What's a good bridge swap?

[LITTLEWING]

While my Squier VM Jazz 5 string is an incredible piece of gigging tool for the money, I can't help thinking the bridge could be letting the sound quality of the B string down a tad. I'm using Elixir Nano's just now. What would you guys recommend as a good bridge replacement?

[JazzBassFan]

badass or hipshot a brass not alu version

[skidder652003]

[quote name='JazzBassFan' timestamp='1358291431' post='1936696']
badass or hipshot a brass not alu version
[/quote]
might cost you near what you paid for the bass mind!

[leftyhook]

i HAD A BABICZ....... and....well....?????? Was there any difference to my Squier VMJ? !!!
Do bridge replacements really make a big enough difference??

Edited January 15, 2013 by leftyhook

[JazzBassFan]

leftyhook - they do.

[chris_b]

I'd look at a Badass, Schaller or Fender's own Hi-mass bridge. Hipshot's are also very good but all these bridges are quite expensive and might not be the quantum leap in tone that you expect. It's difficult to say before you've done the work.

There must be bridge upgrades that are not as expensive, but I'm afraid I don't know bridges much these days. Also I don't know if any of these are a direct replacement.

Check that you won't need to do any woodwork before you fit a replacement.

[Lozz196]

Fender Hi-Mass, or Gotoh, if they do a fiver.

[TheGreek]

Check out eBay - lots of stuff available from China - everything I've had has been pretty good quality...

[BigRedX]

Personally I'd suggest trying different strings over a different bridge.

[chris_b]

+1

Strings first.

Edited January 17, 2013 by chris_b

[CHRISDABASS]

Firstly i'd try something like DR Highbeam / Fatbeam strings

if you must change the bridge i'd go with a Hipshot A style in Brass.

[TheGreek]

Individual tuners???

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GOLD-Individual-BASS-BRIDGES-6-STRING-Upgrade-BBi6-/110629921237?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item19c20ea1d5

[mckendrick]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1358436368' post='1939110']
Personally I'd suggest trying different strings over a different bridge.
[/quote]
This.

I'd even go as far as to say try a different capacitor.

[Telebass]

[quote name='JazzBassFan' timestamp='1358411936' post='1938543']
leftyhook - they do.
[/quote]
Lots of my experience say otherwise. Derision for the Fender 'bent bit of tin' is just that, derision. The first thing I do now with Badass IIs fitted to anything I buy is get them off and replace with a standard BBOT. No tonal difference and the bass is immediately a half pound lighter.