BadAss II V on a Fender American Deluxe 5 Jazz ??

skb5string · #1 03-09-2009, 02:04 PM

Howdy folks,

Ok, ok I know there are ALOT of threads on the 4 string versions of the Bad Ass II but my questions are concering the BadAss II V and a Fender American Deluxe 5 string Jazz.

1.) The Fender bridge is a 4 screw type. The BadAss V II looks to be a 6 screw type. Will the BadAss install onto my Fender and have the holes line up? I'm thinking the 4 middle holes? If the 4 middle ones line up do I need to drill new holes for the 2 outside holes or will the 4 inner holes work fine without having to alter the bass?

2.) Notching the SAddles. I've read that this needs to be done, so I want to use Round files correct? My string guages are .45 .65 .80 .100 .130. What will I be looking for as far as sizes go at the Hardware store ( Standard or Metric) that will match approx to these sizes?

3.) Where do I notch it? AT the top "Peak" of the saddle where the string lies accross? I know I'm going to need to mark my spacing and stuff.

4.) If it was a "Direct replacement" were you able to get a good, LOW action set up??

Has anyone installed a BAVII on to a 2008 Fender American Deluxe 5 String? Good, easy install with good tone results??

Thanks in advance for the comments, tips and advise.

walterw · #2 03-09-2009, 10:33 PM

it's not an improvement over the american deluxe bridge.

skb5string · #3 03-10-2009, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

it's not an improvement over the american deluxe bridge.

If it was going to cause me to have to drill extra holes, I was going to probably just forget it, but I've heard Jazz basses with The BadAss installed and it seemed to give it some extra sustain and tone foundation?

Really?...No value to replacing the Bridge? The Fender one looks like a peice of Tin. The BadAss had alot more Mass.

Anyother thoughts, see above original post. Any 5 string Jazz players out there??

walterw · #4 03-10-2009, 09:11 PM

the am dlx bridge is brass saddles on a steel plate, with the string-through so the body itself takes the pull of the strings rather than 5 wood screws.

apparently the "high-mass" vs. "low-mass" bridge debate is a big one around here, and i'm certainly not knocking the leo quann. i'm just saying that the stock bridge is an elegant, strong, and good-sounding design.

i will also say that the badass bridges i've seen on those basses look a little funny because the saddles end up cranked almost all the way to the back of the bridge.

skb5string · #5 03-21-2009, 09:46 PM

Installed the BAII and wow what a difference! Set up is perfect and the tone and sustain improvments are awesome!! Pretty easy to do to including notching the saddles. Here ia a link to some good instructions:

http://www.thebigdark.com/blog/archi...lling_a_ba.php

Glad I went through with it

Ric5 · #6 03-21-2009, 09:58 PM

I prefer Schaller, Hipshot and Kahler to the Bad Ass ... and I prefer most anything to Fender stock bridges.

jcburn · #7 03-22-2009, 01:59 AM

I bought a Hipshot A bridge to install on my US Jazz Deluxe 5 and was disappointed to say the least. The spot the bridge had to sit meant the screw holes didn't quite line up but couldn't drill new ones cause the existing holes were too close to where the new holes needed to go and also the string through body holes dont line up.

skb5string · #8 03-22-2009, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcburn

I bought a Hipshot A bridge to install on my US Jazz Deluxe 5 and was disappointed to say the least. The spot the bridge had to sit meant the screw holes didn't quite line up but couldn't drill new ones cause the existing holes were too close to where the new holes needed to go and also the string through body holes dont line up.

The BAII fell right into place. The 4 inner screws lined up as they should. I did drill holes for the 2 outter screws but I bet it would have worked fine with just the 4 inner ones. I figured I was not going to be taking the BA off for anyreason and it would give it that much more support on the string pull as I'm not using the "Through body" option anymore (did not really care for that anyway always seemed to make my string tension a little heavy to me).

jcburn · #9 03-22-2009, 03:04 PM

That's cool info about the holes lining up. I currently string through the body but if the bridge were to have the extra mass I think I would rather through the back of the bridge. How did you go notching the string saddles. I think the standard string spacing on the deluxe 5 with the proprietry bridge is anything between 17.5 to 19mm. How did you measure and then file?
Also any chances of pics? I think I have seen the BA on another 5 and it looked OK IMO.

walterw · #10 03-22-2009, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skb5string

The BAII fell right into place. The 4 inner screws lined up as they should. I did drill holes for the 2 outter screws but I bet it would have worked fine with just the 4 inner ones. I figured I was not going to be taking the BA off for anyreason and it would give it that much more support on the string pull as I'm not using the "Through body" option anymore (did not really care for that anyway always seemed to make my string tension a little heavy to me).

nice! no issues with the low B saddle having to be so far back it runs out of room?

the badass II 5-string versions i've seen have holes in them so you can keep the string-through if you want. (some people like to string-through just the low B to try and tighten it up a little.)

then there's a new badass III specifically for american fender string-through basses, but i don't know if there's a 5-string version yet.

