Going from BAII to standard Fender bridge

jakelly · #1 01-10-2010, 01:43 PM

I have a Hwy One Jazz with a BAII bridge. Lately I'm wondering if I would like the tone of a regular standard Fender bridge better. The bass does sound a bit twangy sometimes with the BAII. What's your opinion? I assume the BAII is not to everyone's taste, cool as they are.

GlennW · #2 01-10-2010, 02:19 PM

I've recently been enlightened by other TB members. This is the one. You can ebay the BAII.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=380177322863

gidbass · #3 01-10-2010, 02:25 PM

+1

You can also buy the saddles separately if you already have the vintage plate.

Good Luck!

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlennW

I've recently been enlightened by other TB members. This is the one. You can ebay the BAII.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=380177322863

BlazinJzZz · #4 01-10-2010, 02:25 PM

that would work for both the jazz and precision right?

walterw · #5 01-10-2010, 06:31 PM

better, because you can effortlessly get the string spacing right either way.

BigOldHarry · #6 01-10-2010, 06:33 PM

I predict it won't make much difference in your sound. Your strings and how you play will have a MUCH bigger impact.

jakelly · #7 01-10-2010, 06:35 PM

The spacing is perfect with the BAII (pre-slotted). Its the stock bridge on the later Hwy One version. I think I just want to try another bridge.

Thanks for the link and suggestions.

walterw · #8 01-10-2010, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

I predict it won't make much difference in your sound. Your strings and how you play will have a MUCH bigger impact.

i like what i perceive as the sound of the vintage threaded-rod bridge (a sustainy-but-resonant tone with a slight metallic attack at the front of the note), but yeah, the difference between one good bridge and another good bridge is likely to be subtle. (by "good" i mean a bridge that's solid so it doesn't rattle, drift, or rob string energy.)

there are a million "high mass vs. low mass bridge" threads around here, it's apparently a long-running debate.

4Mal · #9 01-10-2010, 07:20 PM

I've gone both ways and if someone is deaf, they won't be able to hear it. The BA II is OK at doing Piano bass. I prefer the sound of the vintage style bridge by far. It's more 'bass like'. The other option as far as saddles is the Graphtec graphite saddle. Not threaded but they tend to calm an otherwise twangy instrument a bit.

I'd say go for it. You may find some finish damage when you remove the BA II. I've seen an H1 where the factory over tightened the screws and sucked the bridge into the wood on on corner. They just compensated by raising a saddle... while that work's mechanically. It will as they say, leave a mark...

walterw · #10 01-10-2010, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Mal

I'd say go for it. You may find some finish damage when you remove the BA II. I've seen an H1 where the factory over tightened the screws and sucked the bridge into the wood on on corner. They just compensated by raising a saddle... while that work's mechanically. It will as they say, leave a mark...

no doubt, the HWY 1 body finish is rather soft, so you will see the leftover outline of the badass around your smaller replacement.

GlennW · #11 01-10-2010, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

I predict it won't make much difference in your sound. Your strings and how you play will have a MUCH bigger impact.

I would have predicted the same thing, but here's what happened with me. I had a Gotoh 201 on a bass.

I bought one of the Fender threaded saddle bridges off ebay and replaced the 201 with it. I set up the bass and put it away. I don't remember playing it through the amp, just had it plugged into the tuner for tuning and setting intonation. I was into playing another bass at the time.

A couple weeks later I got it (the bass with the threaded saddles) out and started playing it through my practice amp (which doesn't sound that great). After a few seconds I noticed how much better it sounded and reassured myself that I hadn't messed with the knobs on the amp (there are no knobs on the bass). I just kept on playing really enjoying the sound. I didn't know why it was sounding so much better, but I was glad it was. Then it dawned on me...the new bridge. I'd forgotten about changing it.

That's what makes me such a believer in this bridge, the fact that I'd forgotten it was there. I wasn't "expecting" anything because of the change, I wasn't all psyched up to hear the difference the bridge made; so I feel like I wasn't imagining things.

That doesn't mean everyone will like it because different people like different things, but it did make a very noticeable and positive difference on mine. I was, and still am, very surprised at how pleased I am from changing to that bridge. I'm so happy one will be going on a '51 P RI real soon.

walterw · #12 01-10-2010, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlennW

I bought one of the Fender threaded saddle bridges off ebay...

I was, and still am, very surprised at how pleased I am from changing to that bridge. I'm so happy one will be going on a '51 P RI real soon.

how? will you drill the extra holes?

if it were mine, i would likely keep the stock 2-saddle, but if i simply had to have a 4-saddle bridge, i would get a first-generation american standard bridge like this

which i think will fit right on the '51. it combines the threaded steel saddle with the through-body, so it seems like the obvious choice.

GlennW · #13 01-11-2010, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

how? will you drill the extra holes?

if it were mine, i would likely keep the stock 2-saddle, but if i simply had to have a 4-saddle bridge, i would get a first-generation american standard bridge like this

which i think will fit right on the '51. it combines the threaded steel saddle with the through-body, so it seems like the obvious choice.

Yes, I'll fill some holes and drill some more. The bass will be getting LaBella DT760FM's, and LaBella says not to use those strings through the body. I already have the bridge (got it for another bass, but will leave that bass alone for now).

My goal is to get the '51 RI to sound like the Ibby, but to also have an additional neck pickup. Swapping bridges made the Ibby my #1. I think it's the combination of the bridge, SD SCPB-3, DT760FM's, and maple neck.

That bridge you suggested would certainly make sense, but I have the other one.

walterw · #14 01-11-2010, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlennW

The bass will be getting LaBella DT760FM's, and LaBella says not to use those strings through the body.

OK, i'll buy that

how about a later-version american series or american deluxe bridge? it would also likely go right on, and has a string-through-top option.

GlennW · #15 01-12-2010, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

how about a later-version american series or american deluxe bridge? it would also likely go right on, and has a string-through-top option.

I thought about that, but I'm too cheap to spend that much for a bridge. That threaded saddle bridge for under $30 in the mailbox is just fine with me. I'd been leary of the threaded saddles (until I tried them) because I felt something would be lost by the way the bottom string doesn't make contact with the saddle.