Bass Xtender and Bridge for a Fender Jazz 2006

[Agito]

Hey
I would like to ask a few question

First, Will the Hipshot BT-4 fit my Fender without extension or drilling? How can I measure it to make sure it's ok?

Second question:
I'm looking for a bridge for my Jazz bass
3 Screw holes and 4 holes for the string through body

The Fender HMV can fit and I believe the badass can fit as well (But I didn't see BadAss bridge with 4 string-thru-body holes)

What would you recommend me?
What other bridge would you suggest me to look at?

Thanks,
Danny.

[Agito]

Little bump
Which bridge is better?
Fender HMV, Hipshot FM2 or BadAss III?

[savit260]

What model Jazz bass do you have?

I would assume by the bridge descriptioin that it's an American Series Jazz, by the thee screw hole pattern described.

Can you post a picture of your bridge?

[Agito]

Yeah! Of course


and here are the tuners

[PrivateHigh]

Just replace the hardware with new +08 style fender. New tuners are considerably lighter and you dont have to drill any new holes. HMV bridge is nice, but It's not very friendly to top load the strings. Lighter tuners with a heftier bridge does make the balance more stable IME.

[savit260]

Any bridge that is listed as a direct replacement for a late model American Series/American Standard Jazz will fit.

Regarding the Hipshot... The description of the BT-2 and BT-4 are a little vauge. Looks like the BT-4 would be the correct one, but I'd suggest calling or emailing Hipshot to double check. I'm sure they can tell you for certain which is which, and if the holes should line up.





Which bridge is better is a matter of personal preferance.

For ME the stock bridge you have is "better" than the aftermarket ones.


What do you find lacking in the stock bridge?

[Agito]

Originally Posted by savit260

Any bridge that is listed as a direct replacement for a late model American Series/American Standard Jazz will fit.

Regarding the Hipshot... The description of the BT-2 and BT-4 are a little vauge. Looks like the BT-4 would be the correct one, but I'd suggest calling or emailing Hipshot to double check. I'm sure they can tell you for certain which is which, and if the holes should line up.





Which bridge is better is a matter of personal preferance.

For ME the stock bridge you have is "better" than the aftermarket ones.


What do you find lacking in the stock bridge?

That's a good question
I think I can get better tone and sustain with a new bridge plus a better look
It's hard for me to tell what's wrong with the current bridge, it seems too simple and not massive and I think I can get a better tone with a new one

[savit260]

Originally Posted by Agito

That's a good question
I think I can get better tone and sustain with a new bridge plus a better look
It's hard for me to tell what's wrong with the current bridge, it seems too simple and not massive and I think I can get a better tone with a new one

Better in what way? Is lack of sustain a real problem with your bass?

If you can't identify something as being wrong, then maybe there's really nothing wrong with it.



Regarding more sustain (this one usually makes me roll my eyes)... Are you finding that notes aren't ringing out long enough for you? Are your notes sounding choked off? Im ny own experience, any time I've had an issue with a note dying too fast, it was a string issue, not the bridge.

Have you investigated trying different or new strings for more sustain or more of whatever you think is lacking?

The answer to what your looking for my very well be found in a simple set of strings. A much easier solution that chasing replacemnt parts like bridges IMO.

[savit260]

Regarding the Hipshot...

These are usefull if you find youself playing in a drop D type tuning quite often, and you need to switch back and forth quickly.

This is something I don't see many players do often. I did own a G&L with a Hipshot detuner, and while I found it handy about 1% of the time, it's not something I think I'd want to blow $80 on. Never found it to be $80 worth of useful.

I'd think long and hard about how usefull this particular upgrade is going to be for you personally. They're great if you have an actual need for one. Otherwise it's just $80 screwed into your headstock.

[Agito]

Originally Posted by savit260

Regarding the Hipshot...

These are usefull if you find youself playing in a drop D type tuning quite often, and you need to switch back and forth quickly.

This is something I don't see many players do often. I did own a G&L with a Hipshot detuner, and while I found it handy about 1% of the time, it's not something I think I'd want to blow $80 on. Never found it to be $80 worth of useful.

I'd think long and hard about how usefull this particular upgrade is going to be for you personally. They're great if you have an actual need for one. Otherwise it's just $80 screwed into your headstock.

Actually I've seen these sold for less on eBay plus I order the chrome pickup cover I want and I do use Drop D often.

About the bridge- let me read it when I'm going to be a little more sober, 5AM here and I've slept bad...

[JasonLamb]

hipshot bt4 will fit...i just put one on a 2007 jazz...no modifications

[Agito]

Originally Posted by JasonLamb

hipshot bt4 will fit...i just put one on a 2007 jazz...no modifications

Can you please show me a pic of the tuning pegs?
Thanks.

[walterw]

Originally Posted by savit260

For ME the stock bridge you have is "better" than the aftermarket ones.

+1, it's a simple, rock-solid, good-sounding design. it doesn't need to be "high-mass", because the strings anchor in the body, so the entire body is the bridge's "mass".

in fact, the argument is that the lighter bridge lets more of the body wood's tone into the string. (in actual fact, the difference is likely not that big one way or the other).

also, +1 to lighter keys. that will make a difference, as those keys are boat anchors! the bass will hang better with less weight at the headstock.

