Mosrite bridge problem

[handbrake]

I haven't come across a bridge assembly with washers between the bridge base and the bridge pin shoulders. I don't think you need them and I'd pull 'em unless you think they're serving a purpose. Like the other folks said, a proper intonation will have the string saddles spread equally across the center of the bridge. It's a teeter-totter situation--even though there's a prettry wide shoulder on the bridge pins, the bridge will pivot if the pressure is greater on one side than the other.

Also, adjusting the truss rod is something you should get comfortable with. The neck will get pulled forward by the strings. The truss rod, when tightened, will provide an opposing force. And like a tuner when the string is tensioned, a little can go a long way.

Cheers!

[Veenture]

It's intertesting to note that the fretboard is a 7.25" radius while the bridge itself is 12"radius. I was surprised to find that much differnce. That is why I go with aftermarket bridges on my Gretsch guitars. I would be curious if the Hallmark bridge is the right radius.

I checked the curve of the bridge on my H60C and it seems to be a perfect match to the fretboard radius. Unfortunately I don't have an instrument to measure radii so I can't give you the exact specs. BTW, I admire your abtitude for technical stuff and abilities to express matters in words; far better than what I am capable of... ...

Good luck and I know you will succeed in solving the problem.

[GattonFan]

By removing those washers from under the bridge, you should have enough post to thread and lock down with a nut. Didn't notice there were washers before - someone's attempt to stabilize the bridge, no doubt.

Dennis

[handbrake]

I think we're sending a mixed message here. Sarah can address the intonation problem that should fix the pivoting bridge OR thread the top of the bridge pins to mechanically stabilize the pivoting bridge.

Unless I don't understand the situation, I recommend dealing with the setup before modifying the hardware.

[Sarah93003]

I think we're sending a mixed message here. Sarah can address the intonation problem that should fix the pivoting bridge OR thread the top of the bridge pins to mechanically stabilize the pivoting bridge.

Unless I don't understand the situation, I recommend dealing with the setup before modifying the hardware.

We're on the same page, I think. I'm planning to reassemble everything tonight and do a proper intonation. Hopefully all of the saddles will be pretty much balanced along the centerline of the bridge base. If that is not the case, then I will look at alternatives to securing the bridge base to the pins. I did remove the two little washers that were on top of the bridge pin shoulders. It didn't make sense to me that they were there and served no purpose whatsoever. I think it was someone's attempt to give more surface for the bridge to sit on but it doesn't make any difference at all.

I think with a proper setup everything should work out fine. This is the first time I've attempted this so I had lots of questions at first. Now that I've had a couple of days to ponder it all, it is clearer. If it does become necessary to modify any hardware I think I would opt for making new pins myself and just making them taller so that I have enough length to get a few threads on them. An acorn nut matching the ones securing the saddle adjustments seems the best choice.

I will keep ya'll posted!

[Sarah93003]

By removing those washers from under the bridge, you should have enough post to thread and lock down with a nut. Didn't notice there were washers before - someone's attempt to stabilize the bridge, no doubt.

Dennis

Thanks Dennis. Even with the washers removed I don't think there is enough to put threads on. A regular thread/die set wouldn't work and doing it on a small machinist lathe would like crash the bit because of the adjustment slot. Before I tried all of that I would just make replacement pins and stow these for future reference.

[Sarah93003]

It's intertesting to note that the fretboard is a 7.25" radius while the bridge itself is 12"radius. I was surprised to find that much differnce. That is why I go with aftermarket bridges on my Gretsch guitars. I would be curious if the Hallmark bridge is the right radius.

I checked the curve of the bridge on my H60C and it seems to be a perfect match to the fretboard radius. Unfortunately I don't have an instrument to measure radii so I can't give you the exact specs. BTW, I admire your abtitude for technical stuff and abilities to express matters in words; far better than what I am capable of... ...

Good luck and I know you will succeed in solving the problem.

Thank you Veenture, that's very nice of you to say. I think it's my years of Quality Assurance and working in highly precision machining environments that's turned me into such a geek.

[vjf1968]

It's intertesting to note that the fretboard is a 7.25" radius while the bridge itself is 12"radius. I was surprised to find that much differnce. That is why I go with aftermarket bridges on my Gretsch guitars. I would be curious if the Hallmark bridge is the right radius.

I checked the curve of the bridge on my H60C and it seems to be a perfect match to the fretboard radius. Unfortunately I don't have an instrument to measure radii so I can't give you the exact specs. BTW, I admire your abtitude for technical stuff and abilities to express matters in words; far better than what I am capable of... ...

Good luck and I know you will succeed in solving the problem.

Thank you Veenture, that's very nice of you to say. I think it's my years of Quality Assurance and working in highly precision machining environments that's turned me into such a geek.

Well I wouldn't call it being a geek. You want it to be precisee and correct. Nothing geeky about that. I'm still trying to get the courage to take the pick guard off my Hallmark and lay copper foil tape in the cavities. You are way ahead of me and may hats off to you.

[Veenture]

Sarah, should your Celebrity bridge resist all improvement attempts, maybe the Hallmark could be a suitable replacement:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Hallmark-Mosrite-Ro ... 45ee9ffcdd

[GattonFan]

It is the nature of the beast - even with the bridge saddles "balanced", any time you use the trem, that bridge is gonna rock, unless it's locked down - then the rollers do their job.

Dennis