Badass bridges - are they worth the money?

[Dom in Dorset]

are they worth the extra money?
I was thinking of putting one on my next bass.

[Leftbass]

Dunno but it seems like a sellers market at the moment. I believe there is a problem with supply so anyone selling one is charging high prices. I don't know if its just a fashion thing a "must have" on the bass. Still they look nice and chunky and I have been considering one

[Noisyjon]

IME the Badass units just go straight on and work on Fenders.
No neck shimming, etc required.

[wateroftyne]

Meh... I had one on a Jazz for a few years because it was 'the done thing'.

Changed it back... never felt the urge to put it back on.

Leo's bent bit of tin works just fine for me.

[deaver]

I've got one on my Jap Precision and it does everything it's supposed to and makes everything seem a bit more solid. I've also got a new USA Precision with the high mass bridge, I can't see the point in replacing that one though.

I suppose it depends on what your thinking of replacing

[simon1964]

They're nice bridges, and in my opinion, do give a bit more punch and sustain to the tone.

But personally, I would recommend the Gotoh 201. Does the job just as well, at half the price. They also look more like a traditional Fender bridge, albeit a lot "chunkier".

[chris_b]

Some people say they don't make any difference but many people say they do! Fender seems to be using high mass bridges on their more expensive lines so I guess they finally have Fender's seal of approval!

I would do all I could to upgrade a Fender but is the difference worth the cost to you?

[Dom in Dorset]

It's an option I'm considering on a new build.

[Mikey R]

have you considdered the shaller 2000 bridge? Im really happy with mine.

[derrenleepoole]

The Gotoh 201 will do as good a job as the Badass, but a considerably cheaper price. I've had both the Badass and the Gotoh, and the Gotoh would be my preferred choice. I think the Badass bridges are just a little too big and can look overwhelming on some basses. The Gotoh seems to sit right on most if not any bass. Just my 2 pence worth.

[Dom in Dorset]

[quote name='Mikey R' post='632750' date='Oct 21 2009, 08:09 PM']have you considdered the shaller 2000 bridge? Im really happy with mine.[/quote]
I'll look at that one too.

[Bassman101]

if its a custom build, i think their is better options for you, although i do love my Badass 2 on my fender j.

[Darkstrike]

Never used one, but I hear they can be hard to get low action on, because of their large baseplate.

I'd probably go for a Hipshot, with quickloading, if I could have any bridge.

[Dom in Dorset]

It's been interesting to note that there haven't been any "wow, just get one , no other bridge comes close" responses.

[Mikey R]

has anyone tried the big ets bridges? They look like monsters

[Dread Bass]

I have a Badass 2 on one of my Jazz copies and there was an improvement over the standard piece of tin so i would fit one again. I like the Hipshot one on my ACG well i think its Hipshot.

Edit Yeah its a Hipshot type A.

[url="http://store.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=130"]http://store.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php?...etail&p=130[/url]

Edited October 22, 2009 by metaltime

[peted]

[quote name='Dom in Somerset' post='633164' date='Oct 22 2009, 09:01 AM']It's been interesting to note that there haven't been any "wow, just get one , no other bridge comes close" responses.[/quote]
I have a Badass II on my Precision. It sustains better and appears to have better harmonic content than the bent piece of tin that was on there before. I wouldn't call that much of an accolade though. I think their main popularity stems from the fact that anything is better than Fender stock bridges, and the screw holes are designed to line up perfectly so you don't have to go and drill holes in your precious bass.

I much prefer the two-piece bridge on my Warwick.

[Jobiebass]

THEY ARE AMAZING.
They increase your sustain HUGELY, they look AMAZING, you dont get saddle wobble like the bent bit of tin Fender used, I bought one for my Jazz and its made SO MUCH diffrence its untrue.

Reality:
I only noticed the a slight dif on the sustain, but that might just be me thinking it helps loads rathen then it doing loads. It was a MIM Jazz, I havent noticed much dif changing to a BA on more expensive basses. They do look good.

Result:
Get one if you like the look of them. they are nice things and it does stop the saddles moving.

[Protium]

Couldn't get the action low enough due to the massive base plate. Went back to the Gotoh 203 - bent tin done properly

[SS73]

[quote name='Jobiebass' post='633686' date='Oct 22 2009, 07:18 PM']THEY ARE AMAZING.
They increase your sustain HUGELY, they look AMAZING, you dont get saddle wobble like the bent bit of tin Fender used, I bought one for my Jazz and its made SO MUCH diffrence its untrue.

Reality:
I only noticed the a slight dif on the sustain, but that might just be me thinking it helps loads rathen then it doing loads. It was a MIM Jazz, I havent noticed much dif changing to a BA on more expensive basses. They do look good.

Result:
Get one if you like the look of them. they are nice things and it does stop the saddles moving.[/quote]

They do on a Fender, but put one on a Ric and its not untrue its night and day.

[SS73]

[quote name='Protium' post='633727' date='Oct 22 2009, 07:47 PM']Couldn't get the action low enough due to the massive base plate. Went back to the Gotoh 203 - bent tin done properly [/quote]

sounds like you fitted a ''1'' on a Fender?, they built the ''2'' for Fenders because of this.

[Darkstrike]

[quote name='SS73' post='633750' date='Oct 22 2009, 08:02 PM'] sounds like you fitted a ''1'' on a Fender?, they built the ''2'' for Fenders because of this.[/quote]
I've heard of the 2 often being too thick to get really low action on Fenders as well as the 1.

[peteb]

[quote name='peted' post='633431' date='Oct 22 2009, 01:58 PM']I have a Badass II on my Precision. It sustains better and appears to have better harmonic content than the bent piece of tin that was on there before. I wouldn't call that much of an accolade though. I think their main popularity stems from the fact that anything is better than Fender stock bridges, and the screw holes are designed to line up perfectly so you don't have to go and drill holes in your precious bass.

I much prefer the two-piece bridge on my Warwick.[/quote]
+1 on every statement that you have made there mate!

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

I like it on a jazz not on precisions - it makes them sound less like a precision. bent tin seems to give the attack more punch.

[stingrayfan]

[quote name='Dom in Somerset' post='632311' date='Oct 21 2009, 11:47 AM']are they worth the extra money?
I was thinking of putting one on my next bass.[/quote]
They add a bit of something - as do the Gotohs (which are easier to fit). But no punter will ever notice!