| Author | Message | ||
| andy3hal
New Username: andy3hal Post Number: 2 Registered: 2-2013 |
 Dear Alembic friends, can some one please advise how much clearance there should be between the bridge and the hieght adjustment screws, my 5 string Scorpion bass bridge is tilted at a small angle and there is perhaps too much clearance between bridge and the hieght adjustment screws, can any one offer advise. Thanks Andy | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 870 Registered: 9-2008 |
That bridge doesn't look set any higher than the one in my Rogue (in fact, it seems a little lower), but it doesn't tilt like that. It keeps tilted like that whithout strings? Is there any clearence making it loose somehow? Note that screw at bolt's bottom? I don't know for what it is for, but may be this can be used to tighten the bridge at the post... You could try screw it a little in your next string change. | ||
| adriaan
Moderator Username: adriaan Post Number: 3017 Registered: 6-2002 |
Have you found Joey's Post on Setting up Your Bass yet? An amazingly short and DIY guide to setting up an Alembic. The top of the black height adjuster screws on my two basses is flush with the top of the brass tube. Like Mario suggests, try adjusting the small nut underneath the brass tube to correct the tilt - do loosen the strings beforehand. You may also want to try disassembling the bridge, as the first saddle is reversed. Some good suggestions on this old thread - not sure if it mentions taking lots of pictures with each part that you remove, but in any case spread out the parts so that it's obvious what goes where in which particular order. | ||
| jimmyj
Senior Member Username: jimmyj Post Number: 427 Registered: 8-2008 |
Hey Andy, Welcome to the forum. Yes, we need a couple more pictures of that bridge to see what's going on because the low-string saddle does appear to be backwards. The rounded shape is meant to be on the tailpiece side. And as Adriaan said, the tilt issue would be solved by tightening the nuts of the adjustment screws - the ones actually holding the bridge at height. They're meant to be snug but turnable. If you can find a small enough wrench you can hold them in place and tighten the main screw down towards the nut while still on the bass. Take the strings off before doing any of this or you will be fighting a lot of forces. Keep us posted. Jimmy J | ||
| andy3hal
New Username: andy3hal Post Number: 3 Registered: 2-2013 |
Many thanks for the advise, totally missed that the bridge was on backwards, looks like I am going to have a bit more work than I had thought. The first pic is how I receieved the bass, the next two pics are the bridge in close up and the last is an example of I am assuming how it should be. Next step is to strip the bridge down and rebuild it. Yesterday I stripped the whole bass down, going to give it a good cleaning and then put it back together, not a restoration job, just a good cleaning, it has a number of dings here and there, it obviously has a story to tell, dont want to erase that. Many thanks for the great advise Andy     (Message edited by adriaan on February 10, 2013) | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 1843 Registered: 2-2005 |
Yes the bridge is on backwards and was reassembled with the saddles on backwards also. If it wasn't a flat out mistake my guess is it was done to move the strings more towards the middle without having to cut new saddles. It is pretty straight forward to put it back to original if you follow the picture on the far right. I would then look at Joey's setup mentioned above if you need any assistance in that area. Keith | ||
| jimmyj
Senior Member Username: jimmyj Post Number: 428 Registered: 8-2008 |
That's interesting. Your bridge isn't just backwards, it's inside-out! The screws that adjust the saddles are the only part that are facing the correct direction - adjustable from the tailpiece side. Note in your last picture that the low string's saddle adjustment screw is on the far left whereas yours is on the right side of that saddle. That means your bridge is in fact backwards but you will need to switch the adjustment bolt directions AND swap the outside 4 saddles so the string slots are in the correct order... To swap those saddles you will need to disassemble the bridge. I've never done this and I don't know how the "pins" (the "rails" that the saddles slide on as you turn the bolts) are held in place. I'm sure somebody here can give you a more detailed description of the operation. Stay tuned and we'll get you sorted out! Jimmy J | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 3325 Registered: 10-2002 |
I disassembled one of my bridges once and I'm pretty certain I found the 'rails' were stepped so they are held in place when the two end pieces are screwed in. Graeme | ||
| andy3hal
New Username: andy3hal Post Number: 4 Registered: 2-2013 |
Thanks for everyones help, think I am there now, stripped the bridge down last night and reassembled it against one of the photos I had of another 5 string. The bridge comes apart quite easily, but being careful to make sure all the parts are kept safe and don't roll off the table onto the floor, I used a plastic lid off a glass jar to keep all the parts safe. The bridge pins are knurled at one end only so they are are a puch fit into one side of the bridge, really is a great piece of engineering and very well thought out, thanks Alembic for a great design. I have attached some pics of the bridge back on the bass, over the years looks like it has had some clumsy saddle filing for the string slots, will dress that up when I start setting it up. Thanks to all for you sharing. Andy   | ||
| slawie
Senior Member Username: slawie Post Number: 472 Registered: 8-2002 |
Looks to me like saddles 2,3,4 should moved to 1,2,3 respectively and 1 relocated to 4. Nice bass! At the moment I'm Jonesing for a medium scale 5 small standard or Stanley. Your scorpion is beautiful slawie | ||
| jimmyj
Senior Member Username: jimmyj Post Number: 429 Registered: 8-2008 |