[Agito]

The weight does not concern me, I'm still young so for me the heavier the better.
Anyhow, I just want to replace the E string key to a Drop D one, that is regarding the keys.

About the bridge- some times I don't like to make the strings go through the body, I don't know why I find the strings more punchy and for slap when they are connected to the bridge, though I experienced it a long time ago and that's basically what I remember.

[savit260]

Originally Posted by Agito

The weight does not concern me, I'm still young so for me the heavier the better.
Anyhow, I just want to replace the E string key to a Drop D one, that is regarding the keys.

About the bridge- some times I don't like to make the strings go through the body, I don't know why I find the strings more punchy and for slap when they are connected to the bridge, though I experienced it a long time ago and that's basically what I remember.

Given the discussion in this thread, and your others, I'd STILL recomend starting with the basics in your tone search.

Start with STRINGS. Find the strings that suit your needs best, then work on fine tuning it from there.

Example: You seem to be chasing a modern tone from this thread and others. If you are using Nickle Round wounds, you may find swithching to something brighter will give you a lot of what you desire.

So many people overlook this simple part of the tone equation.

What are you using now? Maybe a "what strings should I get to help get tone "X" " would be a good place to start instead of chasing pickups , bridges , pre amps, body/neck woods etc. etc.

[Hamrhed]

Originally Posted by JasonLamb

hipshot bt4 will fit...i just put one on a 2007 jazz...no modifications

Right: I have one on my '06 US P- works great (the BT-4 works for both P and J basses according to Hipshot's website).

I have a BT-2 on my Geddy as well...

[Agito]

Originally Posted by savit260

Given the discussion in this thread, and your others, I'd STILL recomend starting with the basics in your tone search.

Start with STRINGS. Find the strings that suit your needs best, then work on fine tuning it from there.

Example: You seem to be chasing a modern tone from this thread and others. If you are using Nickle Round wounds, you may find swithching to something brighter will give you a lot of what you desire.

So many people overlook this simple part of the tone equation.

What are you using now? Maybe a "what strings should I get to help get tone "X" " would be a good place to start instead of chasing pickups , bridges , pre amps, body/neck woods etc. etc.

I know what you are talking about, but I've already done my research about strings and I know the ones currently on the bass suck.
Though, I'm always looking for a way to improve the sound and make it even better.
Anyhow I'm still thinking about the HMV bridge but for now I guess I'll only order the Chrome neck cover and the Hipshot Xtender

My bass is going to be a monster (It already is actually, replaced the preamp -)
I already have a name for it

[savit260]

Originally Posted by Agito

I know what you are talking about, but I've already done my research about strings and I know the ones currently on the bass suck.
Though, I'm always looking for a way to improve the sound and make it even better.
Anyhow I'm still thinking about the HMV bridge but for now I guess I'll only order the Chrome neck cover and the Hipshot Xtender

My bass is going to be a monster (It already is actually, replaced the preamp -)
I already have a name for it

My best recomendation to you is to find strings that don't "suck" first.

What "sucks" about the strings you are using now?

What are you planning on putting on for new strings, and why are you jumping ahead to the next step before you even know what this change is going to acomplish?



Try different sets out until you find ones that really work well for you.





Then think about the bridge , IF and only IF you aren't happy with the sound with strings that work better.

You MAY find you don't need to change the bridge at all.

Like I've said before... start with the basics.

"Sucky" strings and a new expensive bridge are still going to sound "sucky".


Don't get sucked into a case of P.A.S. (Parts Aquisition Syndrome)

Don't change parts unless you actually need to.


I know I probalby sound like a jerk here, but I'm trying to help you not waste money on parts that may not even be needed. P.A.S. is everybit as bad as G.A.S. Sometimes it's even worse!

Which pre amp did you go with?

[Agito]

I know what strings I'm going to use and I've had experience with them, so as I said I'm not sure I'll need to change the bridge, I'm not going to order one soon anyway...

I went with the J-Retro cool preamp, I can get the old sound of the bass + more options, I really liked it, I can get Hi-End with it.

[walterw]

Originally Posted by Agito

The weight does not concern me, I'm still young so for me the heavier the better.
Anyhow, I just want to replace the E string key to a Drop D one, that is regarding the keys.

well, the main reason for lighter keys is not so much the weight on your shoulder (although you do feel the difference) but the balance. the thing will hang better and not want to neck-dive as much. of all these mods you're considering, this is the one (other than messing with pickups & preamps) that will actually make a real and positive difference.

Originally Posted by Agito

About the bridge- some times I don't like to make the strings go through the body, I don't know why I find the strings more punchy and for slap when they are connected to the bridge, though I experienced it a long time ago and that's basically what I remember.

that's a pretty murky reason to change a bridge, especially since the one you have will already let you string through the back anyway.

if anything, stringing through the body will make it punchier, since it's a more solid anchor than just the sideways pull on a few mounting screws. (in reality, the difference is likely negligible sound-wise, but i've always liked the structural idea of it)