Bridge and Fretboard Radius Don't Match; Help?

[TV Robot]

I plan on buying a guitar with a 12" fretboard radius and putting a Bigsby B5 on it. I also want to put a locking roller bridge on it (I found one on Stew Mac). However the bridge radius is 14" and I hear some people say that having a slighly higher bridge radius is superior to having matching radii. I also I hear people say the opposite, and that radii that don't match will give me fret buzz and what not. Help please?

 

[uOpt]

Re: Bridge and Fretboard Radius Don't Match; Help?

Some of the strings will be higher than necessary, that's all.

Personally I'd rather go for bridge having a smaller radius than the fretboard if I can't have a match.

 

[Warheart]

Re: Bridge and Fretboard Radius Don't Match; Help?

If your High E and low E are set at the same height, a bridge with a 14 degree radius will have the G and D strings a tiny bit closer to the fretboard.

It really shouldn't be a problem IMO.

 

[IanBallard]

Re: Bridge and Fretboard Radius Don't Match; Help?

There have been people who took 9.5" Stats and slapped a 14" Floyd and dealt with it fine. Conversely, people commonly use the set 14" Floyd with necks that have a flatter radius or a compound. Technically, if you use a compound radius board, you have to calculate an even flatter bridge to be "correct", but people just deal.

I personally am not a fan of set-radii bridges. I like to be able to change and tweak it if necessary.

 

[John_L]

Re: Bridge and Fretboard Radius Don't Match; Help?

With a Bigsby I'd advise shopping for a 12" bridge.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Bridge and Fretboard Radius Don't Match; Help?

With a Bigsby I'd advise shopping for a 12" bridge.

How come?

The retainer/roller bar on the B5 is totally straight anyway - is there a reason bridge radius might matter?

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Bridge and Fretboard Radius Don't Match; Help?

How come?

The retainer/roller bar on the B5 is totally straight anyway - is there a reason bridge radius might matter?

doubt it
i wouldnt worry too much about radius
the radius on my jaguar bridge and fretboard dont match

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Bridge and Fretboard Radius Don't Match; Help?

The difference, in reality, will be about the thickness of a piece of paper.

 

[TV Robot]

Re: Bridge and Fretboard Radius Don't Match; Help?

Alright. Thank you very much. Probably just get the 14" bridge in that case.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Bridge and Fretboard Radius Don't Match; Help?

FWIW, since you need a tune-o-matic anyway you can "adjust" the radius by filing down the saddles. Since you replace the saddles this isn't too much of a risk.

 

[TV Robot]

Re: Bridge and Fretboard Radius Don't Match; Help?

Alright you'll have to forgive me you just blew my mind; how does said saddle-filing process work exactly?

 

[uOpt]

Re: Bridge and Fretboard Radius Don't Match; Help?

You just file them down where they are too high. If they are brass it's pretty straightforward. Notches are for wimps anyway.

As I said the trick is to get a spare set of saddles.

 

[TV Robot]

Re: Bridge and Fretboard Radius Don't Match; Help?

As I said the trick is to get a spare set of saddles.

In case I screw up the regular saddles correct? I did some looking around (i.e., Google-ing) just now and it seems sandpaper or files (where can I find such a thing?); these items would work yes?

 

[uOpt]

Re: Bridge and Fretboard Radius Don't Match; Help?

Hardware store? And some cheap nailfiles to smoothen it up.

Just be warned that cheap metal saddles can have plating that peels right off.

 

[TV Robot]

Re: Bridge and Fretboard Radius Don't Match; Help?

Alright then cool beans, thanks a buttload. Sorry about the constant questions.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Bridge and Fretboard Radius Don't Match; Help?

Alright then cool beans, thanks a buttload. Sorry about the constant questions.

Hey, that's why we're all here!

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Bridge and Fretboard Radius Don't Match; Help?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you have a roller bridge you won't want to file those saddles.

 

[dr. ad]

Re: Bridge and Fretboard Radius Don't Match; Help?

i wouldn't worry about the difference between a 12" fingerboard and a 14" bridge, especially when the B5's bar is straight.
i'm guessing it'll play pretty well actually

aren't the setzer gretschs 9.5" boards and 12" bridges, or similar?

EDIT - let's everybody just put the files down for a sec...

 

[uOpt]

Re: Bridge and Fretboard Radius Don't Match; Help?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you have a roller bridge you won't want to file those saddles.

No, in that case you hammer them in :nana: