The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: steveonbass on May 06, 2013, 11:08:40 AM
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Is there a quality tutorial on setting up a bass with a 3 point bridge? I sold my Gibson Bird and reacquired my Greco Bird. The setup seems a bit out of whack and I'd like to start from scratch. So happy to still have a Bird. Any help is greatly appreciated
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Chuck it and get a hipshot supertone.
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Or it it will fit, one of Scott's Badbird bridges.
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Badbird will not fit without redrilling the post holes (badbird/tune-o-matic/2-points/bar bridge all have the posts in line with the saddles vs the 3 point where the rear posts are behind the saddles).
... and there's nothing wrong with a 3 point!
The only thing I'd say that's different about setting one up vs any other bridge is that if you need to raise or lower the height significantly, turn each post a little at a time, i.e. don't crank one post all the way up or down in one go. Also, it is ideal to keep the bridge base parallel to the strings (not the body) - this is more important for archtops (or instruments with a non-180 degre neck angle.... not sure if Gibby did that on any flat top basses with a 3 point) vs TBrids where it is irrelevant as the strings are parallel to the body.
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My experience is that the 3-point works fine, but I agree that keeping it level in adjustment does matter. If you start jacking any of the three points higher than the others, I've heard (and observed) that it tends to start levering the mounting points out of the body.
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My RD's fine with one...
Mind you, it's in a jar at the moment, and the wood is still hanging on a meat-hook in the shed...
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Like Mr 77 said, get a Supertone. You can't polish a turd. Me? Four Thunderbirds, four Supertones.
P
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Hmm... one T'bird... with a two-part bridge...
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Different strokes ;)
I have three points on at least 7 of my basses, including two Thunderbirds with broken twisted necks, there's very little it can't do........Plus it doesn't hang over the side of the center block (ugh, no thank you!) You couldn't pay me to put a Supertone on any of my basses :-*
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Finally the voice of reason :thumbsup:
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I agree with Mark too.
I never had any issues with the three pointers on my bass guitars.
Plus I think the overhang on the Thunderbird center block is really ugly.
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Thanks everyone. I just dove in and I had no issues dialing in a great setup. There were a number of issues - bridge was jacked up high, Truss had way too much relief and the E and D saddles were in the wrong spots. As soon as i figured out the issue with the saddles, everything else fell right into place. This Greco Bird is great!
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I love my Greco Tbird!
Congrats :toast:
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The only thing missing from this thread is Uwe singing their praises... that and tanks, WWII, the occasional aviation reference, some rolling-stock... (fades to black)
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Well, all that and some Girlie undies.... ;)
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Both of my 'birdies (one Gibson, one Epi) have three-point bridges, ad does my Epi EB-0+1 - never had any real issues with them, other than the saddle grooves having been deepened by the previous owner of my Bicentennial. My '68 EB-0 and '72 EB-3 both had the Evertilt 2-stud, with the '72 being upgraded to a Supertone 2. I plan to do the same to the '68 one of these days - the Hipshot bridge is a work of art, and a lifesaver in certain applications.
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Different strokes ;)
I have three points on at least 7 of my basses, including two Thunderbirds with broken twisted necks, there's very little it can't do........Plus it doesn't hang over the side of the center block (ugh, no thank you!) You couldn't pay me to put a Supertone on any of my basses :-*
I never noticed they are bigger than the center block until you mentioned it. I don't have a T bird but I prefer my super tone 2 point on my EB3 over the bar bridge.
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Another thing that was quite large was the Jagdpanther.
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I have the Supertone installed on my white Bicentennial. I've never had a problem with any 3-point bridge but in this case with the white bird I had the bridge down to the bottom and had to adjust the neck relief every once in a while depending on humidity to get the action where I wanted it. I tried the Supertone and now I have a little bit extra room downwards. I don't particularly like the looks of it (no big issue though) on the 'bird so I actually have bought a set of saddles (Allparts. Have'nt checked if they fit yet) that are'nt as tall as the Gibson originals. I think the Supertone will eventually end up sitting on the ebony RD Artist instead. The modern work of art would be better suited on that one (not thatitI really needs it).
