Better bass bridge for a thump machine?

[GeneralElectric]

Howdy,

My friend has an early Highway 1 (one?) that was upgraded with a badass bridge before she got it. At my behest, she's turning it into a thump machine

So one of the first things I'm doing to this bass, aside from a full setup, is to take of the badass and put something more fitting of a vintage tone machine.

So now my ideas for replacements:

-cheapie Fender bridge
-Gotoh 201
-Gotoh High mass bridge
-Hipshot Bridge
-Wilkonson two saddle

[soulgaard1]

Keep the bad ass - IMHO Its a better bridge than standard fender bridges.

[GeneralElectric]

I tend to disagree. I think its a big brick on the end of the bass that doesn't actually do much for the instrument. The intonation is actually easier to set on these then the stock Fender bridge, but I'm not exactly looking to put on a Fender replacement.

[jojo99]

I think there's been a general observation that low mass bridges give more punch, and high mass bridges more sustain. What is your definition of 'Thump'? To me it comes from a technique of initally going for punch in the sharp attack using the thumb, but having the side of the palm slightly muting the strings at the bridge to cut the sustain abruptly, for a Jamerson-Motown vibe. If that's what you are going for, sustain and high-mass don't seem the ticket. A Gotoh 201 seems to be a nicer version of the cheapie fender bridge, and that's what I'd choose. Sell the badass to fund it, but first take it off to see if there's any funny business (cracked finish, etc) under there that the 201 may not cover up.

[GeneralElectric]

Well in my opinion the thump sound comes from a combination of everything, but its usually felt due to the heavy presence of low mids. My personal preferences would be for the Wilkonsen, Hipshot, or the 201, but I was asked to ask people

[John Wentzien]

I'd go with the Gotoh, and replace the saddles with "TUSK" saddles from Graph-tech.
They are made out of man-made ivory...

[fenderphil]

id say stock fender with a foam mute and flatwounds.

[62bass]

Originally Posted by fenderphil

id say stock fender with a foam mute and flatwounds.

That's the way it was done back in the day these Fenders were being recorded. That's the original vintage sound.

You have to fool around some with the foam. Too much and it's just a dull thud. Too little and you don't get any effect.

[lonote]

I see thump as punchy response and rapid decay. I'd go with a Fender clone bridge and stay away from the various high-mass alternatives.

[mjolnir]

Originally Posted by fenderphil

id say stock fender with a foam mute and flatwounds.

Yup, if you want all the thumpy glory of the vintage Fender sound, this is the way to go.

[The Golden Boy]

I've done this with my basses these days...

It does take some playing with it to get the desired effect- with my Jazz- this was my first attempt with it- slicings from a neoprene keyboard wrist pad. Since then, after getting a better idea of the measurement involved I've used the pad actually sideways and it seems to work better- and it looks much nicer.






I've also done the same thing with my two basses with G&L bridges and my Thunderbird. The T-Bird just has a neoprene mousepad set under the strings, on top of the bridge.






Personally, I prefer the muted tone of the T-Bird and the EB-0 to either the Jazz or the L-2000 muted.

It's also interesting to note- they're both mahogany basses, and not ash/alder + Maple. The EB-0 originally came equipped with nylon saddles...

[Pilgrim]

You want thump?

1) Ignore bridge (most of the classic thumpers used a stock bridge)
2) Install flatwounds - Labella's Deep Talkin' Flats or the Jamerson series
3) Wait six months for them to break in and settle down.
4) Add foam mute under strings if needed

[nubs]

I've used the pad actually sideways and it seems to work better- and it looks much nicer.

okay not don't flame me for this, i understand beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but how can you say this looks nicer? Nicer than what is my question. I use or have used padding to mute, and i don't think it looks good at all, but it serves a purpose. a purpose, without; that couldn't be achieved.

[The Golden Boy]

Originally Posted by nubs

okay not don't flame me for this, i understand beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but how can you say this looks nicer? Nicer than what is my question. I use or have used padding to mute, and i don't think it looks good at all, but it serves a purpose. a purpose, without; that couldn't be achieved.

Since that pic was taken, I have used one slice of the wristpad foam, on it's side- instead of the 2 slices of foam stacked to get the right height. It currently looks much better than the picture above.

[GeneralElectric]

I use a mute in my fullerton RI bass. I cut a mouse pad the size of the bridge plate, folded it in half, and then put the bridge cover screwed in over that.

I'm just looking for a replacement to the BA bridge.

I think I'm getting the Gotoh 201

[The Golden Boy]

Originally Posted by GeneralElectric

I use a mute in my fullerton RI bass. I cut a mouse pad the size of the bridge plate, folded it in half, and then put the bridge cover screwed in over that.

I'm just looking for a replacement to the BA bridge.

I think I'm getting the Gotoh 201

On top of the strings? (as it would have been "back in the day")

[Pilgrim]

Put the bridge cover back on that bass, and the ugly strip of foam won't show.

Problem solved.

[Mr_Dave]

Use a stock fender bridge