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Alembic Club » Alembic Basses & Guitars » Archive through January 07, 2011 » Archive: 2009 » Archive through March 07, 2009 » Bridge string spacing? « Previous Next »

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pandi
New
Username: pandi

Post Number: 1
Registered: 1-2009
Posted on Saturday, January 03, 2009 - 6:18 am:   Edit Post

Hi Alembic people. I wonder if someone could please help me with this question: I used to own an 89 MK bass, and i miss the bridge string spacing on that bass, so I'm thinking about custom building a new bridge for my 68 P-bass. Could someone please tell me the bridge string spacing on an 89 MK? Thanks/Andreas
funkyjazzjunky
Advanced Member
Username: funkyjazzjunky

Post Number: 300
Registered: 5-2007
Posted on Tuesday, January 06, 2009 - 10:15 am:   Edit Post

Welcome to the board Pandi.

Since Alembic allows customers to choose the width of the nut and narrow/standard/wide spacing, it is hard to say.

Do you have the serial #? Specs may be availible.
pclifton2004
Junior
Username: pclifton2004

Post Number: 43
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Tuesday, January 06, 2009 - 3:56 pm:   Edit Post

Isn't it usually 16.5mm on a stock MK?
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 5748
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Tuesday, January 06, 2009 - 5:45 pm:   Edit Post

Keep in mind that our standard bridge spacing in not center to center as many others make their bridges. A 1989 MK would likely have a classic tape fingerboard, and that's 1.75 x 2.25. This makes the spaces between the strings at the bridge about .61 inches or about 15.5mm.

If you're trying to compare against center to center spacing, it computes to about:
string center 1 to 2 = 0.665 (16.891)
string center 2 to 3 = 0.6825 (17.3355)
string center 3 to 4 = 0.7025 (17.8435)
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 7318
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, January 06, 2009 - 8:39 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks Mica!! I was about to dig my four string out of the closet and measure it, but I can't pull myself away from the laptop.
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 2131
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Wednesday, January 07, 2009 - 12:02 am:   Edit Post

I had written a lengthy response myself with a bunch of the data that came up when my bass was under design/construction, but Mica's post hit before I finished so I canned it.

Of course, the easiest way to know what the specs on a particular instrument are involves the use of a caliper and direct measurement. Alembic basses, being hand made, may not 100% match even the specs under which they were intended to be built, custom or not. Is accuracy to four decimal places even possible?

As a side note, I believe Mica's numbers are based on a 45-65-85-105 set of strings. I'm not sure if it would matter, but the spacing would be less symmetrical if one were to switch to a less linear set of strings, say Jazz Flats at 43-56-70-100.
terryc
Senior Member
Username: terryc

Post Number: 665
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Wednesday, January 07, 2009 - 3:18 am:   Edit Post

pandi...what is wrong with the standard bridge?? it may devalue the bass if you put something else on. If the bridge is broken a better alternative would be an original fender replacement or a BADASS II as the screw holes line up perfectly on this unit.
pclifton2004
Junior
Username: pclifton2004

Post Number: 45
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Wednesday, January 07, 2009 - 4:09 am:   Edit Post

Won't your fretboard look really wide outside the margin of the strings if you add an Alembic style bridge?
white_cloud
Senior Member
Username: white_cloud

Post Number: 570
Registered: 11-2007
Posted on Wednesday, January 07, 2009 - 4:49 am:   Edit Post

For a vintage Fender P bass it just has simply GOT to be the Leo Quan Bad-ass 11 - nothing else compares on a Fender imho!

John.
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 5749
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Wednesday, January 07, 2009 - 9:05 am:   Edit Post

The side to side spacing is for our .045 - .065 - .080 -.105 set of strings unless you order with something different. Note that the figures I provided for the centers are computed.
pandi
New
Username: pandi

Post Number: 2
Registered: 1-2009
Posted on Sunday, January 11, 2009 - 10:16 am:   Edit Post

Thanks for all the answers!

Much appreciated Mica, thanks!

I have quite small hands, so my idea is to build a copy of a vintage Fender bridge, with Alembic string spacing, to get the same right hand feel and flow.
terryc
Senior Member
Username: terryc

Post Number: 668
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Monday, January 12, 2009 - 1:29 am:   Edit Post

pandi..when you mean build a bridge, are you going to fabricate it from scratch??
If you want adjustable string spacing, Gotoh do side adjustment as well as height and intonation.
Seems like a lot of work when there are plenty of standard bridges that will do the same

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