Sandberg bridge adjustment

[russ.c]

Hi all,

I recently purchased a California VS4, and albeit I have managed to adjust the bridge (intonation and saddle height) there is something I'm not sure about with the design.

 

The manual says to adjust the 2 front grub screws and a single rear grub screw for string height. Is this so that the base of the saddle remains horizontal, or is there meant to be an incline from the rear to the front of the saddle? The latter is how it appears to have come from the factory, but this doesn't make sense. You'd think if it was meant to incline from the rear to the front of the saddle that there would be little point in having a grub screw at the rear?

 

That 3rd rear grub screw also makes the saddle rock before locking it in place - kinda like taking the rear right hand side wheel off your car.

 

Compared to bridges and saddles I've had on basses over the years, this one seems overly complicated and fiddly to get right, and not very friendly when it comes to setting intonation. Where's the intonation screw like on every other bridge ever made?

 

The rest of the bass is awesome (apart from the strings it came with and were swapped out the very next day), but it's a shame about the bridge.

 

Will I learn to love the bridge eventually? I dunno. Any advice or enlightenment gratefully received.

 

Best regards

Russ

 

 

 

 

Edited April 4 by russ.c
Grammar and clarity

[Man.about.Tyne]

19 minutes ago, russ.c said:

Will I learn to love the bridge eventually?

 

No, it's a PITA!  I have two Sandbergs and I agree with you about the bridge and the strings - rumour is that they are GHS Super Steels.

 

Anyway, the bridge...  I played around endlessly with the bl**dy thing until it's right and I'm never going to touch it again.

 

Good luck!

 

[russ.c]

Cool thanks man. Hopefully that's it and I won't ever need to readjust it. The bass is sounding great and feels a lot better under the fingers with some Hybrid Slinkys.