I'm building a strat type guitar and putting on a trem, in this case a Fishman powerbridge with two point mounting.
The last strat I made, I don't think that the trem was quite in the ideal place so I thought I'd ask for a bit of advice. At what point on the trem does one measure the scale length to? Ta
I also have an issue that I have to resolve myself ..... the two point trem I have already, this guitar would look way better to me though with a vintage 6 point Fishman. Do I fork out £305 for the right one and have the hassle of selling the 2, or do I just suck it up and live with it ... I'll have to have a long think about that ...
Comments
Scale length is measured from the nut to where the saddle for the highest string will be. There needs to be some adjustment range for intonation - especially if there is any possibility that you might change gauges in the future.
Masking tape is useful when measuring out and marking things on a guitar body, and it also helps to prevent lacquer around drilled holes from chipping. I would stick a piece to the body either side of the trem block hole and bridge and use that to mark your 25.5" scale length and any other placement markings to use when you sit the bridge in position ready to mark the fulcrum post holes. As @Funkfingers says, measure your 25.5" scale from the fretboard side of the nut and use it for the the 1st string saddle distance with that saddl;e moved back maybe a few mm from its most forward position to give you a margin for error. That's the string that needs the least compensation, and it's never going to be moved forward from the scale length. Rough in the other saddle positions from another Strat trem bridge and make sure the G, A, and low E are going to have enough rearward movement for compensation.
However, do be aware of the spring tension behind the saddle on Fender style bridges. If it feels too loose when set most of the way forward then do move it back until it is holding that little spring in place. This is usually about 3/4 of the way forward
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