Bridge boo-boo

[Dave Bagwill]

Embarrassingly, the low E bass string pin is too close to the saddle. The other holes are fine, but that one is close enough that the much-to-be-desired 15 ° angle will be more like about 35° or so.

There is no way to remedy this situation; I suppose I'm looking for aid and comfort that it might be ok.
What do you think?

[John Parchem]

Not sure, but I suspect it will be OK. You will have to file the back edge of the saddle severely to intonate.

[Dave Bagwill]

Yeah, the intonation is a concern. I think I can work it out. I do have a couple of bridge 'screws' from Stewmac, that supposedly allows one to test the bridge under tension without gluing it down first. They were given to me and I have not used them yet.

[Kevin in California]

Dave
I think at this point you just make another bridge since one is not yet glued down. if you've drilled the pin holes in the top, I think you plug and drill that one.
Just my take on it. A bummer for sure.

[Hans Mattes]

It seems that there are three issues with the bridge you have:
-- Intonation compensation may be difficult
-- The limited spacing between the bridge pin hole and the saddle slot at the 6th string may cause the bridge to split along the saddle slot
-- The limited spacing not only looks a bit odd but the "double wrapped" portion of the 6th string (adjacent to the brass bead) may interfere with the saddle.

I can't comment on the first issue as I've never been extra-concerned about compensation (a slanted saddle does me fine).
I don't think that the location of the 6th string bridge pin would significantly weaken the saddle slot. Splitting is prevented by the strength of the wood in front of and, especially, to the sides of the saddle slot and minimally affected by the wood behind the saddle slot.
Interference between the saddle and the double wrapped portion of the string seems, to me, to be the most significant issue.

Two thoughts:
1) Have you considered plugging the 6th pin hole in your existing bridge and drilling a new hole a bit further from the saddle slot -- more in line with the other bridge pins. The double wrapped portion of the 6th string will cover the plug and only you will see what you've done.
2) I have doubts about what the "acoustic bridge bolts" will tell you on topics other than intonation. Their use won't tell you much about any strength concerns as the static forces on a bridge glued over its entire surface are significantly different that those achieved by attaching with two bolts.

Good luck. (It's been commented that a luthier's "skill" is highly correlated to their ability to recovery from "surprises.")

[Dave Bagwill]

I'll probably use it on some other instrument, maybe one I make for myself. This bridge has been hanging around for awhile.
I could plug the holes and salvage it that way, I suppose, since appearance would not be the main focus.

[Herman]

Loose the bridge, go outside and breath.