basseddie · #11 03-22-2009, 07:33 PM

5 strings always seem to be an afterthought for manufactures products...
I installed a ba v on my mim jazz a number of years ago. Yes you will need to drill extra holes to mount.
No the string through holes will most likely not line up.
The string spacing on the BA V is wider than the standard, and there seems to be no way to adjust this.
I ended up putting the stock fender peice back on, to bring the string spacing back to nomal . I really did not see a lot of difference in the BA over the stock, tone wise.
The stock mim bridge is actually a chromed brass plate, the am jazz is most likely similar.
How you file the groves, is you install the bridge, install the strings, mark where the strings lay on the bridge pieces, remove the bridge again and file/grind the groove.
Some guys do not even groove the bridge saddles, but it keeps the strings from moving side to side while you play.
A dremil tool will cut most out, then some files, ( you can usually buy small file kits at hardware stores/ home depots) to clean up the grooves. Use pieces of an old set of strings to file each saddle to the proper size and shape.

good luck
ed

skb5string · #12 03-22-2009, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcburn

That's cool info about the holes lining up. I currently string through the body but if the bridge were to have the extra mass I think I would rather through the back of the bridge. How did you go notching the string saddles. I think the standard string spacing on the deluxe 5 with the proprietry bridge is anything between 17.5 to 19mm. How did you measure and then file?
Also any chances of pics? I think I have seen the BA on another 5 and it looked OK IMO.

I used a triangle file to make the notches, as this type of notch will allow me to change string guages in the future if I choose. What I did was put the bridge on and string it up...The string spacing is a Perfect 19mm if you center the string between the pickup polls on both pickups as it should be. From there is marked with a sharpie. Took the bridge back off and put all the saddles in line and measured the ditance between marks and got a perfect string spacing. From there I put the badass in a vice, covered the BA in masking tape not to scratch it up while filing and used the triangle file to make the notches. I used the notches on the original bridge for the width and dep of the notch. After notching was complete sanded the notches very lightly to make sure there were no burrs or shape edges. Put new strings on (D'addario Prosteels) did a set up and perfection. I really took it slow and made sure everything was lining up and going smoothly. It was about 4 hours in all. But in the end well worth it. Here are some pics!

Click image for larger version

Name: 0322091942.jpg
Views: 51
Size: 45.2 KB
ID: 123038

Click image for larger version

Name: 0322091942a.jpg
Views: 59
Size: 46.0 KB
ID: 123039

skb5string · #13 03-22-2009, 07:45 PM

Another pic

Click image for larger version

Name: 0322091943.jpg
Views: 34
Size: 52.6 KB
ID: 123040

skb5string · #14 03-22-2009, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

nice! no issues with the low B saddle having to be so far back it runs out of room?

the badass II 5-string versions i've seen have holes in them so you can keep the string-through if you want. (some people like to string-through just the low B to try and tighten it up a little.)

then there's a new badass III specifically for american fender string-through basses, but i don't know if there's a 5-string version yet.

Hey,

Nope, no issue with the B saddle having to be all the way back. I intonated it today and it ended up in the same exact place the old bridge saddle was when I eyeballed them together. Dead center in pitch.

Human Bass · #15 03-22-2009, 09:12 PM

The american deluxe bridge is already a quite awesome bridge, and yes, i tried a Badass III, just a waste of money.

walterw · #16 03-22-2009, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basseddie

...The stock mim bridge is actually a chromed brass plate, the am jazz is most likely similar.
...

nope, completely different. the am bridges (at least until this year) are bent steel w/brass saddles, while the mex 5 string bridges are some sort of cast alloy. the spacing is completely different, which is why the leo quann didn't fit (it's spaced for the american, which is a good bit wider.)

i actually prefer the '90s american standard bridges, which were all steel, plate and saddles. nice bite and sustain, while still allowing lots of wood tone from the body.

walterw · #17 03-22-2009, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skb5string

Another pic

Attachment 123040

you nailed the string spacing!

it looks like the bridge does have holes for through-body stringing. do they line up with the holes in the body?

basseddie · #18 03-23-2009, 06:32 AM

Quote:

nope, completely different. the am bridges (at least until this year) are bent steel w/brass saddles, while the mex 5 string bridges are some sort of cast alloy. the spacing is completely different, which is why the leo quann didn't fit (it's spaced for the american, which is a good bit wider.)

well, my stock bridge is brass..... I had just a few weeks ago had to machine the corners off of it to facilitate the installation of one of those ash trays, and it was a nice gold brass color under the chrome...
the saddles are brass also...
this is a 1999 mim, 5ver, maybe some things have changed.

ed

skb5string · #19 03-23-2009, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

you nailed the string spacing!

it looks like the bridge does have holes for through-body stringing. do they line up with the holes in the body?

Thanks!

Yeah, it has holes for the string through body but they are near the back of the bridge and did not line up with the Fender string through holes. The screw holes and string through holes were right next to each other in a line on the original bridge so they did not line up. Which is ok with me. If I want to get that option back I can go back to the original bridge.

eastcoasteddie · #20 03-23-2009, 05:04 PM

I just put a Bad Ass V on my Squier Affinity Jazz V. It is HUGE improvement over the stock bridge (obviously). And indeed I did gain a better tone in the bass entirely. It sounds brighter and punchier. I did have to drill ALL new holes, as the Affinity has the same hole pattern as the MIM Jazz. I measured 10 times before I drilled, and I filled in the old ones with wooden match sticks. I'm not going to notch the saddles. Maybe when it's time to give it a setup, I'll have the shop do that. This is my 2nd Bad Ass V (first one is on my defretted Deluxe Active) . I used to think they are just another gimmicky bridge, but I'm starting to see that they are a good design. Upgrading a crappy bridge, it's a plus. I don't know how good the MIA bridges are, but they look comparable to a Gotoh...(??)