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3 string Bass conundrums

Ok got the tuners on the way and ordered 2.9mm fretts. and a pickup too , so far im into this $50 for those parts, $15 for the box and say$16 for the Tassy Oak neck and finger board. now do i get the individual bridge pieces or get the 4 string bridge and cut it down? this is going to be an electric build due to the thick lid on the box. with strings this is going to com to approx $150 AUD .... could have got a bass from Cash converters cheaper.... nah where is the fun in that..

but seriously if you have built a bass what did you use for the bridge?

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on January 2, 2019 at 11:07am

Hi, I would remove all saddles, redrill the screw holes in the back of the bridge x3 at the spacing I require.

Reassemble with three saddles. The individual saddles may need shimming to get correct saddle Hight.

I got value for money by building my "Breadboard" 2 stringer, just cut the bridge in half.

Taff

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Permalink Reply by the anonymous pick on January 2, 2019 at 11:47am

I've used the individual ones with great results and spacing is not an issue . you can also use the thru body anchor method , and use lighter bass strings . and any homemade bridge you want .

Also , to save money , warp worry , and intimidation , ... you can make a 2 or 3 string short scale bass. 25 inch scale and use number .60 and.52 strings from a special set of “ ghs boomers “ or drop d tuning guitar strings . and they still fit regular guitar tuner holes . Combined a forward pup placement , it’s a sweet lil bass . and since it’s all “guitar” parts , it can easily be converted to a “regular guitar string” equipped 2 or 3 stringer. I have made a few like this .

easy peasy lemon squeezy. ;-)

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Permalink Reply by Timothy Hunter on January 2, 2019 at 1:53pm

the individual ones are slightly dearer but i think i like the look better....

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Permalink Reply by Korrigan on January 2, 2019 at 11:56am

I I made a 3-string bass with a 5-string bridge, just removing the 2 outer saddles. Worked out pretty well and It was less that $15 on Ebay.

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Permalink Reply by Timothy Hunter on January 2, 2019 at 1:42pm

i thought of doing this as well. i dont think my box is as wide as that one . i was worried the bridge would look too massive.. my box is 7 3/4"wide.

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Permalink Reply by Korrigan on January 2, 2019 at 3:58pm

Mine is 9"... And I'm not exaggerating. :D

I think it would work fine on a 7 3/4" box.

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Permalink Reply by Timothy Hunter on January 2, 2019 at 11:04pm

the one i was looking at is 3 7/8" wide. if my math works that leaves 1 15/16" each side of the bridge to the edge of the box.. might look a bit large .

curious, what scale length did you use and what string guage?