86' Blitz Bridge

[scott from west seneca]

Hi, I have this sustain block bridge on my Blitz 6 inline.

Its seems that the strings don't line up with poles on my P/Us

I used my calipers and measured the string spread of bridge, it reads 1.930 inch + or - .001 with .009 strings

All my other guitars have 2.000 or bigger string spread ( E saddle to E saddle)

In my stew mac catalog, bridges have the 2.000 spread

Could i have the wrong size saddles in this sustain block bridge?

And if I where to shit can this S block bridge. What quality replacement bridge would you get??

thank you,

[murkat]

Welcome to our world.

Nothing is perfect and holds true with sustain block bridges, Hamer guitars.

Pics would help to determin your situation.

But if it is a stock SB, "We" usually dial them in, getting it "close" to a tolarable comfy.

Alot of them are misaligned, off center, too close, a little far back, etc.

"It is what it is".... and we deal with them most affectionatly

[Andrew]

Later sustain blocks 81 onwards have a tiny string spacing compared to the average. If you follow the link and look at the Sunburst article there is a picture of the later saddles, although they will be a little squarer on an 86. So long as the strings don't fall of the fingerboard all is well. Pickups can be moved slightly with a little foam to line them up better. It does look odd as they will not be quite central in the ring, but so what?

Misaligned, off centre, too close? Not on any of mine!

Andrew.

[scott from west seneca]

thank you ,Thats funny because there is some old black foam tape inside the P/U

pocket.

[hamerhead]

Nobody makes replacement Sustain Blocks, but when your talking maybe .010 to .015 per string or less - about the width of a 'B' string - how much is it really going to effect the sound? Unless you're Eric Johnson. Is that you, Eric?

You can adjust the polepieces if it's a sound issue, or use shim stock between the saddles if it's visual annoyance, but of the million guitars I've played, none - and I mean zero - have suffered or benefited from being a hair off one way or another. It just doesn't matter.

[BTMN]

Got a close shot of the bridge and bridge pickup say from about 12 inches above it?

Might have had replacement saddles put on it.

Read this page yet? http://www.hamerfanclub.com/blitz.html

[scott from west seneca]

I cant add a pic on this " ask the HFC experts " I can post a pic on the main board. Please check for it there.

[BTMN]

http://www.hamerfanclub.com/andrewlarge/specials.htm

[zenmindbeginner]

The only hardtail aftermarket saddles are Fender spaced... your bridge is just fine.

There is no where on earth to find sustainblock saddles that are more narrow than the stock Hamer ones.

There is no effect in having the string spacing slightly off from the pickup poles... I routinely play a regular spaced pickup with a Floyd and have no problems even though the string spacing isn't a little off... it's waaaay off.

[zorrow]

Well, maybe that's a good reason for you to sell it? He, he, he... I'm just kidding, but if you put it for sale around here, I'm sure some people will be more than happy.

[silentman]

The problem is amplified if your inlays are off center.