REDLAWMAN

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So am I correct in thinking that the 'A' and 'D' strings aren't really supposed to be farther apart than the other strings (as the 'tech' in the shop left them), and that all strings should really be equal distances apart to the eye? And is it right that the fret marker dots don't actually line up in the centre of the 'A' and 'D' strings? Sorry to be painful, but this is a big learning curve for me......

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These next 2 are how it was when I got it back from the 'Expert', when the gap between the 'A' and 'D' strings was wider than the other gaps, but the strings followed a largely parallel line of travel into the back of the bridge with no obvious deviation.

And here's another of it now.

This is how it looks now I've spaced the strings evenly.

Hi everyone, I could really use some help from either owners of (or anyone who knows really well) the current American Standard 'P' with the new HMV High Mass Vintage bridge. I'm having a nightmare with string spacing over the bridge saddles and don't know enough about it to know what's right or wrong. When I bought it and the standard factory rounds were strung thru-body, the gap between all the strings was equidistant and there was no bend/deviation in the travel of the strings from where they come out of the bridge to where they sit across the saddles. In a nutshell, I've had it re-strung with La Bella 760 FS flats, top loaded and when I first got it back from the shop, the gap between the 'A' and the 'D' string was noticeably wider than between the other strings. I've had the strings off and I've seated them on saddle grooves so that all 4 strings now look equidistant, but now there is a very obvious deviation in my 'E' and 'A' strings between where they lock into the back of the bridge and sit over the grooves. I have no real idea of what's supposed to be right; whether all 4 strings should appear equally spaced to the eye and/or whether it's unavoidable that there will be a bend in some of the strings when I string top-loaded as opposed to thru-body. I've even started thinking that the bridge itself may be defective!! I have photos of both set-ups if that helps and I live near Hereford if anyone who really knows these 'P' basses well is within traveling distance and wouldn't mind just giving it a 'once-over'. Leaving this issue aside, the tuning and intonation are spot-on. Thanks everyone.

Thank you very much everyone: all points taken on board. The bass stays exactly as it is and just gets 'flats'. Right- Flats, actually La Bella flats because I quite fancy them. MIA Standard ''P'. Original strings from the fractory are : 045/065/085/110. Do I want:- 1. [b]760 F/S[/b] (045/065/085/105) or [b]760 F/L [/b](043/060/082/105) or [b]760 F/M [/b](049/069/089/109) ? 2. Can I use the [b]'Original 1954' [/b](which I think I really want to)? Their gauges are 052/073/095/110, which are a bit heavier/fatter than the stock Fender strings. 3. Black Nylon Tape Wound[b] (760N)[/b]. What are these like please? Their gauges are 060/070/094/115 and therefore a lot fatter. Is one of the above La Bella's a 'better' choice for me for my Country/50's,60's R 'N' R? 4. Am I right in thinking that I can string through the body with ALL of them except the Original 1954's and the Black Nylon ones? 5. Does it matter whether I string through the body or neck anyway? Will it make a difference to the sound? Is one method preferable to the other? And finally: tension on the neck. I understand that the string tension has to be far higher with these particular flats (unlike the T/I's on my Wick). Is this a problem and or potentially damaging to the neck, etc. on my new MIA 'P'? Many thanks everyone.

Hi everyone, I'd really appreciate some advice please. I want to play principally Country music (Glen C, Kenny R, etc.) /Elvis/Buddy Holly/50's & 60's Rock 'n' Roll and some 'Pop-Rock' Abba/Simon & G, etc.) I've got a Warwick Streamer LX and I'm really struggling to find 'that' sound- the warm, deep, 'thump' without the excrutiatingly sharp highs, even through a Littlemark III and a 15" Markbass Traveller cab. I've just ordered a 2010 MIA Standard 'P'. Is the American Standard going to basically give me the sound I want 'straight out of the box', or will I need to: 1. Put Flats on? Will T/I Jazz be as good an option as any or are the La Bellas (like the Original 1954's) better for this genre ? 2. Change the pup to, say, a SD SPB-1 or APB-2 (or any other)? 3. Change the pots/output jack/capacitor and shield the bass? I'm really hoping the answer is that I will get the sound I want (and am missing from my Wick) with the 'P' as in comes, with, maybe, the addition of some flats, because I don't really want to have to start messing with a brand new instrument that cost this much.... I'm completely new to Fender, so I would really value the benefit of everyone's experience. Thank you.

I really appreciate everyone's help. Thanks very much indeed. Much to learn and plenty to go on.

Silddx, Thank you very much for doing that and yes, I think so too.

A little bit beyond the scope of my ability at this point, I fear...!! Do I just play the notes as indicated for the guitar and then panic when it says A7 or D7...???

Hi Everyone, I'm a complete beginner having just bought my first bass two days ago. I've managed to learn where the notes are on the fretboard and I'm practising some major chords. I've looked everywhere for the bass tabs for The Everly Brothers' 'Ebony Eyes', but all I can find is the guitar chords. Would anyone be able to help me and advise me just how you figure out the bass line from this please? Many thanks