5 Attachment(s)
Everything but the bridge
Well, this is a ticklish issue.
Having now received bridge, pick guard and checked the frets and neck, I thought it was time to measure up for bridge placement.
I’ve checked the centreline and it matches the timber join where the 2 billets were glued originally..actually almost invisible...nice.
When I insert the neck, there is a small gap at the end.
Attachment 39178
Not huge, as you can see...maybe 1 or 2 mm.
Since the neck and body weren’t part of a matched set (as in a complete kit) but bought from the pit bull body and neck section, it isn’t that surprising. Probably not an issue.
Where it does become a bit tricky is, after measuring scale length...both from the inside of the nut, midway to the crown of the 12th fret fret marker and then from there to the body, but I also measured from the inside of the nut 25.5” and the line I drew with pencil was the same. The neck was straight and square.
I then ran into trouble with the cavities and the bridge with the pick guard fitted.
The first position for the bridge was with the saddles having roughly even travel either way...so they could go forward and back the same distance. I marked those holes and punched them. Problematically, the space for the bridge pickup went over the bridge pick up cavity. See the photo below.
Attachment 39179
Worth noting, it exceeds the gap at the end of the neck by quite a bit.so, that doesn’t seem to be an issue here.
When I move the bridge back to a position where the cavity aligns with the pick up slot, there is a gap between the pick guard and the bridge, which looks untidy.
Attachment 39180
Also, the travel of the saddles, (unsurprisingly) is somewhat less efficient. I mean, it’s only about 3 mm or so but, it looks untidy and isn’t as functional.
Being the over equipped type of person I am, I have another bridge, which is an original fender, ashtray style...which isn’t as fancy as my gotoh engraved one but it has exactly the same problem, vis a vis the pickup slot/ cavity location.
Attachment 39181
So, the bridge isn’t the problem.
The question is, would it be best to snug the bridge up to the pick guard and chisel a small amount out of the pick up cavity (my preferred option) or to chisel some out of the neck pocket to bring the neck back that 3mm?
I think the second one is bad, because I would have to make sure everything is square again and it really is only the corners of the pick up cavity.
I have punched holes for drilling but haven’t drilled as yet. The punch marks will be under the bridge, so not a huge problem.
Attachment 39182
Will wait for advice from the wise and considered counsel of the community.