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Old May 25th, 2009, 09:25 PM   #24 (permalink)
Anchoret
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: California
Posts: 538
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave W View Post
Don't take my word for it, then. Call up Ken Smith tomorrow and ask him, he was the first to bring them to the market and they may still be standard equipment on his basses. And AFAIK none of his basses are strung through body.

Or call up LaBella. Ask for Bob Archigian, the GM. I've never asked him about the Super Steps, but I've called with a question a few times over the years and he was very helpful.

I'm not trying to be critical, I would be interested to hear what they have to say.
I can find no indication so far that there's any advantage to (or intention of) having the steps that far out from the saddle, except one-size-fits-all marketing. The one site I've found that addresses the "why" says it's to have the smaller witness point on the saddle (this results in more twang [spit!] for those who like that sort of thing in "bass guitar"), so the steps out in the middle of nowhere give no additional advantage.

FMIC made the 8250M E's step to just have enough length to clear the saddle on a stock through-strung P or J with slack for normal adjustments, and I got that directly from those responsible on the old FDP when FMIC still participated there, so presumably there is some disadvantage to excessive step distance.

I'm still looking. I'm curious about the intonation aspects.
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