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NEVERTILT, the simple solution. Almost a year under tension and going strong. Individual string height adjustment, clears the silk and allows the action "under the frets".
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/NEVERTILT/P1060175.jpg) (http://s976.photobucket.com/user/cata1d0/media/NEVERTILT/P1060175.jpg.html)
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/NEVERTILT/P1060159.jpg) (http://s976.photobucket.com/user/cata1d0/media/NEVERTILT/P1060159.jpg.html)
http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=6983.0
Hey Doombass, I'd love to see some pix of your white BiCentennial, rare breed!
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Nice mod Carlo! I missed that thread. Here's pics of my whitey. It's unfortunately a refin and it's beat up in a couple of places but plays and sounds perfect.
Original bridge pic:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/doombass/Gibson/White_1.jpg)
Hipshot installed:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/doombass/Gibson/Hipshot.jpg)
(almost) Full shot together with the Sunburst:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/doombass/Gibson/twinbirds.jpg)
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The only thing missing from this thread is Uwe singing their praises... that and tanks, WWII, the occasional aviation reference, some rolling-stock... (fades to black)
...and some pics of the Greco! C'mon!
:toast:
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Well, here's mine!
I love this bass, I think of it as being the little one, because it's not quite 34"scale. As a player it's nice, the neck is a bit more like a P Bass than a T Bird..........I can't speak for anybody else's but this one RAWRS
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd306/veronicasteed/thunderbirds020.jpg) (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/veronicasteed/media/thunderbirds020.jpg.html)
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Here's mine.
The neck is kinda chunky yes.
I've been contemplating on sanding it a little narrower, but I haven't got the nerve to do it...
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/301831_409262869093134_1801427655_n.jpg)
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(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/gcarlston/auctions/Greco%20Thunderbird%20II/77GrecoThunderbirdII8.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/gcarlston/media/auctions/Greco%20Thunderbird%20II/77GrecoThunderbirdII8.jpg.html)
My '77 Greco. Mark describes the sound perfectly.
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...and some pics of the Greco! C'mon!
:toast:
Here is my Greco. I owned it 6 years ago and I am psyched to own it again.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y274/prismacolor2/grecobird.jpg) (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/prismacolor2/media/grecobird.jpg.html)
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I guess the Greco production line was pretty consistent then. My Greco T-bird II also has the big neck and a hot pickup. Looking at the neck again, there's not a great deal of taper from top to bottom. The chunkiness at the nut is the reason I don't consistently use my Greco. The skinny 1-1/2" Gibson neck feels much better to me.
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I guess the Greco production line was pretty consistent then. My Greco T-bird II also has the big neck and a hot pickup. Looking at the neck again, there's not a great deal of taper from top to bottom. The chunkiness at the nut is the reason I don't consistently use my Greco. The skinny 1-1/2" Gibson neck feels much better to me.
That's exactly how I feel about mine - nicely said!
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What can I say? I'm fine with a three point and it is pretty much self-explanatory in setting up. Yes, the Supertone offers more options and goes a little lower, bit more sustain too and is not even a bad looking bridge though I prefer the airy look of the three point floating on its posts. I have the Supertone only on one three-point bass and not because it needed it, but because I wanted to try it on one bass, the Blackbird which looks good (= mean) with the Supertone. I also have the Supertone on my pimped Epi Explorer, but that didn't have a three point in the first place.
OTOH, I have the replacement two point bridge Supertone on at least three of my two point bridge basses.
As midseventies and earlier bridges go which are not Fender knock-offs, I think the three-point has stood the test of time.
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This thread needs a Casady 3-point picture.....here's mine!
(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j306/apowell1/Electric%20Basses/Jack%20Casady%20bass/PB070044.jpg)
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e.
OTOH, I have the replacement two point bridge Supertone on at least three of my two point bridge basses.
As midseventies and earlier bridges go which are not Fender knock-offs, I think the three-point has stood the test of time.
Interesting - didn't realise they expanded the line like that. Smart (though I really like the Schaller 460 - have 2 of them).
(and)
Right on.
(respectively)