String spacing for new bridge
Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2016 10:54 am
Project is an early 70s made-in-Japan Epiphone (FT-130 I believe, OtToMH). Replacing the original, adjustable semi-bolt on bridge, because the adjustable saddles suck, and because it had split across the string holes and the back part of it was pulling a hump into the top. Intend to replace with a fixed saddle type. After taking some measurements it looked like the pre-carved bridges from StewMac might be a good, if not exact fit (owner doesn't care), and so it has proven to be - almost exact in shape, string hole placement and saddle position. Where it differs is in height, which needs to be reduced about 1/16", and string spacing, which is 2 1/8" while the old bridge is closer to 2".
I think the guitar can accommodate the wider string spacing, based on the neck-width at fret 12-14 metric. I'm wondering if opinion is that it would be reasonable to plug the current holes in top and bridge plate and redrill for the premade bridge with the wider spacing, or to acquire a blank and fashion a new bridge to match the old one with the old spacing.
This is my first bridge job and I don't doubt my ability to fashion a new bridge, including string-hole placement (I have the original to give me all those measurements) but question my ability to locate and cut a saddle slot from scratch, without having to invest in a lot of expensive tools and jigs from StewMac.
I will really appreciate any input as I'm a complete noob with this particular sort of job.
thanx.
ddk
P.S. One factor that I suppose might make a difference is that, though I don't think it's broken, I think I do see evidence that the bridge place has been stressed and perhaps warped a bit, in line with the holes, where the split was in the bridge above. I don't even want to contemplate getting into a plate removal and replacement at this point, so I was thinking that I might just try and reinforce that line by using the StewMac PlateMate, which matches the 2.125" spacing of the pre-fabbed bridge but would not match the original 2" spacing.
I think the guitar can accommodate the wider string spacing, based on the neck-width at fret 12-14 metric. I'm wondering if opinion is that it would be reasonable to plug the current holes in top and bridge plate and redrill for the premade bridge with the wider spacing, or to acquire a blank and fashion a new bridge to match the old one with the old spacing.
This is my first bridge job and I don't doubt my ability to fashion a new bridge, including string-hole placement (I have the original to give me all those measurements) but question my ability to locate and cut a saddle slot from scratch, without having to invest in a lot of expensive tools and jigs from StewMac.
I will really appreciate any input as I'm a complete noob with this particular sort of job.
thanx.
ddk
P.S. One factor that I suppose might make a difference is that, though I don't think it's broken, I think I do see evidence that the bridge place has been stressed and perhaps warped a bit, in line with the holes, where the split was in the bridge above. I don't even want to contemplate getting into a plate removal and replacement at this point, so I was thinking that I might just try and reinforce that line by using the StewMac PlateMate, which matches the 2.125" spacing of the pre-fabbed bridge but would not match the original 2" spacing.