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Post subject: Re-Aligning a Bridge
Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 8:32 pm
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Location: In the Land of "Stratocaster"
Decided to tackle a repair on "Woody".. my faithful '62 AVRI.
This kid had it rough before I got her... original finish was sanded off... all the electronics were messed with... original pups were taken out... bad wiring... lot's of issues.
Little by little... one step at a time I have been restoring/repairing her.. And she's been gigged heavy by me despite all of the problems... She's a killer Strat and I love her dearly.
BUT... one thing that that has been a real PITA has been the bridge.

Woody's bridge was installed in-correctly by the person who messed her up before I took her in. I have always had to spend time tweaking the bridge... most annoying problems have been intonation on the ow E string... and having to shim the neck with not 1... not 2... but 3 business card thick shims!

This has been necessary due to the fact that the bridge was installed apprx 1 to 1/1/2 mm too far back... and slightly crooked :?
Always had problems with the saddles clearing the 6 mount screws...

Look closely at this pick and you'll see what I mean
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The solution... take off the bridge... plug up the holes with dowels and glue... re-install this bridge correctly.
Even though I've never taken on a project like fixing this bridge... I went ahead and took the plunge... Woody's relaxing until tomorrow when the glue's all dry... then I trim the dowels... sand... re-drill the 6 point trem screw holes... and put her back together with a properly installed trem 8)

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Post subject: Re: Re-Aligning a Bridge
Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 9:44 pm
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That's some nice ash you got there.

There's that old saying, measure twice, cut once. I'd be very meticulous abut re-drilling those holes. Hope it works out for you.

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Post subject: Re: Re-Aligning a Bridge
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 3:55 am
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How the last owner can put bridge in wrong holes ?

Are you sure it is not the pickgard need re-aligning. ?

To find the right place for the bridge you need to read guitar scale with saddles in center.


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Post subject: Re: Re-Aligning a Bridge
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 7:51 am
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stratele52 wrote:
How the last owner can put bridge in wrong holes ?

Are you sure it is not the pickgard need re-aligning. ?

To find the right place for the bridge you need to read guitar scale with saddles in center.


+1 You should have removed the pickguard and really measured it better. Did you check to make sure the holes are all parallel with the bridge block rout or the pickup rout? Was the block not centered in the rout when the bridge was mounted.


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Post subject: Re: Re-Aligning a Bridge
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 9:50 am
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91Stratplayer wrote:
stratele52 wrote:
How the last owner can put bridge in wrong holes ?

Are you sure it is not the pickgard need re-aligning. ?

To find the right place for the bridge you need to read guitar scale with saddles in center.


+1 You should have removed the pickguard and really measured it better. Did you check to make sure the holes are all parallel with the bridge block rout or the pickup rout? Was the block not centered in the rout when the bridge was mounted.


I did check if the block was centered... and for sure... crooked as heck :? The high E side was butted up aginst the body in resting position... with a gap on the Low E side between the bridge block and the body rout.

Even though a very good quality bridge... I have been able to deduct that this bridge is not the original as well. The 6 screw holes on the plate fall slightly short of perfectly lining up with the original holes... but unfortunately... they did a real bang up job when they re-drilled to put this bridge on.
The high E side was spaced decent... but they went about a 1/2 to 3/4 of a millimeter off on the Low E side... Need to be spot on with this stuff... and also judging from the angles on these re-drilled holes.. I think the Cat burned about 3 too many fat ones when they put this bridge in :x

I was hesitant to do this but... It really needed to be addressed. I'm being very careful and making sure everything is speced out proper.
I'll be finishing this job up in a little while this afternoon :)

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Post subject: Re: Re-Aligning a Bridge
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 9:44 pm
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Things went well! Woody's bridge Re-Alignment was a success :D
And more good news... The bridge is original. Once I got going on things... lined everything up... got it all centered etc... the 6 screw holes in the bridge plate lined up perfect with the original holes. Got to drilling and it all came together nicely :)

The pickgaurd is uneven around the bridge and that's something to deal with on a diff day... sand the edges... rehape it to fit right... but then again... I'm thinking perhaps a new pickgaurd for Woody.

This guitar is playing better than ever... no intonation issues.. have only 1 shim... YES!!!... Have her all set up fantastic... neck is nice and staright... about .08 relief... action down to about 1.3mm treble side... 1.8mm bass side... pups adjusted... 1/16 " float (1/2 step)... The tone is much improved. Woody sounded awesome before this fix but, She sounds even better now with serious sustain 8)
She's very happy
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Post subject: Re: Re-Aligning a Bridge
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 9:47 pm
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Post subject: Re: Re-Aligning a Bridge
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 9:49 pm
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Post subject: Re: Re-Aligning a Bridge
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 11:55 pm
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Wow, that turned out real nice. Congrats.


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Post subject: Re: Re-Aligning a Bridge
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2014 3:03 am
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Congrat. :D


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Post subject: Re: Re-Aligning a Bridge
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2014 3:55 am
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Woody looks happier already :D

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Post subject: Re: Re-Aligning a Bridge
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2014 6:13 am
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Good Job.


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Post subject: Re: Re-Aligning a Bridge
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2014 5:27 pm
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It's great to see you were successful in correcting the bridge alignment...congrats :!: :!:

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Post subject: Re: Re-Aligning a Bridge
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2014 9:48 pm
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Thanks everyone... and Woody thanks you too :)
It's important to keep the kids in good health!

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