Strings catching on TOM bridge behind saddle

[Toe-Knee]

Hey guys.

I recently got a MIJ jackson DXMGT and on the high E & B the strings are erm bending over the back end of the bridge before going down into the ferrules.

I thought maybe the bridge was too high but i tried lowering it right down and it was still the same.

I'm tempted to file some notches into the backside of the bridge but i aren't sure i this will affect the structural integrity.

It isnt causing any issues such as string breakage or poor intonation but it is bugging me.

Does anyone have any advice?

[Dave Sloven]

Is it second-hand?  Maybe a previous owner changed the bridge for a different TOM model that has more 'meat' at the back?

[Toe-Knee]

Is it second-hand?  Maybe a previous owner changed the bridge for a different TOM model that has more 'meat' at the back?

It's all stock as far as i know. The previous owner was an old chap who didn't like to swap things.

[Philly Q]

Since you mentioned ferrules, I'm assuming it has through-body stringing rather than a tailpiece?

In that case, the string angle behind the bridge will be even steeper than it would be with a standard tailpiece (unless the ferrules are set a really long way back from the bridge).  So it's very likely that some of the strings are going to come into contact with the back of the bridge and there's not much you can do about it.

The only ways I can think to avoid it are:

1. A very low bridge with very tall saddles (good luck with that!  :P )

2. A narrower bridge, like a Gibson ABR-1 - and even that might have the same problem if you currently have the issue with both the E and B, it's usually just the high E.


Having said all that, I know people always make a fuss about this issue, and it does seem "wrong" that the string tension should be "interrupted" at two points rather than just one, but I've never seen it demonstrated that it really does have an adverse effect on tone.

[Toe-Knee]

It is indeed a string through body.

To be honest it's not something that i would say is affecting the tone at all or having any other adverse effects. It just feels wrong.

I was actually thinking of changing the saddles out because they're a bit worn and very loose and it seems the threads on them are a bit duff and slip a bit when adjusting but that could be the screws.