3 point bridge question

[steveonbass]

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

[4stringer77]

Chuck it and get a hipshot supertone.

[Denis]

Or it it will fit, one of Scott's Badbird bridges.

[Granny Gremlin]

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.

[Pilgrim]

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. 

[Highlander]

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...

[planetgaffnet]

Like Mr 77 said, get a Supertone.  You can't polish a turd.  Me?  Four Thunderbirds, four Supertones.
P

[Highlander]

Hmm... one T'bird... with a two-part bridge...

[TBird1958]

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  

[Granny Gremlin]

Finally the voice of reason 

[Basvarken]

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.

[steveonbass]

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!

[Basvarken]

I love my Greco Tbird!
Congrats 

[Highlander]

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)

[TBird1958]

  Well, all that and some Girlie undies....