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Post subject: 1972 Jazz Bazz Bridge Intonation Problem
Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2014 10:04 pm
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I am working on my 72 Jazz Bass. The original bridge has obviously been mounted too near the tail such that I cannot get the intonation right even with the saddle at maximum adjustment towards the neck.

I have a couple of more solid bridges but I am leery to replace because of 'vintage' value reasons.
As I write I think the solution is to move the original bridge about 3/8 inch towards the neck , fill in and finish the 5 holes that will be exposed.

This will also mean I can correct the lateral position of the bridge because at present the G string is too near the edge of the neck and the E string is further away form the edge.

I have a word document with pictures showing the problem

https://app.box.com/s/tyjfp2fchww5qaoo642c


Comments please


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Post subject: Re: 1972 Jazz Bazz Bridge Intonation Problem
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2014 2:21 am
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I never see that on Fender guitar / bass . Do you have experience in guitar / bass set-up ?
I guess not ; picture is not usefull.

You have a vintage instrument better to know what you do before ruin it

1- You have to check if neck is straight on guitar with strings.
a) too much bow in the neck = shorter scale = wrong intonation

2- Read guitar scale with a good tape
a) from inside the nut to the 12th fret ( right on the fret )
b) you multiply by 2 and you have the right place where the bridge go , with saddles in center range


Lateral position ; need only a neck alignment ; loose 4 neck screw , pull neck in right position , tightened screws


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Post subject: Re: 1972 Jazz Bazz Bridge Intonation Problem
Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2014 8:18 am
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Take it to a good luthier.


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Post subject: Re: 1972 Jazz Bazz Bridge Intonation Problem
Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2014 9:26 am
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stratele52 wrote:
I never see that on Fender guitar / bass . Do you have experience in guitar / bass set-up ?
I guess not ; picture is not usefull.

You have a vintage instrument better to know what you do before ruin it

1- You have to check if neck is straight on guitar with strings.
a) too much bow in the neck = shorter scale = wrong intonation

2- Read guitar scale with a good tape
a) from inside the nut to the 12th fret ( right on the fret )
b) you multiply by 2 and you have the right place where the bridge go , with saddles in center range


Lateral position ; need only a neck alignment ; loose 4 neck screw , pull neck in right position , tightened screws


Thanks for your reply
I have a lot of experience in guitar set up and I am an engineer :) basically I think this bridge is just poor design. I see a lot of posts where people have rattle problems because the saddles are not secure laterally - grooves for the screws would be good - I just put some bandaid tape underneath the saddle to stop the rattle. Others have suggested a drop of nail varnish :D

I think when the bridge was designed when thicker strings used to be used - now people use thinner strings so the intonation point moves towards the pickups. I think I will use a reversible solution which is to put a piece of stainless steel in front of the bridge, and use longer intonation adjustment screws so the saddle can move onto the 'extended' bridge .

Another improvement to stop rattle would be to have strings through the body like a Strat so that the saddles are held down more firmly - but can't do that with vintage guitar. I will do that when I build my own Jazz bass soon :) I havea neck already - solid maple.

The pictures show clearly that it is 17 inches to 12th fret and 17 inches from 12th fret to the bridge end so clearly the bridge needs to be nearer to the pickups to be correct.

I will look for a piece of stainless steel - maybe from dollar store a cooking spatula :D Should work

Anyway
A merry Christmas and a Happy New Year


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Post subject: Re: 1972 Jazz Bazz Bridge Intonation Problem
Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2014 9:49 am
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Sirtaz wrote:
[

The pictures show clearly that it is 17 inches to 12th fret and 17 inches from 12th fret to the bridge end so clearly the bridge needs to be nearer to the pickups to be correct.


Anyway
A merry Christmas and a Happy New Year


Sorry is it my I Mac ? But I see only half of the body, I can't see the bridge and defintion is so poor I can' t easily read digits on you tape .

But if you know what you should do , good luck in your work and merry Christmas to you


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Post subject: Re: 1972 Jazz Bazz Bridge Intonation Problem
Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2014 11:10 am
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It will cost you approximately $1750 to drill new holes and plug the other two. While the engineer in you has come up with a logical fix, it may not be the best fix for an all original 72J. I have to agree with linnin about taking it to a professional luthier. Perhaps he will have a less expensive repair.

Actually, this issue is ringing a bell. I will do some hunting through previous posts and see if I can find anything.

I have attached a couple pictures of my old 72J with the covers off. Perhaps you will see a reference in the bridge placement. I know there is at least one more owner on this forum as well.

Image

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Post subject: Re: 1972 Jazz Bazz Bridge Intonation Problem
Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2014 11:43 am
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affprod wrote:
It will cost you approximately $1750 to drill new holes and plug the other two. While the engineer in you has come up with a logical fix, it may not be the best fix for an all original 72J. I have to agree with linnin about taking it to a professional luthier. Perhaps he will have a less expensive repair.

g]


+1


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Post subject: Re: 1972 Jazz Bazz Bridge Intonation Problem
Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2014 2:03 pm
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affprod wrote:
It will cost you approximately $1750 to drill new holes and plug the other two. While the engineer in you has come up with a logical fix, it may not be the best fix for an all original 72J. I have to agree with linnin about taking it to a professional luthier. Perhaps he will have a less expensive repair.

Actually, this issue is ringing a bell. I will do some hunting through previous posts and see if I can find anything.

I have attached a couple pictures of my old 72J with the covers off. Perhaps you will see a reference in the bridge placement. I know there is at least one more owner on this forum as well.

Image


Thanks for the picture looks same as mine :)
Hard to get in idea from the picture. Could you do me a favor. On the G string measure from nut to 12th fret and then from 12th fret to saddle.
On mine from 12th fret it is 17 inches to the bridge base so even with the saddle at maximum adjustment the intonation is still a bit flat. I could always build a replacement bridge base a bit longer from stainless steel and store away the original until / if I ever sell.

Thanks


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Post subject: Re: 1972 Jazz Bazz Bridge Intonation Problem
Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2014 2:39 pm
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I took four images of jazz bases from google and copied and pasted the first 12 frets of the neck at the 12th fret to see where it goes in relation to the bridge . As you can see teh G string saddle has to be at nearly max adjustment - as I said , poor design.
That 3rd one is very odd as it looks like the body is too small for the neck - I wonder if this image is of a fake copy
https://app.box.com/s/wa2t5hu056wbvziu9px1


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Post subject: Re: 1972 Jazz Bazz Bridge Intonation Problem
Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2014 3:18 pm
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Quote:
Could you do me a favor. On the G string measure from nut to 12th fret and then from 12th fret to saddle


Wish that I could, but as I mentioned, it is "my old 72", in that I don't have it anymore. Sold it a few months back.

Sorry.

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