Fender's High Mass Vintage Bridge

[JimK]

These can be seen in the June Bass Player(Esperanza Spauling cover) "Soundroom" page(s).

Anyone try these? Are they available? If so...where?
...or are they too new?

Thanks!

[Parabolic Box]

You mean the new bridges on the '08 Fenders?

[JimK]

Yes.
I gave my '64 a much needed facelift...I was never a fan of the original bridge, looking for something new/improved, I hope.

[Parabolic Box]

I don't think they're available as something separate yet. Some people have remarked it looks like a slightly shaved Gotoh bridge. Hipshot A bridges designed for five screw Fenders are another option:

http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/bridge_gotoh.htm
http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/bridge_hipshota4.htm

[JimK]

Thanks.
Are the Hipshot "A" bridges w/ 5-screws for Fender something new?
IIRC, I wanted to go that route a couple years ago & just gave up 'cause (IIRC) nothing from Hipshot was a good retrofit for a P-bass.
Anyway, the Hipshot is a definite candidate.

Thanks again.

[Parabolic Box]

You're welcome.

[()smoke()]

yeah, they do appear to share a lot of similarity to the gotoh 201, which is a great drop-in replacement for fenders, imo--and inexpensive @ $30

[M@ddest_H@tter!]

Originally Posted by ()smoke()

yeah, they do appear to share a lot of similarity to the gotoh 201, which is a great drop-in replacement for fenders, imo--and inexpensive @ $30

I know this is kinda off topic...... , but is the Leo Quann or the Gotoh Bridge better?

[()smoke()]

Originally Posted by M@ddest_H@tter!

I know this is kinda off topic...... , but is the Leo Quann or the Gotoh Bridge better?

sending you a pm

[kyral210]

Are these actually any better than the original Fender bridge?

[JTE]

Originally Posted by kyral210

Are these actually any better than the original Fender bridge?

Define "better". The original Fender bridge (well, the third version- V1 was a two-saddle bridge with phenolic saddles, and V2 was the same bridge with metal saddles) as used on the Precision from 1957 until sometime in the late '60s or early '70s (and on the Jazz bass from its inception until they both got the new saddles) works fine for me. Some of them have problems with the saddle screws vibrating loose but a bit of Lock-Tite or glue fixes that.

Some people find that a higher-mass bridge improves the sound of a bass, but my experience is that it's pretty meaningless. I put a lot of BA-II's and Schaller bridges on basses for folks when I managed a guitar store from 1977-1988 and I never heard any real improvement. They were different, but not better. There's generally a subtle increase in high-end response with a high-mass bridge, and could be a noticable sustain increase. Maybe...

If I read the information correctly, the Fender HM bridge allows for string-through-body as well as standard top-load. That's another area where the differences are probably more mental than actual. People who have made a real comparison (that is comparing the same instrument with the same strings) generally find no difference either way. I've strung my Laklands by alternating strings (i.e E and D through the body, A and G through the top) and felt and heard no difference- and I used to swear there was a subtle difference in feel.

John

[Bubba Ghanoosh]

http://www.darrenriley.com/shop/cart...t_detail&p=854