olliedf89 Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 Earlier this year I bought myself a nice early 00s Mexican deluxe PJ bass. Sounds and plays great except the bridge is basically a bit crap. It has no grooves and the saddles don't sit right and tonight I found they kept lowering quite significantly after every 2 or so songs. Basically I want to know what I could to do improve the bridge, or, if I'd be better off getting a new one and if so, what should I be looking for? I'll stick a better picture up later! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 Those are spiral saddles, usually seen on USA and Jap reissued basses, not Mexican ones. I had fitted one to a bass I owned and quickly replaced it with a bog standard Fender bridge. The trouble with mine was that the strings used to move around on the saddle while I was playing. I felt I need a saddle with a deeper groove, so the string would stay in place.. You can get a standard bridge, on ebay, for next to nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muppet Posted September 12, 2016 Share Posted September 12, 2016 The saddles themselves are getting lower as you play? That means the height adjustment screws are working themselves loose, in which case a drop of clear nail varnish works a treat. Plenty of other fender and non fender (Babicz, Gotoh)out there - make sure you get one with five screws! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted September 12, 2016 Share Posted September 12, 2016 Other than going for the branded bridges, Northwest Guitars do some great bridges for little money. http://www.northwestguitars.co.uk/bass-bridges/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olliedf89 Posted September 12, 2016 Author Share Posted September 12, 2016 [quote name='gjones' timestamp='1473634836' post='3131916'] the strings used to move around on the saddle while I was playing [/quote] That too! Nightmare! [quote name='Muppet' timestamp='1473659253' post='3131953'] clear nail varnish works a treat. Plenty of other fender and non fender (Babicz, Gotoh)out there - make sure you get one with five screws! [/quote] I'll remember that trick... The next question then, in looking for a new bridge is how do I know it will fit? I've looked at lots of bridges already but not all of them match up, dimensions wise. Do I have to keep shopping around for a perfect replacement or do I have to do a bit of DIY first? [quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1473662173' post='3131963'] Other than going for the branded bridges, Northwest Guitars do some great bridges for little money. [url="http://www.northwestguitars.co.uk/bass-bridges/"]http://www.northwest...k/bass-bridges/[/url] [/quote] Nice and cheap, looks great, I'll head there first when I know what I'm after! Thank you chaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted September 12, 2016 Share Posted September 12, 2016 Good news is that old bridge has good resale value for people building their own vintage style bitsa basses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted September 12, 2016 Share Posted September 12, 2016 Gotoh 201 is a straight fit for MIM Fenders, and is quite reasonably priced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olliedf89 Posted September 12, 2016 Author Share Posted September 12, 2016 [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1473665040' post='3131987'] Gotoh 201 is a straight fit for MIM Fenders, and is quite reasonably priced. [/quote] Cheers, I shall check it out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olliedf89 Posted September 12, 2016 Author Share Posted September 12, 2016 [quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1473664990' post='3131984'] Good news is that old bridge has good resale value for people building their own vintage style bitsa basses! [/quote] Really? Well that is some good news! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted September 12, 2016 Share Posted September 12, 2016 [quote name='olliedf89' timestamp='1473668503' post='3132007'] Really? Well that is some good news! [/quote] yup... in fact I'm a fan of those bridges as I can set the string spacing the way I want it (a bit wider than usual). I guess I've been lucky because I've had no problems so far with mine. No, I am not looking to buy another but it should sell ok and cover the cost of a standard BBOT Fender bridge with deeper grooves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olliedf89 Posted September 12, 2016 Author Share Posted September 12, 2016 [quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1473678841' post='3132134'] yup... in fact I'm a fan of those bridges as I can set the string spacing the way I want it (a bit wider than usual). I guess I've been lucky because I've had no problems so far with mine. No, I am not looking to buy another but it should sell ok and cover the cost of a standard BBOT Fender bridge with deeper grooves. [/quote] Aye, a quick look around suggests people like these bridges! Though I'm not sure what BBOT stands for, but seems to yield the right results. I like the Gotoh that Lozz suggested so far, it's giving me confidence just looking at it, only £40ish on Amazon, too. So I've looked at the size of the 201B4, (http://g-gotoh.com/international/product/201b-4.html), which look almost the same as my current bridge... I'm a bit unsure that I'm going to order it and it won't fit though.... Can I make it fit or are all 5 screw /4 string bridges the same? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted September 12, 2016 Share Posted September 12, 2016 [quote name='olliedf89' timestamp='1473682070' post='3132176'] Aye, a quick look around suggests people like these bridges! Though I'm not sure what BBOT stands for, but seems to yield the right results. I like the Gotoh that Lozz suggested so far, it's giving me confidence just looking at it, only £40ish on Amazon, too. So I've looked at the size of the 201B4, (http://g-gotoh.com/international/product/201b-4.html), which look almost the same as my current bridge... I'm a bit unsure that I'm going to order it and it won't fit though.... Can I make it fit or are all 5 screw /4 string bridges the same? [/quote] BBOT = Bent Bit Of Tin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olliedf89 Posted September 12, 2016 Author Share Posted September 12, 2016 [quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1473682626' post='3132186'] BBOT = Bent Bit Of Tin [/quote] Ahhh Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andytre Posted September 12, 2016 Share Posted September 12, 2016 [quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1473662173' post='3131963'] Other than going for the branded bridges, Northwest Guitars do some great bridges for little money. [url="http://www.northwestguitars.co.uk/bass-bridges/"]http://www.northwest...k/bass-bridges/[/url] [/quote] Iv used these http://www.northwestguitars.co.uk/4-string-electric-jazz-precision-bass-guitar-bridge/ on a few bitsa basses and have them on 2 of my precision, there a direct replacement screw holes all lined up nicely. very good for the price and iv found some near exact ones on ebay from china for around £5, proper bargain if you don t mind waiting a month for delivery! (it is free post) the silver/chrome ones seem to be a bit better finished than the black ones, but still nothing to be sniffed at and look very stealth on my black/black.rosewood franken P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olliedf89 Posted September 13, 2016 Author Share Posted September 13, 2016 I visited the Northwest website and purchased myself a nice little chrome jobby. Measurements look like they line up almost exactly. Should be here tomorrow so I'll post them with an update! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olliedf89 Posted September 15, 2016 Author Share Posted September 15, 2016 Well I got a new bridge from Northwest, seems decent, the odd rattle but nothing that's too worrying, already fixed the problematic bridge, so quite pleased with that, thanks all. I seem to be getting uneven string volumes again (had it before on this bass) Might have to drop it to a tech for that part. Thanks for your help all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted September 15, 2016 Share Posted September 15, 2016 Good to hear you like the bridge. WRT the volumes issue, are the strings the same height/distance from the pups? Which strings are louder/quieter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olliedf89 Posted September 15, 2016 Author Share Posted September 15, 2016 [quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1473960418' post='3134572'] Good to hear you like the bridge. WRT the volumes issue, are the strings the same height/distance from the pups? Which strings are louder/quieter? [/quote] I've actually been trying to sort this for a while, I did think it was the bridge that was the source of the issue due to the irregular saddle movement. It's only noticeable in a band mix, the e thunders through but the rest (especially the A) sort of vanish into the mix, haven't had a bass do that before. I've mucked about with pickups and saddles but didn't really figure it out... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost_Bass Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1473665040' post='3131987'] Gotoh 201 is a straight fit for MIM Fenders, and is quite reasonably priced. [/quote] I was scrolling down with this answer in mind when i saw that you beated me to it. Can't go wrong with a Gotoh 201, excelent quality with more mass and more durable than the BBOT for a very good price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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