Asking the impossible - Bass Bridges

[Dood]

Hey helllooo ‘chatters!

 

I’ve been searching the internet to see if I can find an old bass bridge replacement that came as standard on my Fender Power Jazz Bass Special. It looks very similar to the Gotoh 404,  https://g-gotoh.com/product/404bo-4/?lang=en so this could be a modern alternative, but I wondered if anyone has seen this style floating around anywhere? 

On the subject of Gotoh, I wouldn’t be surprised if they OEM’d parts - actually fairly sure they did as the FB30 tuners they have available are a like for like replacement for the tuning keys on all of my Japanese Fenders. 

 

I’m after two of these bridges in black.

 

If you have suggestions for alternatives, I need low profile types and, like these bridges, quick release versions. I’ve been through the usual contenders from hip shot, babicz, the Quan clones and the like, I’d love to find something that has a steel base plate and brass saddles. I think I’m asking too much!

[NancyJohnson]

Try a Schaller 3D-4 as a viable alternative.

[prowla]

42 minutes ago, NancyJohnson said:

Try a Schaller 3D-4 as a viable alternative.

That was my immediate thought.

 

[Dood]

Thank you, I’m hoping that if the price of these is a guidance, the base and. Saddles are also made from brass, or steel, but that information seems to have been omitted from the website. I’ve communicated with Dr Lars himself in the past, I’ll send a message when I’ve narrowed the options down.

 

Cheers!

[NancyJohnson]

2 hours ago, prowla said:

That was my immediate thought.

 

 

The Schaller (by virtue of it's 3D moniker), allows a sideways adjustment via a threaded roller saddle, which is very clever 40+ year old tech.  

 

These units (albeit Hamer stamped) on both my Hamer basses.

[Stub Mandrel]

Other options:

 

https://www.musicstore.com/en_GB/GBP/Ibanez-2BB4ACA026-Bass-Bridge-Set-B305-Cosmo-Black/art-GIT0036582-000

 

 

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bridge-Installation-4-string-Durable-Performance/dp/B0CRJZX4D4

 

 

[Dood]

Thank you Stub! I’d had a look through the examples on Amazon. There’s actually a few on there that are manufactured by Sung-Il who make bridges for quite a few “quality bridge” manufacturers (Babicz) and its possible to grab some with steel base plates (though it seems the steel is a bit soft according to reviews). I’m also side-steppping anything that is die-cast. Bridge adverts that don’t specify what they are made of usually means they are and although pretty on the outside  are poor under the chrome plating. One of the issues I have with adverts for “high mass” bridges - they look chunky but are made of factory floor sweepings ha ha!! 

I’m not sure what Ibanez made their bridges out of. I’d expect that the mid-range models at least are zinc. Hmm! Looks wise, we’re on track and, if the saddles went low enough (they don’t) the ABM bridges look superb.

[Stub Mandrel]

Yes some of those Amazon ones look very cheaply made (that one looked better on my phone, now it's huge on my PC...)

 

I'm sure I've seen your 'original' bridge somewhere before in the mists of time...

[Stub Mandrel]

A Google reverse image search came up with a few ideas. This is a much better looking one off Amazon, but actually sold by Northwest Guitars for about £22.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/String-Electric-Precision-Guitar-Bridge/dp/B00BR0O5PS

 

[prowla]

Allparts have a selection of bridges.
https://allparts.uk.com/collections/bass-bridges

[Dood]

1 hour ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Yes some of those Amazon ones look very cheaply made (that one looked better on my phone, now it's huge on my PC...)

 

I'm sure I've seen your 'original' bridge somewhere before in the mists of time...

They definitely found their way on to the Power Jazz Basses as stock,(E9 serials I think)  but not every year. (Hence wanting to get one or two for my E7 serial PJ’s without them). So, maybe as a Japanese OEM, they are, or rather were out in the wilds! They are really solid bridges and, as I mentioned above, have a tidy quick release; a key-hole method rather than slots in the rear section. 

