[MadMatt]

I have been trying for a while now to find a replacement bridge for my Ripper bass I am restoring. I have purchased a couple of bridges but it seems the string saddles are always noticeably shorter than those that came on my bass, and I can't adjust them high enough to keep the strings off the frets. The saddles on my bridge are approximatley 5/16" tall. Can anyone tell me what is going on :

I was also wondering if anyone can tell me what year my Ripper is. The serial number on the headstock is 171790 with a 2 above it, and is stamped Made in the USA.

Thanks!

[jules]

Originally Posted by MadMatt

I can't adjust them high enough to keep the strings off the frets

The three posts don't have to be (and rarely are) screwed all the way in. Raise them up to get the extra height.... (have I understood your question?)

[MadMatt]

Thanks for the response. I didn't screw them down all the way, I tried various heights. But I've measured the string saddles on the bridges I've bought, and they are only about 3/16" tall almost an 1/8" inch shorter. And I can't reuse the existing bridge as 1 saddle is missing.

[guitarshark]

The saddles are marked 1-2-3-4 on the bottom.(G-D-A-E) Each string has a corresponding saddle so that the bridge matches the fingerboard radius.. Might be that you aren't putting the correct saddle in it's correct bridge slot. Could also be that you don't have a complete 1-2-3-4- saddle set between all the bridges you have.

The serial number dates to 1974.

[guitarshark]

Forgot to mention...the "2" above the serial number means that the bass is a factory second, meaning that it had a finish flaw and was sold at a discounted price when new.

[donnervogel]

That is strange. If anything, old Rippers have the issue that you can't get the three point bridge low enough for a sensisible action because the neck is set too low in relation to the body. Has the neck been reset?

It's hard to envisage that the posts from the three point would be too short to allow contact free action even with very low saddles. I have dozens of three point Gibbies and the one where the bridge is elevated by far the highest is my SB-450 which has a strongly elevated fretboard and very low plastic saddles, but even there the posts aren't further out than half an inch and action is buzz free (and not "shredding-low").

Uwe

[jules]

Originally Posted by MadMatt

I've measured the string saddles on the bridges I've bought, and they are only about 3/16" tall almost an 1/8" inch shorter. And I can't reuse the existing bridge as 1 saddle is missing.

It's true, some saddles are taller than others - aftermarket replacements are probably shorter I think - but this doesn't really matter if the whole bridge can be raised to compensate.

Original saddles will come up on ebay - probably within a month or two - just keep a really good eye out

Jules

[doom]

The original (70's) Gibson saddles are indeed considerably taller than Allparts or Epi. My RD Artist has one saddle replaced with a homemade (out of aluminum I think) one and it works fine. If the posts are too short for getting correct action either a home made saddle or Ebay is your choice.