Short scale bass build tone question....

[thefishinmusician]

I'm building a short scale bass...Bolt on , maple back and sides....Basically , Danelectro style , only I glued up 3 pieces of maple , and routed it out from the top to hollow it...I topped it with ash I had cut to top thickness....Now , here's the question....I have an old 60's Harmony H24 pickup that I'll be using , in neck or middly position....I'll be using flat wound strings...I'm going for thump , not so much articulation...Torn between a regular Fender style bridge , or , for more upright thump , should I use a tailpiece and wooden bridge , like an archtop , or like an old Harmony......Advice from them what knows ?

[Paul Verticchio]

Well, no one has responded so I'll give you my take on it.

IF you want the instrument to intonate correctly at the 12th fret, an adjustable (Fender style) bridge with a LONG saddle travel is required.

If proper octave intonation isn't a goal, a floating "arch top" style may work. However, this was a "lacking" idea back in the 50's & 60's and only appeared on budget instruments. Remember that because it was used 50 years ago, it doesn't mean it was a good idea then or now. Bad designs are as timeless as good designs.

My best suggestion however is: Decide which way you're going to go before you cut the neck pocket. Given the different neck angles that these two completely different approaches require, the angle of your neck pocket will be critical to each design.

You may also wish to consider a installing a block in the body under the bridge to assure structural stability, and in the case of a Fender style bridge...something for the screws to bite into.

Hope this info is helpful & best of luck,
Paul

[thefishinmusician]

Thanks Paul....All that is factored in already.....I could even do string through , if i chose to....Just wondering , tonewise , what might give me a more " upright " thump...

[Pierre-Antoine Roiron]

For maximum fundamental vs harmonics sounds, I would consider a custom wood bridge with a good string break angle (wether that means string through or not). You can always file and move the bridge to get a good intonation, then glue it with 2 drops of hide glue.