Badass Bridge not so Badass

fatsobasso · #1 10-12-2006, 07:23 PM

I said this before but i must say this again,after taking my badass bass bridge2 off my geddy lee bass and putting this on it
http://www.marshallparts.com/content...28&product=847
the action is much much better and the feel of the strings is
softer and easier to play,anyone with a geddy that likes a softer feel and lower action, pick up an old fender bridge and ditch the big metal badass,they should have designed the geddy around the original style bridge,it just plays better.

trunkshope6 · #2 10-12-2006, 07:42 PM

so will you sell me your your badass?......cuz ill buy it

BassDudeSA · #3 10-12-2006, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trunkshope6

so will you sell me your your badass?......cuz ill buy it

You want mine? Brand new still in the sealed package. Chrome 4-string model. Grooves are uncut. I didn't know that or I wouldn't have bought it. $60 shipped if interested.

Human Bass · #4 10-12-2006, 07:56 PM

i know what you mean, but i dont like the instability of the standard fender bridge either...hey Fender, put some grooves underneath the saddles in all bridges, not only in the american ones!

XansNiceSweater · #5 10-12-2006, 08:00 PM

Bassdude, I might want that bridge.

Mr_Dave · #6 10-12-2006, 08:02 PM

I didn't like my 62 reissue jazz as much when i put a badass on but i prefer 70s ash/maple fenders with it on

gfried84 · #7 10-12-2006, 08:07 PM

The action on your bass is better because the base plate of the brdige that you replaced it with is much thinner, this in effect brings the strings closer to the fingerboard. I think that the neck angle of your bass needed to be adjusted in order to obtain proper action and feel with the badass.

Gary

SuperDuck · #8 10-12-2006, 08:35 PM

Eh, I could take 'em or leave 'em. If one of my basses didn't come with a Badass stock, I probably would have never played one. Now that I have, I'm not in a rush to go get any more. It's not a bad bridge, but you're right... it's not really that badass.

fatsobasso · #9 10-12-2006, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gfried84

The action on your bass is better because the base plate of the brdige that you replaced it with is much thinner, this in effect brings the strings closer to the fingerboard. I think that the neck angle of your bass needed to be adjusted in order to obtain proper action and feel with the badass.

Gary

Well it seems like all the geddy's i tried had that same feel,it might be possible that the neck angle with badass was off but i would not want to shim the neck, just to use a badass,thanks for the info though.

cmhgreg · #10 10-13-2006, 06:26 AM

I put a BAII on my Jag as soon as I got it. I had to file the saddles. Admittedly, I didn't do an expert job and the string spacing was a bit off. I ended up putting the original bridge back on a few weeks ago and, much to my surprise, I found some growl and bite that I wasn't getting with the BAII. Also, I'm not having any problems with stability or intonation with the original bridge.

homerplaysbass · #11 10-13-2006, 07:46 AM

I put a Badass II on my Japanese P and it was a revelation. Better sustain and low end and notes just leapt off the fretboard.

So - I put one one my USA 75 RI Jazz and ......not so overwhelming.

I guess that's why it gets so many mixed reviews and comments.

zachbass02 · #12 10-13-2006, 07:53 AM

that seems to be my response with it on my hwy 1 jazz bass....it's like, ehhhh, it's ok, but nothing earth shattering.... fortunately, I only spent $20 on it....but I just received a P bass with one on it, and that bass sounds amazing.....so, maybe certain setups benefit better from the BAII than others....

Kubs · #13 10-13-2006, 08:01 AM

too many circumastances(wood, strings, players tastes of course players abilities...) to say clear that Badass is great or not

ldervish · #14 10-13-2006, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homerplaysbass

leapt

Great word, homer!

BTW, haven't noticed much play difference on my MIA -J with the BA3, but it gives me the option of top load that I didn't have before. Negative is that the "F" bridge cover won't sit down now, have to either shim it up, leave it lopsided, or take it off.

Gastambide · #15 10-13-2006, 10:41 AM

I put a Badass II on my '80 P-bass back in '85. No regrets. Awesome fundamental on the open E string with plenty of bite. (Of course, that bass does weigh about 1,000 pounds - so I'm sure that doesn't hurt.) Recently, however, I put one on my Rick 4003. The Rick has NEVER sounded good since I bought it new (mail order) in '84. I replaced the bridge right away with a Schaller, but the bass never had a strong low E. No matter how I adjusted the pickups, the E had less volume than the rest of the strings. I put in Bartolini pickups - to no avail. Then about 3 months ago my brother asked me if I wanted his new Badass II which he purchased for his Fender Jazz, but decided not to use. I put it on the Rick - problem solved! Okay, electronically it's still not fabulous (what do you expect, it's a Rick, therefore the pickup placement is not going to ever yield a tight, punchy tone), but the E has plenty of volume AND sustain - something it NEVER had before. I was ready to give up on this bass, but it has been resurrected, thanks to the Badass!

The Craw · #16 10-13-2006, 03:20 PM

The Badass changes the traditional Fender tone slightly. Whether or not you like that is just a matter of taste. I've never had a problem with a stock Fender bridge rattling like some people have.

zombywoof5050 · #17 10-13-2006, 04:32 PM

AllParts sells the threaded saddle bridge for $20. It may not be the genuine Fender one, but I can't tell the difference.

pickles · #18 10-13-2006, 11:47 PM

I just tried a '75 RI bridge on my geddy and it completely ruined the bass. The badass makes it brighter, deeper, and gives it much more sustain and focus, without giving up anything I can tell. The bass did not sound warmer with the traditional bridge.

Overall, I'd say the badass is pretty badass.

I will say though, that my rule is never modify a bass you like. If the bass is "lacking" something then you might try it, but its usually just "the grass being greener". I broke that rule tonight by trying the trad bridge, and it was a mistake. The badass is back on, and we're back in business.

Hambone · #19 10-14-2006, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatsobasso

...they should have designed the geddy around the original style bridge,it just plays better.

So what you're saying here is that Geddy Lee himself doesn't really know what's good for him and he should use your recommendation.

You do realize, don't you, that Fender approached him to make his bass as a signature version? Fender didn't design the bass for Geddy.

sunbeast · #20 10-14-2006, 07:10 AM

I feel that heavier massed bridges do seem to tighten up the fundamental notes on basses. People that are used to the older vintage style basses probably aren't used to that extra oomph, and it make sound like its actually taking away character in the harmonics- when it is in fact adding a mass of low end but not really focusing the harmonics as much as the lighter bridges. Basically it is just apples and oranges- I've really come to like the extra fundamental of heavy massed bridges, but I prefer the Schaller bridges, as you don't need to groove the saddles yourself and string spacing is adjustable. The Schallers also come with a plate of metal on the bottom that is removable in case you are replacing a much thinner bridge- something that Badass bridges sometimes have problems with (I've seen basses that people routed out the wood underneath the bridge just to accomodate the Badass).
Karl Zickrick