[Stub Mandrel]

Might have been thinking if my brother's Westone Spectrum. Mist have bbot bridges but some have a similar one:

 

 

[lemmywinks]

Pretty sure I have an extremely similar one tucked away at home, will have a root tomorrow and see how good my memory is.

[LeftyJ]

15 hours ago, Dood said:

Thank you, I’m hoping that if the price of these is a guidance, the base and. Saddles are also made from brass, or steel, but that information seems to have been omitted from the website. I’ve communicated with Dr Lars himself in the past, I’ll send a message when I’ve narrowed the options down.

 

Cheers!

 

I'm pretty sure on the Schaller 3D the base and saddles are made of a zinc alloy, and only the rollers themselves are brass.

 

The Power Jazz Bass Special had model number 27-9000 if that helps. There's a PDF scan of the original user manual on Fender's website that pops up as one of the first results when you Google search for "fender 27-9000", but none of the spec sheets mention the bridge type. 

[Dood]

2 hours ago, LeftyJ said:

 

I'm pretty sure on the Schaller 3D the base and saddles are made of a zinc alloy, and only the rollers themselves are brass.

 

The Power Jazz Bass Special had model number 27-9000 if that helps. There's a PDF scan of the original user manual on Fender's website that pops up as one of the first results when you Google search for "fender 27-9000", but none of the spec sheets mention the bridge type. 

 

Ahhh ha ha! yes. yes of course! I didn't even think to check the user manual! (Some did have a list of part numbers in, so I like your thinking there!) I did download it a while back, so thank you for the reminder and for searching the bass part number for me too. 

As for the Schaller, I had my suspicions! They mentioned the brass rollers but nothing else. That's not to say that I don't rate Schaller! The hardware is very well made. 

[NancyJohnson]

4 hours ago, LeftyJ said:

 

I'm pretty sure on the Schaller 3D the base and saddles are made of a zinc alloy, and only the rollers themselves are brass.

 

 

I'm latching onto the zinc alloy element of your post. 

 

You know that there's probably a few people here that will now be investigating zinc alloy for its tonal/sustain properties over steel/aluminium/lard.

 

What have you started?  I hope you're happy.

😂

[LeftyJ]

10 minutes ago, NancyJohnson said:

I hope you're happy.

 

LOL

 

Most high mass bridges are made of some type of zinc alloy (usually some form of ZAMAC - Zinc, Aluminium, MAgnesium and Copper - with zinc being the main component at over 90%). It's popular because it has a fairly low melting point and is easy to cast. But of course it also has mythical tonal properties 

[prowla]

27 minutes ago, NancyJohnson said:

 

I'm latching onto the zinc alloy element of your post. 

 

You know that there's probably a few people here that will now be investigating zinc alloy for its tonal/sustain properties over steel/aluminium/lard.

 

What have you started?  I hope you're happy.

😂

I think the original Ric gap-tooth bass bridges were zinc alloy.

Edited 13 hours ago by prowla

[Dood]

I remember watching a review somewhere demonstrating what cheap die-casting looked like. When the bridge was bent it just seemed to crumble. Pretty much any bridge under £20 new is probably made from that, or at least, very cheap materials I am sure. 

 

 

[Dood]

28 minutes ago, NancyJohnson said:

 

I'm latching onto the zinc alloy element of your post. 

 

You know that there's probably a few people here that will now be investigating zinc alloy for its tonal/sustain properties over steel/aluminium/lard.

 

What have you started?  I hope you're happy.

😂

 

"Tone Metals!! Do they even matter?"

[Geek99]

8 minutes ago, Dood said:

 

"Tone Metals!! Do they even matter?"

Yes, if American made and “seasoned”

 

🍿

[Geek99]

2 hours ago, Geek99 said:

Yes, if American made and “seasoned”

 

🍿

Or rusty as everyone else would call it

[Stub Mandrel]

Mazak and Zamak are more popularly kniwn as 'monkey metal' in engineering circles. That should tell you everything you need to know.