8 string bridgepiece and stringing an 8 string...

[Artgeckko]

Hello Club!

This feels like a dumb question, but after cleaning up this bass a bit, I found evenly fitting the 2 ball ends of the stings into the bridge challenging.  Seems that one is inevitably slightly in front of the other, and in some ways looks kinda janky.
I recently changed the strings to GHS boomers 90's, but its the same problem I found with the D'addarios.
Seems that intonation and tuning is not affected, but it just appears odd.

SO my question...

To my 8 string experts out there...
Is there a technique?

It's not a 8 string spyder style bridge, but instead a standard bass bridge with extra slots for the octave string.

I considered using a dremel tool to make the ball ends thinner in width?
Stagger the strings, so that one string is in front of other?

[gearhed289]

Just to clarify a couple of things - You say fitting the ball ends into the bridge is challenging. I thing you mean the tailpiece? I see two slots for each pair of strings, but I understand there can still be a problem fitting them side by side. Can you post a pic from the end of the bass so we can see the ball ends of the strings?

Also, the bridge is not standard with extra slots, but rather an 8-saddle unit, which is a good thing.

[Artgeckko]

Hello Gearhed,

Thanks for the response!
Yes, apologies. The "bird" tailpiece.
Been doing some very long work weeks, definitely taking a toll on my communication skills!
Will ship some photos after I get home from tonight, for clarification and direction.
The other thing I noticed is some odd distortion to the finish just in front of the tailpiece.  Not sure what would cause that. 
Thought it was a reflection til further examination.

Thanks for the help!
Ed

[garyhead]

Sorry. Can’t help. I have the Spyder tailpiece.

[Artgeckko]

No worries.
You have an amazing collection, btw!

Posting some photos to see if anybody has any ideas,  suggestions, etc.
Looked at it again tonight to see if I was just being lazy, but looks like the space is just smaller that the ball end of the strings.

Thanks for the help
Ed

[JimmyJ]

Hey Ed,

That's quite an intricate bit of machining right there.  Could those main holes be a just hair larger?  I suppose so. Did the original strings Alembic used have slightly smaller ball-ends?  Possibly.  Is it something you should worry about.  I don't think so.   

Even though it may not look like an ideal fit I would guess it's quite secure and unlikely to shift or move unexpectedly.  It's not even noticeable when viewed from the front.  And besides, the viewer will be too distracted by that amazing looking axe to notice a detail like that.   

That bass must make a hell-of-a sound!

Jimmy J

[gearhed289]

Ah, yeah, that is a bit cramped. But like Jimmy says, probably nothing to worry about. I think once it's tuned to pitch, strings stretched, then tuned back to pitch, it should be solid. I've had three 8 strings (currently a Rickenbacker), and a Hamer 12 string over the years. Total riff machines! It's hard to pick one up and NOT come up with a new song idea. And FWIW, I play multi-course basses exclusively with a pick.

[Artgeckko]

Hey!

Those are all great observations. 
I think I was feeling that I had not done my due diligence. But, as Jimmy points out, I am going to move on past the optics of the stringing and just enjoy the hell out of the bass.  I do love the springy bright sound of new strings (like how new tennis shoes make one run faster) and to gearhed's point, it so lends itself to making music, and that in itself is what its about!
Thanks as always for the help and guidance!
Enjoy the day!

[garyhead]

It’s really hard to keep the Entwistle contained “within” while playing an Alembic 8! It spills out of me every time.

[gtrguy]

If it was a serious concern a Dremel tool with a grinding tip could be used to 'carefully' trim down the ball ends on the strings.
Always use eye protection and maybe close up vision.

[Artgeckko]

LOL!  Was playing 'The Real me' yesterday.
Between that one and 'Eminence Front' are some of my favorite Entwistle tracks.  What a great sound he created. Substantial gravitas!

Dremel grind...I have given that some consideration for sure!  For now, however, just leaving well enough alone.

I ALWAYS wear eye protection with a dremel now...years ago, had the misfortune to have a cut off wheel break and half went into my cheekbone below my eye.  Wasn't wearing eye protection at the time.  That could have been very bad, but pulling the cutoff wheel out of my face wasn't all that fun either!  Thankfully, it came out all in one piece.