Warwick bridge questions

slinkp · August 09, 2015, 07:02:04 AM

Hi all,

I know some people here have done builds with the Warwick 2-piece bridge, right?
I gather from some old threads that if built on a bass with a straight (not angled back) neck, you need to route the body to prevent the bridge sitting too high. Is that true?

I like the 2-piece look, and reputedly they're quite adjustable (string spacing too). Anything else similar I should be looking at?

Price looks decent if they ship to the US...

(it may be over 10 years ruminating in my brain but I will get a custom slink-bass built one of these years dammit)

Highlander · August 09, 2015, 07:13:05 AM

No image... I presume you meanthese bits...?

drbassman · August 09, 2015, 12:53:53 PM

It's the bridge used by Gibson on some older LP basses. Used a couple in builds and I like them. No angle will require a shallow rout.

Dave W · August 09, 2015, 12:58:09 PM

Yes, you would need to route with a non-angled neck. Only way to avoid it would be to build your neck with a thick enough heel to raise the fretboard higher off the body. The slothead EB-0/EB-3 were built that way, so were the SGs from the same couple of years.

slinkp · August 09, 2015, 02:51:16 PM

Thanks guys. Yes, that's the one, not sure how I messed up the link. Is there anything with a similar design that doesn't need a route?

Chris P. · August 10, 2015, 03:36:04 AM

With Warwicks, both tailpiece and bridge have routings:

drbassman · August 10, 2015, 09:00:20 AM

My favorite bridge is the Schaller roller bridge. The saddles are adjustable sideways as well as height. Can be use on just about any bass with wide or narrow string spacing. I get them off an eBay seller for around $58 bucks. No routing needed, works like a Fender bridge.

Dave W · August 10, 2015, 06:39:18 PM

Quote from: drbassman on August 10, 2015, 09:00:20 AM
My favorite bridge is the Schaller roller bridge. The saddles are adjustable sideways as well as height. Can be use on just about any bass with wide or narrow string spacing. I get them off an eBay seller for around $58 bucks. No routing needed, works like a Fender bridge.

True. It does have a lower profile than a Fender bridge, but since he's designing a custom bass he can make allowances for it. Stew-Mac is more expensive ($75) but they order them from Schaller with a separate. 3mm thick shim/baseplate.

Quote from: Chris P. on August 10, 2015, 03:36:04 AM
With Warwicks, both tailpiece and bridge have routings:

Yes, and that's typical. Same thing would be true with a tune-o-matic on a guitar. If the bridge needs routing, the tailpiece will have to be or there won't be enough down pressure on the bridge saddles.

drbassman · August 10, 2015, 08:42:28 PM

Don't recall using a shim. Are you saying the shim is needed to give it the same height as a standard Fender bridge?

Basvarken · August 11, 2015, 02:18:14 AM

Duesenberg makes a nice two piece bridge combination.
Bridge has saddles that are height adjustable.

drbassman · August 11, 2015, 05:53:04 AM

Quote from: Basvarken on August 11, 2015, 02:18:14 AM
Duesenberg makes a nice two piece bridge combination.
Bridge has saddles that are height adjustable.

That's nice. Do they sell them?

Basvarken · August 11, 2015, 06:03:20 AM

Yes they do.
I bought a set at Tonefactory.nl, a Dutch webstore for guitar and bass parts.

http://www.tonefactory.nl/gitaar-bas-parts/bruggen/basgitaarbruggen-en-onderdelen?p=4

But I'm sure stores in the USA have them too.

They have them in different widths for different string spacing.
A nice feature is that the studs are locked down to prevent tilt if you raise the bridge higher.

Dave W · August 11, 2015, 08:46:40 PM

Quote from: drbassman on August 10, 2015, 08:42:28 PM
Don't recall using a shim. Are you saying the shim is needed to give it the same height as a standard Fender bridge?

Most sellers don't order them with the shim. Stew-Mac does. Not sure about the standard Fender bridge height since my only Fender bass now is the rascal with the 90s Guild bridge. But the Schaller is pretty low.

Quote from: Basvarken on August 11, 2015, 02:18:14 AM
Duesenberg makes a nice two piece bridge combination.
Bridge has saddles that are height adjustable.

Nice looking. The question for slinkp would be if it's low enough to be used on a non-angled neck without routing.

Basvarken · August 12, 2015, 03:03:24 AM

Depends how high the fingerboard protrudes from the body.

drbassman · August 12, 2015, 06:58:35 AM

Quote from: Dave W on August 11, 2015, 08:46:40 PM
Most sellers don't order them with the shim. Stew-Mac does. Not sure about the standard Fender bridge height since my only Fender bass now is the rascal with the 90s Guild bridge. But the Schaller is pretty low.

Nice looking. The question for slinkp would be if it's low enough to be used on a non-angled neck without routing.

I'll do some measuring and we'll see.