Bad Ass III Bridge...Doesn't fit my MIA Jazz?

scootron · #1 06-27-2008, 03:33 PM

I bought a Bad Ass III because they are supposed to be a drop in replacement for a Fender Jazz with three screws (which mine has) as opposed to the Bad Ass II, which has four screws. I got it out of the package today, removed the old bridge, and guess what? It doesn't fit! Doesn't come close!

Anyone know why this would be the case?

My MIA Fender Jazz is a 1994 model. It is one of the unusually shaped ones, in that it has an extra-long top bout and an extra deeply cut bottom bout. The three screw holes on the body are well inside where the three screw holes are on the BAIII.

I really would like to add some mass to the bridge. I just picked up a Geddy Lee in trade and love the BA on it, so I thought it would really help my Jazz.

Any TBers with any info or ideas?

Rocinante_x1 · #2 06-27-2008, 03:37 PM

It would help if you posted pics of both the bridge and the bass.
From what you say, it sounds like you have a Fender Jazz Bass Deluxe

DocBop · #3 06-27-2008, 03:46 PM

I have a 2001 MIA and it fit fine. You can always drill out and plug the old holes and drill for the BAIII. It will all be under the bridge and out of sight.

scootron · #4 06-28-2008, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocinante_x1

It would help if you posted pics of both the bridge and the bass.
From what you say, it sounds like you have a Fender Jazz Bass Deluxe

Here are some pics of the current bridge, and some showing details to ID the bass. These saddles are not original, which is one reason I want to change the bridge. The replacement saddles I have been able to find are not wide enough to span the entire width of the original bridge, but they had a good bit of corrosion and needed to be replaced. (The pups are active EMGs.) This is a player, not a 'collector' and had the pups changed out when I got it. Fender tells me it is a 1994 model, but can tell me little else.

Attachment 95583

Attachment 95584

scootron · #5 06-28-2008, 08:33 AM

A couple more...

Attachment 95586

Attachment 95587

scootron · #6 06-28-2008, 08:36 AM

...and one of the BAIII. This was the really nice set, the one that has the pre-grooved saddles PLUS the extra set of non-grooved ones that you can custom groove yourself to perfectly match the type and size strings you play.

Any info on what type of bass this is, and ideas about a replacement bridge would be truly appreciated. This is my #1 gigging bass.

Attachment 95588

Funkdrawer4 · #7 06-28-2008, 08:49 AM

It looks to me that the bridge is not a factory bridge.Have you taken it off to see if there are other holes underneath?It also looks like with that spacing that is on the jazz now a BA2 would fit right on there without using the 2 extra holes on it,Can you check with your Geddy's bridge??

JC77 · #8 06-28-2008, 09:05 AM

The bad ass 3 bridge was made to fit American basses that have a string through body setup. That's what the other 4 holes are for. That's why the 3 screws go more in the middle of the bridge.By what I can see from your bridge pic, A bad ass 2 has 5 screws and would fit yours using the middle hole and the 2 holes closest to the edges. Hopefully you can return the BA3 and exchange it for a BA2.
Good luck

therex · #9 06-28-2008, 09:59 AM

seems like you need a BAII
the BAIII is for 2008 MIAs i think

fretlessman71 · #10 06-28-2008, 10:10 AM

Wow... a first for me! I've never seen that kind of a bridge on a Fender bass before.

What do you see when you look under the bridge? Does it look like the bridge you're using now is stock (meaning there aren't any other drilled/plugged holes from an old bridge)? Most curious.

In my experience, you're not going to find a bridge that's a direct replacement for what you have. I think you're just going to have to find someone with a drill press to install a BA III.

Parabolic Box · #11 06-28-2008, 10:29 AM

Take off the current bridge to look at the holes underneath.

scootron · #12 06-28-2008, 11:25 AM

I took off the current bridge when I tried to install the BAIII. It appears to be the original. The holes match the present bridge perfectly, and there are no extra holes or plugged holes anywhere. There are just the three holes located exactly where the screws are positioned on the bridge

As I mentioned, the saddles are not original. I replaced them due to the fact that the ones that were on it were corroded. the original saddle barrels were wider, though, and covered the entire width of the bridge, whereas the current do not. The current saddles are standard Fender replacement length.

I also have a BAII. I didn't try to put it on, but the 1-3-5 screw holes do not seem to line up exactly with the three screw holes on the bass...close, but not exactly. Incidentally, the bridge on the bass is a a little wider than the BA bridges, and the screws are larger. A little shorter, but wider (heavier).

Thanks for all those taking the time to wrestle with this.

Rocinante_x1 · #13 06-28-2008, 01:26 PM

I'm sure that you'd either probably need to fill the existing holes, and drill new ones to fit a Badass II on there, or just keep the stock bridge. The Badass III was made for American jazzes that have the string thru body.