Twangster Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 ...I know it makes some...but would changing the (reasonably chunky) bridge on my Squier P Special make much difference - if I replaced it with, say, a Badass or Gotoh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Yes very much so. I believe that this is the single best P bass upgrade you can make. All of my P basses have either worn a Badass or laterally a Gotoh (cheaper, almost as good). Beware though....others will stop by shortly and say no and claim that I am spouting nonsense. You decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 I like a solid mass ..as opposed to a cheap plate but not sure how much difference in sound you can hear, but I think it could help the string speak a bit better... But... this is just a small part of the chain and it also depends on the quality of the rest of the components, IMO. Great bridge but pretty poor wood or anything else ... means a waste of time and money, to me..!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Well the Fender Custom Shop Pino signature P bass has a vintage BBOT with threaded saddles which suggests he gets by just fine without a chunky bridge. YMMV obviously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 I wouldn't waste my money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 [quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1414620455' post='2591601'] Well the Fender Custom Shop Pino signature P bass has a vintage BBOT with threaded saddles which suggests he gets by just fine without a chunky bridge. [/quote] True...but it seems that Geddy Lee and Marcus Miller disagree with Pino. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 In my case, no... [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/YDfkgfE.jpg[/IMG] YMMV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redstriper Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 [quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1414619735' post='2591580'] Yes very much so. I believe that this is the single best P bass upgrade you can make. [/quote] What are the differences it makes please and is it just as good on a Jazz bass? . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 [quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1414621502' post='2591612'] True...but it seems that Geddy Lee and Marcus Miller disagree with Pino. [/quote] What, they have signature P basses too?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Having been through the replacing bridges thing, a hi-mass bridge - especially the Badass - seems to "tighten" up the sound, make the lows and highs more focused, and slightly scoop the mids. That`s why personally I don`t like them on Precisions, they seem to reduce the Precisions main strengths. But doing all of that to me emphasises a Jazz`s strengths. But the age-old question, would I be able to tell in the mix? Not a chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 (edited) [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1414619927' post='2591586'] I like a solid mass ..as opposed to a cheap plate but not sure how much difference in sound you can hear, but I think it could help the string speak a bit better... But... this is just a small part of the chain and it also depends on the quality of the rest of the components, IMO. Great bridge but pretty poor wood or anything else ... means a waste of time and money, to me..!! [/quote] +1 Would it make a difference? Possibly. Will it be an improvement? I don't think you can predict the outcome. As long as the bridge functions as it should, I would not turn to it in order to change the sonic qualities of a bass. There are other more important factors. But most of all, you can't predict that *if* you hear a difference, it will be for the better. So I'd say change it if it doesn't allow you the adjustment you want, or you prefer a different look, but don't expect a bridge change to turn your bass into a vastly superior instrument. Edited October 29, 2014 by mcnach 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machinehead Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 I have a badass bridge on two of my jazz basses. If they make any difference to the sound, I can't hear it, but I prefer the way they look and that's really the only reason I have them. Others will disagree but maybe I just have cloth ears. Frank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaners Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 I have just put a high mass bridge on my MIJ 62 reissue P, sounds just like it did before I put it on thank god, coz I love this bass ! However setting it up was a lot easier and unplugged I could hear and feel an increase in sustain. And it looks a hole lot better than the tarnished old tin plate bridge that fender put on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlungerModerno Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 I think it makes a difference to the ergonomics, setup time & string changes, adjustability, balance of the instrument, appearance - but I don't know about tone. I think a change in saddle material may well make a noticable difference (like changing a nut) - but the bridge itself - I couldn't say. I've had high mass and lower mass bridges and can't say they're all that different IME. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telebass Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1414620840' post='2591608'] I wouldn't waste my money. [/quote] This. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 (edited) Over the past couple of years I have put Badass, Gotoh, Hipshot A style and generic cheap Gotoh-a-like high mass bridges on my main 'test bed' Precision. In terms of tone and sustain I can't honestly say it ever made a scrap of difference over the BBOT. In terms of string changing/looks/adjustability/having a great bit of kit they were an improvement. In terms of comfort they were an improvement as I always seemed to rest my palm on something sharp on the BBOT. But I seem to have gone full circle and stuck the BBOT back on again. Edited October 30, 2014 by Paul S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inthedoghouse Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 I'm happy with my P with the old original bit of bent metal :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 I have a badass III on my S1 jazz but didn't bother when I got a US P for much the reasons Lozz made in post #10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 A second hand Badass II bridge will make your pocket approximately £70 lighter. As for improving the sound, I couldn't really say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 I quite like the BBOT to be honest... I like the threaded sadles too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkle Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 (edited) I've used Fender BBOT, Babicz, Hipshot A and B bridges. Swapped them about on various basses over years. I do think they make a very very slight difference to the sound. Not significant enough in my experience to warrant changing it though - expense, hassle. If your bass sounds crap, changing the bridge won't do you much good. Number one in tone generation is right hand technique; after that pickups, strings, woods make much much bigger changes to the sound than the bridge IMO. Unless I don't like how a bridge works, or the string spacing, I have learned to leave the bridges just as they come on my basses. I have swapped around some saddles on my Celinders - from solid brass ones to vintage threaded ferrules type ones - as a cheap and effective way to get narrower string spacing. No significant change to sound as far as I can tell. YMMV Pete Edited October 30, 2014 by funkle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikanHannille Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 Babicz on my jazz. Sonically minimal difference. I only got one because of the fact that I can lock the string height compared to those standard bridges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 [quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1414622082' post='2591622'] What, they have signature P basses too?! [/quote] The OP's question - "Does changing the bridge make much difference?" Jazz bass = bass with a bridge. Marcus Miller + Geddy Lee models = basses with non standard bridges (that make them better). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 [quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1414691883' post='2592362'] The OP's question - "Does changing the bridge make much difference?" Jazz bass = bass with a bridge. Marcus Miller + Geddy Lee models = basses with non standard bridges (that make them better). [/quote] Aye I knew that I was just trying to be funny. Which obviously didn't work. Coat got. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 [quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1414695278' post='2592410'] Aye I knew that I was just trying to be funny. Which obviously didn't work. Coat got. [/quote] Take yer coat off, take a pew and pour yourself a cold one...I found it funny! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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