Bridge Options

[MrDeeR]

Hi, I am new to this forum, and hopefully somebody can help me.

I have a hybrid guitar (godin type) for a project. It has a wide neck (48mm) and 60mm string spacing at the bridge. I would like to change the current bridge which is a classical type to something modern so that I can adjust the intonation properly. (The intonation is quite bad on this guitar)

The problem is that the standard bridges are way too narrow for my liking. Personally wouldn't like to go narrower than 57-58mm string spacing which limits my options. The only thing I could find so far is the ABM single bridges. For a set with piezo I was quoted £300 + the onboard preamp + delivery. If worse come to worst I have to go with this but I would like to hear other options if there is any.

Any ideas?

By the way...do I always have to answer those questions about lyrics before posting? I really suck at these. "What does Aerosmith want you to do this way?" I don't know....love? No....Ahhh Found it. WALK. The answer is WALK.

I have spent 15 min of my life on this. I want it back.

 

[TBurst Std]

If that is indeed the Godin model you have, installing an electric style bridge is not reasonable. 
Your best bet is to have a new intonated saddle made.

 

[Rick]

Can you take a picture of the bridge?  Close up?  On ovations the pickup is under the saddle and not connected to the bridge.  It's a piezo. As such you can cut one of those plastic bridges however you want, pop it back in and the piezo pickup goes it's merry way.  That's the only way to re intonate / adjust spacing to a bridge like that unless you do major surgery.  Did you try bringing it to a local  luthier?  Or is the TAYLOR different?  Anyway, a pic with strings removed would help with diagnosis. 

If there was enough wood under the saddle you could put in an ABM and then hack in a humbucker near the neck, and then so some major rewiring.  though I could be wrong ... yep need some better pics.

It looks like a nice guitar. 

 

[PhilHill]

TBurst is right. That type of guitar requires the type of bridge that's on it. You would need to have the saddle slot possibly widened and a new saddle made with wider spacing and properly intonated. There have been some guitars I've seen where an acoustic saddle has been made adjustable, but it requires a lot of work by a skilled luthier and is not cheap. I'd have to look closer to be sure, but it might be possible to go with a thicker saddle to allow more intonation range.

 

[MrDeeR]

I see what you meant guys and I am considering to go that way to keep the classical style bridge and adjust the saddle. But I should have been more specific. As I stated it's going to be a project guitar. I have planned to do some major modification like shaving off the guitar top and put a new one (Walnut) on, installing some electric pickups and some other stuff and of course changing the bridge if it's possible. It's not a godin guitar just a cheap knock off. So I am not worried to screw it up but I try not to.

Can you take a picture of the bridge?  Close up?  On ovations the pickup is under the saddle and not connected to the bridge.  It's a piezo. As such you can cut one of those plastic bridges however you want, pop it back in and the piezo pickup goes it's merry way.  That's the only way to re intonate / adjust spacing to a bridge like that unless you do major surgery.

You are correct. The piezo is underneath the saddle not attached to the bridge.

Did you try bringing it to a local  luthier? 

No. I would like to do it myself. I am wood working technician with lot's of free time nowadays. Not a luthier but I am confident enough...and very bored

Anyway, a pic with strings removed would help with diagnosis.

I have just changed the strings recently, I wouldn't like to remove them. I hope the pictures am sending are clear enough to see.

If there was enough wood under the saddle you could put in an ABM and then hack in a humbucker near the neck, and then so some major rewiring.  though I could be wrong ... yep need some better pics.

What is ABM? I dont get this part. And yes, I am planning to install a p90 at the neck and a humbucker at the bridge.

It looks like a nice guitar. 

Thanks, I really like the wide neck.

So all in all I am going to remove the whole bridge anyway that's not a question. The question is,what bridge should I put on? Is there any electric guitar bridge that has at least 57/58mm string spacing?

 

[TBurst Std]

Have you even verified if there is a center block?

 

[PhilHill]

The question would be what is under the top? If it's a full acoustic type top with bracing, then you couldn't use a post mounted bridge, the top wouldn't hold up. If there is a center block in it, like an ES335 then you could use something like a Tune-o-Matic or a wraparound style. It depends on how the guitar was original built.

 

[MrDeeR]

Have you even verified if there is a center block?

It's a solid mahagony body. Mahagony neck. Solid spruce top. Have is f.... Actually I planning to do some weight relief as well.

 

[MrDeeR]

The question would be what is under the top? If it's a full acoustic type top with bracing, then you couldn't use a post mounted bridge, the top wouldn't hold up. If there is a center block in it, like an ES335 then you could use something like a Tune-o-Matic or a wraparound style. It depends on how the guitar was original built.

It's a solid mahagony body.

What is the string spacing of a tune o matic bridge? I don't think is near what I would like to have which is around 58mm

 

[PhilHill]

Most of your standard tune-o-matics would be a bit narrow for that. Some of the jazz style electrics, like Ibanez's Artist models use a wider type. You could check out getting one of theirs.

 

[MrDeeR]

I had a thorough search about the ibanez Artis model. The bridge called ART-1 but no specs provided anywhere.

I have been looking for an electric guitar bridge for weeks now and come to the conclusion there is non with string spacing 58 or above. The closest I got is 56.5mm. Made by Schaller https://schaller.info/en/bridges/336/3d-6

The only way to go 58 or above it is with single bridges (or with acoustic type bridge which I don't really like).....THE END

 

[Logrinn]

ABM, as mentioned above, is a german manufacturer of quality parts for guitar.
Here’s one of their bridges that I’ve used myself:

I wanted this for the opposite reason - I wanted more narrow string spacing. And this particular bridge offers the option of adjusting the saddle bridges sideways, to get wide or narrow string spacing.

I’ll get back to you with the max width available on this one.

 

[stratamania]

Is this thread a genuine thread.

The OP mentions ABM single bridges, Rick then mentions ABM and then the OP asks what is ABM.

 

[MrDeeR]

Is this thread a genuine thread.

The OP mentions ABM single bridges, Rick then mentions ABM and then the OP asks what is ABM.

In the context he mentioned ABM it wasn't clear enough for me what he meant. I thought it's kind of abbreviation of a technical term.

But if you don't know any electric guitar bridge that has wider string spacing you can go and be a troll somewhere else.

 

[MrDeeR]

ABM, as mentioned above, is a german manufacturer of quality parts for guitar.
Here’s one of their bridges that I’ve used myself:

I wanted this for the opposite reason - I wanted more narrow string spacing. And this particular bridge offers the option of adjusting the saddle bridges sideways, to get wide or narrow string spacing.

I’ll get back to you with the max width available on this one.

Thanks for the info. I have found it on their website. It's 56mm max string spacing. Damn it! It looked soo great, I was hoping that it can be widened to 58mm.

https://abm-guitarpartsshop.com/ABM-GUITAR-PARTS/Hardtail-Bridges/Modern/ABM-3250/ABM-3250c-Chrome::218.html#horizontalTab1

 

[PhilHill]

OP, please read.  https://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=26498.0 Thank you.

 

[MrDeeR]

Let's not start a meaningless argument.

Anyway....

After thinking for hours, I have come up with a cheap solution. Just buy a cheap fixed hardtail bridge from ebay (just like on the picture) and modify it. It only takes a couple of drilling. If I screw it up I just buy another one.

I am officially a genius!

 

[aarontunes]

Sweet. Glad that is settled.


And you made some good friends along the way.