixes that don't exceed a budget of about £20? This is obviously for amped up ham-fisted slap and pizz, nothing delicate or where intricacies of tone matter. Thanks

[Grangur]

Get some veneer slices and super-glue some slices under the feet of the bridge.

If you don't have veneer, PM me your address send a selection of light and dark veneers so you can choose what looks best.


2nd point: Botch job = Fake luthier.

Edited February 19, 2017 by Grangur

[T-Bay]

I shimmed one up with a piece of aluminium plate under the bridge. It's barely noticeable and you wouldn't spot it unless you were looking.

[bassace]

This will no doubt horrify some purists but I keep a stock of thin wooden pieces from a French cheese box. I use them to shim bridges and pickups. You won't need any glue, the pressure of the bridge will hold the shim down and it will take up the curvature of the table.

[AndyBass]

Thanks guys - not least for not judging me for my desire to do this on the cheap! Shims sound like they're worth a try before I try my more Heath Robinson solution...appreciate the advice

[SubsonicSimpleton]

You could shim the bridge on the side of the adjusters that don't have the screwthread using card/veneer washers. On my bridge the adjusters have an equal threaded/unthreaded either side of the wheels, so plenty of scope to shim the unthreaded side.