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Thread: PB-30R DIY Electric Bass Guitar Kit 30: Bridge Position

  1. #1

    PB-30R DIY Electric Bass Guitar Kit 30: Bridge Position

    Hello:
    I am new here. I have purchased a PB-30R DIY Electric Bass Guitar Kit 30 and I am working on setting it up. The problem is that I don't really know where to place the bridge since it doesn't have any markings. Where can I find a guide so I don't make a mistake? Sorry for my English, I am using a Spanish to English translator.

  2. #2
    Moderator Trevor Davies's Avatar
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    Hi Tino,
    the Pit Bull Manual can be found at https://www.pitbullguitars.com/instruction-manual/.

    But I'm not sure if it answers your question.

    I would:

    First: With the neck in place, you need to use the "E-strings Method" (for 6 strings, so it should be called the E & G strings method for bass guitars) to align the bridge sideways. That is, run string from the outer nut slots on the neck, to the outer bridge saddle slots - making sure they are parallel down the neck. I then use masking tape to mark these positions on the body.

    Second: Determine the scale length (which should be close to 30 inches for the PB-30R!). 1. Adjust the high g-string saddle on the bridge to nearly all the way out. 2. Measure the distance from the back of the nut to the 12th fret. If you double this value it should be very close to the scale length. 3. Position the bridge so that the g- string saddle is at your measured scale length. I use masking tape again to mark this position.

    You should then be good to screw down the bridge.

    The pictures below show the ideas for a 6 string.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

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    Last edited by Trevor Davies; Yesterday at 01:23 PM.
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  3. #3
    Moderator fender3x's Avatar
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    +1, I do it exactly as TD suggests. Whatever the measurement is from where the string leaves the nut to the middle of the 12th fret, double it... if you don't have a long straight edge, you can take the 1st measurement and and just measure from the middle of the 12th fret to where the string leaves the G string saddle.

    One thing to remember is that you a little margin for error with the saddles since you can move the saddles forward and back several mm's. You want to be as precise as possible with the lateral measurements. I do it by eye-balling, but I spend quite a bit of time getting it in the right place.

    One thing that sometimes helps with basses, is that if you string the A and the D strings, they should bracket the position dots on the neck pretty perfectly when you have the bridge properly centered. For some reasons this occasionally works better for me than aligning to the sides of the fingerboard with the E and G strings.

  4. #4
    Overlord of Music dave.king1's Avatar
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    PBass is 34" scale length is it not, but what F3x has suggested will be the correct method on any guitar regardless of scale length

    My Yamaha short scale bass is 30" and somewhat shorter than my PBass

  5. #5
    Moderator Trevor Davies's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by dave.king1 View Post
    PBass is 34" scale length is it not, but what F3x has suggested will be the correct method on any guitar regardless of scale length

    My Yamaha short scale bass is 30" and somewhat shorter than my PBass
    The PB-30R kit is a short scale kit.
    PitBull Builds: FVB-4, LP-1SS, FBM-1, AG-2, TB-4, SSCM-1, TLA-1,TL-1TB, STA-1HT, DSCM-1 Truckster, ST-1, STA-1, MBM-1, MBM custom, GHR-1 (Resonator), FH-5V (Acoustic), DMS-1 (Mustang).

    Scratch Builds: Pine Explorer, Axe Bass, Mr Scary, Scratchy Tele's.

    The little voices in my head keep telling me "build more guitars"

  6. #6
    Thank you very much for your time.

  7. #7
    Thank you very much

  8. #8
    Overlord of Music dave.king1's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Trevor Davies View Post
    The PB-30R kit is a short scale kit.
    There ya go, mine is a PBH-4 at 34" as was my genuine L Series back in the 1960s

  9. #9
    Fantástico!

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