Flat "Modern" Bridge

[Levert]

I asked about this before but didn't ask it correctly. I have one of these "Modern" bridges for a Telecaster. To get it positioned correctly I understand that the saddles must be exactly the same distance from the 12th fret as the 12th fret is from the nut. Which in my case is
12 -3/4" from the 12th fret or 25-1/2" from the nut. Question: Do you run the saddles all the way out when setting it up to drill mounting holes?Then align with a line perpendicular to the neck center line 25-1/2 " from the nut? Or leave room to shorten the scale a bit by running the screws in. So the saddles can be adjusted toward the nut? If so, how much? I hope this makes sense this time.

 

[stubhead]

You'll want to lengthen the strings from 25 1/2", to compensate for how they go sharp as you press them down to the fret board. If you run all the saddles forward, out to the ends of their screws, and drill it so that the scale length is 25 1/2" you should be OK. Realistically, your high E string is going to be set to about 25 9/16" inches, and your low E string will be about 25 3/4" long, depending on your strings and action height. Any decent bridge will have enough adjustment to do this. If might be helpful to measure a few existing guitars that are set up right, and do some reading about how the bridge is adjusted to compensate for intonation. The best all-in-one book I've seen is Dan Erlewine's "Guitar Player Repair Guide", but google up stuff about "guitar scale length compensation" and it's pretty straightforward info.

http://www.fretnotguitarrepair.com/Electric_Guitar_Intonation.htm

 

[big bob]

stewmac has a scale in their fee info section for everything you want to know..

 

[big bob]

arty07: arty07: :blob7:
Fret position calculator



Number of frets     

Scale length     
  no fractions

   
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Selecting your instrument also calculates the bridge position for proper intonation.

 
 



25.5" fret scale Printable
  fret    from nut    fret to fret 
1  1.431"  1.431"  (nut-1)
2  2.782"  1.351"  (1-2)
3  4.057"  1.275"  (2-3)
4  5.261"  1.203"  (3-4)
5  6.397"  1.136"  (4-5)
6  7.469"  1.072"  (5-6)
7  8.481"  1.012"  (6-7)
8  9.436"  0.955"  (7-8)
9  10.338"  0.902"  (8-9)
10  11.189"  0.851"  (9-10)
11  11.992"  0.803"  (10-11)
12  12.750"  0.758"  (11-12)
13  13.466"  0.716"  (12-13)
14  14.141"  0.675"  (13-14)
15  14.779"  0.638"  (14-15)
16  15.380"  0.602"  (15-16)
17  15.948"  0.568"  (16-17)
18  16.484"  0.536"  (17-18)
19  16.990"  0.506"  (18-19)
20  17.468"  0.478"  (19-20)
21  17.919"  0.451"  (20-21)
22  18.344"  0.425"  (21-22)
Notes on fret layout
The most accurate way to lay out your scale is making all measurements from the nut (using the "fret to fret" distance only to confirm your layout). Laying out frets only by measuring fret to fret will compound error. For example, if you're laying out frets by marking with a scribe and your accuracy is plus or minus 10 thousandths, you could be off by as much as 1/8 inch at the 12th fret.

Measurements are given from the end of the fingerboard (face of the nut) to the center of a fret slot.

Bridge placement for 25.5" scale Printable

Distance from nut to center of forward-most mounting screw or pivot post
Tele® style bridges
Gotoh Modern Bridge for Tele
Traditional Bridges For Tele
Wilkinson Adjustable Compensated Bridge for Tele
25.750" (±0.030")

Strat® style bridges
Strat non-tremolo bridge
Gotoh Hardtail Bridge
Gotoh 12-string Bridge For Electric Guitar

25.250" (±0.030")
Strat tremolo bridges
Gotoh Traditional Tremolo for Strat
Wilkinson/Gotoh VS-100N Tremolo
Wilkinson/Gotoh VSVG Vintage Tremolo
Hipshot Tremolo
25.250" (±0.030")

Floyd Rose
Floyd Rose II & Schaller Floyd Rose
Schaller Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo Complete Set

24.937" (±0.030")
Floyd Rose Original
25.000" (±0.030")

Tune-o-matic style bridges
ABR-1 Tune-o-matic Bridges
Nashville Tune-o-matic Bridge
Gotoh Tune-o-matic Bridge with Standard Posts
Gotoh Tune-o-matic Bridge with Studs/Bushings
Schaller Roller Bridge
L.R. Baggs T-Bridge
Locking Roller Bridge
Gotoh 510 Bridge & Tailpiece
25.562" (±0.030") from nut to center of treble-side post. Mount bass-side post 1/16"-1/8" further from the nut.

Combo Bridge/Tailpieces
Schaller Bridge/Tailpiece
SG Junior Bridge
Adjustable Wraparound Bridge
Trilogy Multiple-Tuning Bridges
Pigtail Aluminum Wraparound Bridge
Wilkinson/Gotoh Adjustable Bridge/Tailpiece
Hipshot Baby Grand Bridge
25.562" (±0.030") from nut to center of mounting studs.
Note: Some bridge/tailpieces may require you to mount the bass-side stud an additional 1/16"-1/8" further from the nut.

Other
Schaller Non-Tremolo Roller Bridge 26.343" (±0.030")
Hipshot Hardtail Bridge 26.125" (±0.030")
Top-Loading Hardtail Bridge 26.250" (±0.030")


Strat®, Stratocaster®, Tele®, Telecaster® are registered trademarks of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. Les Paul® and Byrdland® are trademarks of Gibson Guitar Corporation.


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[Levert]

Thanks, I do have and have read that very book. I just needed to know wether or not to set the scale length with the saddles all the way out or not. before drilling the mounting hole and string-thru holes. The info you provided is exactly what I needed to know. Holes are all drilled and now I can start sanding.