Bridge suggestions needed for EB2 copy

[Basvarken]

About three years ago I initiated another project with BaCH.
When the BaCHbird was in the making I started an EB2 / Rivoli project with them.
It was supposed to be very easy because they already have an ES335 in their collection. The body of an ES335 and EB2 is the same. Put on a short scale neck and you're go!

Joe (Chromium) helped me out with lots of pictures and measuments. I gave BaCH all the information they needed.

But they couldn't find an affordable alternative for the choke and the bridge seemed to be a problem too.
After several persistent emails from me to them, they finally sent me a picture of a prototype.
It appeared to be long scale...

Guess they found out when they got to the point where they had to install the bridge... because it has none.
The prototype was rejected and the project was put aside (by BaCH).

Despite several attempts from me to pick up the project it never happened.

A month ago when I was emailing about another project with BaCH I asked if they still had the prototype.
"Oh yeah it's gathering dust in a corner here"
So I asked them if I could buy it. And I had them send it over.
Today I picked it up at the post office.

Apart from the obvious scale hick-up it looks beautiful.












I would really like to get it up and running.

But I need a bridge first.
The Gibson/Epiphone three point bridge would be the most obvious choice I guess. But the string spacing would be too wide. Especially for the bridge pickup.
Of course I could try and make new saddles and notch them for a narrower spacing. But I don't really have the tools to make a precise kind of thing like a saddle.

Didn't Schaller make a two point bridge as an intonable alternative for the original Gibson two point with the fixed bar?


Anybody got any suggestions?

[Daniel_J]

Are you sure a three-point bridge would not work? That type of bridge already has a narrower string spacing than standard (Fender type) bridges.

What are the measurements (imperial, please) on the nut, end of the fretboard and pickups pole spacing?

[sniper]

iffen it were me, i would try to find a two piece bass bridge and then buy a tailpiece off of the bay and finish it off with the bridge part of the two piece and the tailpiece.

[Lightyear]

Yep, Sniper came up with a viable solution.  Just set it up like a Gretsch - you're talking maybe and hour to set it up and intonate it and only one small hole to drill!

[doombass]

That's a nice bass Rob! I'm also surprised the Gibson spacing would be too wide. If you get a hold of the discontinued Schaller 460 it has adjustable roller saddles:

http://www.music-filibe.com/webshop/product_info.php/info/p4334_Schaller-460-Bass-Bridge.html/XTCsid/9b1154825e61a291fb39267e3e66068f

Here's a tune-o-matic but it has Gibson spacing (18mm).

http://www.guitarpartscentral.com/tune-o-matic-for-bass.html

[sniper]

Yep, Sniper came up with a viable solution.  Just set it up like a Gretsch - you're talking maybe and hour to set it up and intonate it and only one small hole to drill!

http://cgi.ebay.com/CHROME-BASS-Long-Trapeze-Tailpiece-ta05-/380148425998?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item58829ca50e

http://cgi.ebay.com/SHORT-TRAPEZE-TAILPIECE-ARCHTOP-BASS-GUITAR-GD-/220552717803?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item3359f765eb

a hofner type bridge:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Hofner-Beatle-Bass-Bridge-Brand-New-Project-/280555888533?pt=Guitar&hash=item41526f1f95

bango!!!

[clankenstein]

how about a trapeeze tailpiece.

[sniper]

how about a trapeeze tailpiece.

i could not think of the correct word for those things thanks tubehead

allparts sells them too as i found out on the bay

http://cgi.ebay.com/Allparts-Hofner-Bass-Bridge-Tailpiece-Made-Germany-/200405587467?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item2ea91a960b

[Basvarken]

Are you sure a three-point bridge would not work? That type of bridge already has a narrower string spacing than standard (Fender type) bridges.

What are the measurements (imperial, please) on the nut, end of the fretboard and pickups pole spacing?

The three point string spacing is too wide.

The bridge pickup has a pole spacing of 16.9 mm (6.653 inch)



the neck pickup has a pole spacing of 16.1 mm (6.338 inch)

the end of the fretboard is 63 mm wide (24.13 inch)

the top nut is 38 mm wide (1.496 inch) and the slots are spaced at 9 mm (0.35 inch)





I don't want to go for the "Gretsch option" just yet.
But I might end up having to use this kind of solution.


Too bad the Schaller 460 bridge is sold out on that site, Doombass. But at least now I know what type it is.

[sniper]

1) one could use the badass bridge approach and file your own notches

or

2) betcha a schaller 463 would come darn close @ 2.093 inches or 53.16 mm

hmmm a choke huh?

http://www.surplussales.com/Transformers/PowerChk-3.html

(CPW) MQA-13 might come really close. it would have the right rating for Gibby pups though = don't know about Bach (Artec) pups and it is not very big.

[drbassman]

I love the floating bridge-trapeze tailpiece set up.  I wouldn't feel bad if I had to ditch a mounted bridge.  With a wood floater, you can notch it anywhere you like.  The Gretsch adjustable floater has pretty narrow spacing and I use/have it on a lot of basses.



This one has the Gretsch Space Control bridge without adjustable saddles.  A little hard to intonate, (You have to angle it just right) but you can spin the saddles to any string spacing you like.



Here it is close up........



Did I mention how envious I am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Very cool bass.  They really should pursue it.

ALso, a Gibson with a floater and tailpiece can look really nice IMHO.  Check out the EB-650.

[godofthunder]

When Epiphone released EB2s in the '90s they used a standard three point as I recall, should work just fine. I'm in if they build these !

[drbassman]

When Epiphone released EB2s in the '90s they used a standard three point as I recall, should work just fine. I'm in if they build these !

I'd consider buying one if they decide to make them!  Or a shell like yours!

[jumbodbassman]

When Epiphone released EB2s in the '90s they used a standard three point as I recall, should work just fine. I'm in if they build these !

correct the 90's epis had a three point bridge



i always liked a trapeze look.  kind of looks like it belongs on a nice hollow body as this epi has



or you can go with the guild starfire look with the wood saddles.  the dearmond remake doesn't have th ewooden ones but when i get around to redoinng this one i will put in DS and the wooden saddles.  sorry Dave but i too like DS's BUT for what they are....

[Basvarken]

Thank you guys for your suggestions. Keep them coming.

I know the nineties Epiphone Rivoli had the three point bridge.
But it's the bridge pickup on this BaCH that's making this option useless. The pole spacing is very narrow. Of course I could opt to change the pickup for one with wider pole spacing.

The floating bridge options are all very easy to realise. I agree they look great too. But just not EB2 / Rivoli ...
But if I can't find the Schaller 460 -or another two point option with correct spacing- I could always choose that option.