Do I have a curve bridge ?

Interesting! I recently picked up a 98 Thumb 6 bolt-on for a song. The bass is in excellent condition for its age, but the bridge is also curved as the original poster of this thread indicated in his photo. I gathered it should not be like that and stripped it down. I then put it in a vice between two pieces of wood and leather to avoid damage and got it perfectly straight again. After re-stringing the bass with medium light nickel SIT strings and using it for a few gigs it started slightly bending again. My opinion if that the bridge is just too soft - a factory flaw! What if the same thing happens after spending unnecessary bucks on a new bridge? I am thinking of inserting a solid brass piece underneath the bridge which will make it more rigid it will not be visible anyway.

Can someone from Warwick maybe answer to this problem? There surely must be plenty 6's with this problem out there - the guys just haven't noticed I guess.
 
I've seen a couple of 6 stringers bent this way, both old - brass bridge, and new ones.
I guess the main reason was an accident of some sort. The bridge being larger is more easy to bend.
I would not trust this bridge again after was bent, and straighten again... It is surely not as solid as before, and it might even crack (never seen such a thing though)
I think the only solution is to replace the bridge.
I hope it helps.
 
I've never seen something like that even on the cheapest bass in the world! My Warwicks have always perfectly straight bridges, I think somebody twisted the bridge somehow......... but how the hell could you do that :?:
As somebody suggested before, buy a new bridge right now!!
 
Midinut said:
Interesting! I recently picked up a 98 Thumb 6 bolt-on for a song. The bass is in excellent condition for its age, but the bridge is also curved as the original poster of this thread indicated in his photo. I gathered it should not be like that and stripped it down. I then put it in a vice between two pieces of wood and leather to avoid damage and got it perfectly straight again. After re-stringing the bass with medium light nickel SIT strings and using it for a few gigs it started slightly bending again. My opinion if that the bridge is just too soft - a factory flaw! What if the same thing happens after spending unnecessary bucks on a new bridge? I am thinking of inserting a solid brass piece underneath the bridge which will make it more rigid it will not be visible anyway.

Can someone from Warwick maybe answer to this problem? There surely must be plenty 6's with this problem out there - the guys just haven't noticed I guess.
Click to expand...

I don't think it's a factory flaw! Warwick bridges are very solid made so it will definitely not happen to a new Warwick bridge! (and please don't hit the new bridge with a hammer) :lol::lol:
 
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Florin said:
I've seen a couple of 6 stringers bent this way, both old - brass bridge, and new ones.
I guess the main reason was an accident of some sort. The bridge being larger is more easy to bend.
I would not trust this bridge again after was bent, and straighten again... It is surely not as solid as before, and it might even crack (never seen such a thing though)
I think the only solution is to replace the bridge.
I hope it helps.
Click to expand...

Hey Florian, what brige is on my 2002 LX6? looks like brass to me...
 
Florin said:
I've seen a couple of 6 stringers bent this way, both old - brass bridge, and new ones.
I guess the main reason was an accident of some sort. The bridge being larger is more easy to bend.
I would not trust this bridge again after was bent, and straighten again... It is surely not as solid as before, and it might even crack (never seen such a thing though)
I think the only solution is to replace the bridge.
I hope it helps.
Click to expand...


I'm thinking all you actually need is that base plate, unless there's been some major redesigning all the other bits should just fall right in.
 
These older bridges were brass & brass is a pretty soft metal.They also had a solid brass block under them,maybe as a counter weight.The newer bridges are an aluminium like material(Zama?),with a lightweight frame under them,made of some sort of composite material iirc.
I think if your bridge is going to bend,no base plate under it will help prevent it,coz the bridge is suspended above it,on 4 adjuster posts & 2 locking screws.
 
Guys, my Thumb 6 is original. It has a frame underneath the bridge, what looks like aluminium, with the four ball bearing inserts. The bridge itself is black so it is difficult to establish what it is made of, but it was bent and I straightened it perfectly...not with a hammer! It bends easily and I think the angle that the strings go over from the anchor plate contributes to the bending issue. The bridge was not hit or abused during playing; it just seem to sag in the middle. That tells me that these bridges may nowadays come in stronger material and maybe I am just unlucky to have had a dud batch of bridges!

As Florin mentioned, he has seen this before as well, so it is not unique. I am going to place a support underneath the middle of my bridge first - I work a lot on guitar and will experiment with materials so that there is not vibration, etc. Only if that doesn't work will I go for a new bridge. Will keep you guys posted.
 






Zinc is mainly an anti-corrosive incredient
or a plating. If an alloy is zinc, it's usually
lacking in structural strength. A common
term for zinc alloys in general is Pot Metal.

It's easy to cast, easy to machine, and as
you can see, it's also easy to deform.

​




 
I really don't think our bridges are deformable, we should see deformed Warwick bridges every day on the forum.
Sometimes accidents happens... and any bridge can have one problem or another in time, they are repleaceable parts...
There are a lot of Warwickers with 6 strings I know, but only about 2- 3 with problems. People are buying 6 string Warwicks every day, and we don't have reports on bent bridges...
So this means the bridge is hard enough.
 
Since my last comment I have straightened my bridge with no complications and placed a minor leather support underneath across the middle (just to minimise the possibility of the bridge dipping in the middle again). Sounds perfect!

But Florin you will be happy to know that I have ordered a new bridge. Already received my new set of tuners as well as a set of frets which I will in due course use to replace the old.

My Thumb 6 is a 98 and I feel actually happy at this stage to spend a few bucks on it...it is worth every cent to make it look like brandnew!

PS Already shopping for my next Warwick ... my Yamahas have gone into semi retirement!
 
I am indeed happy that a great instrument will be back on the stage again.
Thank you for the nice comment Etienne.
 
Florin

You will be happy to know that I have finally changed the bridge with a new one. The new replacement comes with all the screws and parts, so it is a new full replacement. The previous owner had some sort of suede leather shim between the bridge base plate and the body - probably to smooth out the natural sound a bit. Since replacing the bridge my Thumb sound like a million dollars! Good to rock 'n roll for many more years!

PS I nearly fell for a Corvette active $$ but it is not my kind of sound - I mainly use the bridge pickup on my Thumb for that real growl.

Cheers
 
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