Badass - action too high

Burg · #1 11-26-2011, 10:18 AM

Hi all,

I've searched the forum and couldn't find the answer I needed.

Just bought a new bass, Tobias Pro 4, from Ebay. A previous owner has replaced the stock bridge with a Badass. It's presenting a problem because I can't get the bass setup how I like because the bridge saddles on the Badass are just too high!

They're now as low as they can go, I've adjusted the relief in the neck as much as I can and the action below the 12th fret is still way too high.

What are my options? I'm considering replacing the Badass but I've never replaced a bridge on a bass before. What should I go for, how should I go about doing it?

Thanks

Burg

elgecko · #2 11-26-2011, 10:21 AM

I'd replace it with a Gotoh 201 and flip the Badass...at a profit. If you can setup a bass, you can swap bridges.

Or maybe a neck shim.

bassteban · #3 11-26-2011, 10:23 AM

If the bass has a bolt-on neck you can shim it to increase the neck angle, in effect lowering the bridge relative to the strings. I have seen BA bridges routed & countersunk to acheive the same thing.

Edit: Personally, I'd go w/elgecko(replace BA- I've used them & didn't perceive any diff)

knigel · #4 11-26-2011, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elgecko

I'd replace it with a Gotoh 201 and flip the Badass...at a profit. If you can setup a bass, you can swap bridges.

Wise words--I just did this on a parts P bass, and sold that Badass for nearly what I paid for the whole bass. And the Gotoh 201 is a great bridge!

Pilgrim · #5 11-26-2011, 02:07 PM

Yes, it's a simple answer - do what I did with my Gibson EB-0.

Remove the Badass, sell it on Ebay and install the bridge that's supposed to be there.

JTE · #6 11-26-2011, 03:50 PM

Is it a REAL Badass, or a Badass II? The real Badass was designed for Gibson basses and sits up more than the BA II. If it's a BA, the only real solution is replace it.

John

Growly Lytes · #7 11-26-2011, 07:52 PM

For some reason they made them to be really high.
Shims could work

JLS · #8 11-26-2011, 08:07 PM

Shim the heel. Plenty of info.

electracoyote · #9 11-26-2011, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

Yes, it's a simple answer - do what I did with my Gibson EB-0.

Remove the Badass, sell it on Ebay and install the bridge that's supposed to be there.

+1

Or at least find something that is not a high-mass bridge but still an appropriate choice and fit for the bass.

Burg · #10 11-27-2011, 08:21 AM

Thanks for the advice fellas. It's definitely a Badass not a Badass 2. I'd already been looking down the replacement route. Just need to find an appropriate alternative. The badass is only a 3 hole mounting and all the options I've looked at so far have been for Fender style 5 hole mountings. That includes the Gotoh 201 recommended above.

There's a guy selling a Hipshot A-style FM2 on Ebay which he claims is 3 hole mounting but it doesn't look like it in the picture and I've also seen a Schaller bridge on Ebay that looks like it would fit.

Anyone reccommend a good 3 hole mounting replacement?

I'm definitely on keen on the idea of shimming anything. I don't have the tools or the space or the expertise.

baskruit · #11 11-27-2011, 08:45 AM

As far as I know, the holes in a Gotoh/Fender bridge line up fine with the three in a Badass bridge. You just mount the replacement bridge with three instead of five screws. Can anyone confirm this?

Burg · #12 11-27-2011, 09:10 AM

In the bridges I've looked at the 5 hole brdiges are mounted at the neck end of the bridge. The Badass I have is mounted at the heel end of the bass,

georgestrings · #13 11-27-2011, 09:40 AM

Another option would be to deepen the string grooves on the BA bridge you already have...

- georgestrings

**pacojas** · #14 11-27-2011, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by georgestrings

Another option would be to deepen the string grooves on the BA bridge you already have...

- georgestrings

+1

bought a used MIM jazz w/ high mass bridge, super high action. shimmed the neck, still too high.

borrowed my neighbors Dremel kit, ground the grooves to a perfect depth, it now plays like a boutique!

just a little at a time goes a long way. GL

Growly Lytes · #15 11-27-2011, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pacojas

+1

bought a used MIM jazz w/ high mass bridge, super high action. shimmed the neck, still too high.

borrowed my neighbors Dremel kit, ground the grooves to a perfect depth, it now plays like a boutique!

just a little at a time goes a long way. GL

Seriously did it work ? Thats great to know man.Lets hope that others with this problem will read this & do the same.

georgestrings · #16 11-27-2011, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Growly Lytes

Seriously did it work ? Thats great to know man.Lets hope that others with this problem will read this & do the same.

Yeah, it'll definitely work - and if you go too deep, you can always raise the saddle back up some to compensate...

- georgestrings

Burg · #17 11-28-2011, 08:44 AM

Interesting idea about the Dremel. Don't have any of that sort of kit though.

I've been looking at either a Schaller roller bridge (Think it's a 3-D 4 B) or Hipshot A bridge (FM2).

Think I'll go for the Schaller as I can get that a little cheaper and it seems to be well received on Talkbass.

Thanks again guys, you've been a big help.

96tbird · #18 11-28-2011, 09:14 AM

Dremel is fine if you have a steady hand... and a dremel. A file works fine otherwise.

DWBass · #19 11-28-2011, 09:45 AM

I also received a bass with a vintage Badass bridge on it. Action way too high and the saddles were as low as they could go. I was gonna deepen the saddle grooves but decided to put a standard Fender bridge on it.

I have the Badass f/s in the classifieds. About to put it on eBay.

Cristo · #20 11-28-2011, 10:12 AM

Don't be afraid of shimming!

Remove 4 neck bolts.

Put in a piece of index card.

Reinstall 4 neck bolts.

Not any more difficult than replacing a bridge.

Done.

Then you can readjust your neck relief to where it ought to be, since neck relief is for relief, not action.