Hey Andy, Nice going! You've got the hard part figured out (disassembly and reassembly). But as Slawie pointed out you want to pay attention to the size of the slots cut into each saddle and arrange them so they match your strings. Here was your "before" Pic:  And your "after" pic.  The saddle with the largest slot in it needs to be on the far left and then the slots should get progressively smaller from left to right. You're almost there! Nice work! Jimmy J | ||
| jzstephan
Intermediate Member Username: jzstephan Post Number: 151 Registered: 1-2012 |
It looks to me like it might need new saddles. The height of each saddle needs to match the radius of the fingerboard AND have the right size slot. | ||
| jimmyj
Senior Member Username: jimmyj Post Number: 430 Registered: 8-2008 |
The radius is built into the bridge - you can see the arch in the adjustment bolts and pins on the back plate. And his setup doesn't look too bad when it was backwards so it should be close if he can get the saddles in the same order, simply turned around... Jimmy J | ||
| jzstephan
Intermediate Member Username: jzstephan Post Number: 152 Registered: 1-2012 |
Thanks for setting me straight! | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1958 Registered: 9-2002 |
I can't believe this post has gotten this far without someone firing up the 'gee, why isn't the A-string perfectl centered?' squall ! The bridge disassembly/reassembly is not hard, but definitely take a few digital snaps or make a diagram B E F O R E you start (assuming it was on correctly to begin with): The first time I did it, I re-installed it with no drama . . . . backwards. Of course, this was only discovered after it was completely re-strung. . . It's also worth noting exactly where the saddles were: You can screw them back into their relative spots again much more easily than stringing it up with all the saddles at one end of the threaded rods and then trying to move them that far under load to synch your harmonics . . . I won't do THAT again either. It's amazing how often and quickly I can turn Trial and Error in Error and Trial ! Oh well, not everyone can be a Charter Member in the 'Get a Bigger Hammer' Club. J o e y | ||
| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 1486 Registered: 6-2002 |
"I can't believe this post has gotten this far without someone firing up the 'gee, why isn't the A-string perfectl centered?' squall ! " LOL... I was meditating on that...took Dave Houck's sage advice and let the itch to post be soooothed by the winds of time . ;) Elwood | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 873 Registered: 9-2008 |
Wow, never imagined that there was so much things to learn about Alembic's bridges! | ||
| andy3hal
New Username: andy3hal Post Number: 5 Registered: 2-2013 |
Thanks for the posts, definately some good advice for those adventurous enough to strip down the bridge. I have taken a lot of photos during the strip down and re assembly, is it possible to be an Alembic geek !!! Prior to the strip down I did check the intonation and did seem pretty good, I even measured where the point of contact was on the saddles, even they were back to front, so during the rebuild of the bridge the saddles were adjusted to a pretty similar position just to reduce the amount of adjustment, no point in having them all the way screwed one way or the other, but a good point is the position of the A string, I will attach a photo of the tail piece which is not fully central, this is how it came from Alembic and the photo shows the original screw holes, I am wondering if it is crucial to relocate the bridge slightly to bring it into centre alignment, any thoughts ? if it works all be it slightly off centre then should it really be moved, sorry is this might be a geeky question ? I have checked the position of the tailpiece with it moved into a central position relative to the bridge and there is still sufficient clearance to get a ball end hex driver in place to adjust the A string saddle. Again many thanks for sharing, great advice, many thanks Andy   | ||
| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 1487 Registered: 6-2002 |
Many Alembics have an off center tailpiece, it's been discussed ( a few times ) here before. The good folks at the mothership place the tailpiece and bridge to keep the strings straight, often this lends to havin the tailpiece nudged one way or another. So ...it's good (probably great ) where she sits. Geek on ~~ that's why we're here ; ) elwood | ||
| pierreyves
Senior Member Username: pierreyves Post Number: 1154 Registered: 11-2006 |
who guide the strings ? the bridge only. | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 3327 Registered: 10-2002 |
... and the tailpiece, and the nut, and the angle of the neck after it's been hand carved, and the dimensions of the strings and probably a multitude of other things my mind can't comprehend :-) Graeme | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 66 Registered: 6-2012 |
Uh oh Alice...looks like we've slipped down the rabbit hole again... | ||
| jimmyj
Senior Member Username: jimmyj Post Number: 431 Registered: 8-2008 |
Hey Andy, If you are here in the forum you're already an Alembic geek. Ha! Each of my five basses has slightly off-center bridge and tailpiece combinations so it is common and built that way for a reason. Now that you've noticed it you must clear it from your mind and not let it bother you. Best to embrace it as a handmade "feature"! The more interesting question remains: why were your saddles backwards in the first place? Was it just done accidentally during a cleaning? Did somebody make it an upside-down lefty at some point? Was it an attempt to change the string spacing? You certainly could order a new set of saddles and cut your own slots if you wanted to go that far - or if the position of the A-string seems weird after reassembly. (See the "Nut files" thread for some entertaining thoughts.) Then you can join the debate about "center-to-center" vs "edge-to-edge" string spacing! Now who's geekin' out? Jimmy J | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1959 Registered: 9-2002 |
After all these years, the 'light came on': The tailpiece IS lined up; the bass is off-center. That's a load off my mind. J o e y | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 877 Registered: 9-2008 |
Jimmy is right, it really looks like someone tried to carve new grooves on saddles at wrong placement, nasty... |
