Gotoh 201 = no low action?

BrandonBass · #1 11-08-2010, 10:47 PM

I have a 93 MiJ jazz, thinkin abt changing it to a gotoh 201 mainly for aesthetic purposes and *hopefully* an enchancement in tone.

However I read somewhere that with the gotoh, you cant set your action as low as the fender's stock since the gotoh has a thicker base. This might turn me off the gotoh since I lik the action low as possible without buzz. ANy ideas, guys?

Or would u guys recommend me other bridges similar in style to the gotoh without the flaw?

bongomania · #2 11-08-2010, 11:08 PM

Most high-mass bridges have a thicker base than the Fender stock design. The common solutions are either to either rout a recess in the body for the bridge, or put a shim in the neck pocket.

recreate.me · #3 11-08-2010, 11:22 PM

I have put Gotoh 201B's on my Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass, and i put one on my Highway One Jazz bass.

In both cases i was able to get action as low as possible. In both cases i did have to shim the necks, which was basically cutting a piece of a playing card and putting it in the neck pocket. Buy that bridge. Its worth it, shimming is easy work.

Jaco D · #4 11-08-2010, 11:25 PM

^^ Plus one on that. The 201s on my fretless basses are practically sitting on the base plate, with the Allen lugs just there to align the saddles on the groves and not to raise the saddles. I still have to come across a high-mass bridge that has low profile saddles. Even if my fretless neck is flat, I still had to shim the neck as I still found action a bit on the high side even if the saddles were on the base plate. In spite of that, the 201s were one of the better bass investments I've done.

blipndub · #5 11-10-2010, 11:56 AM

Not only is the base thicker but the saddles are larger. I've swapped in smaller barrels on 201's to address this issue, but then some of the high mass is lost of course.

Steveaux · #6 11-10-2010, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blipndub

Not only is the base thicker but the saddles are larger. I've swapped in smaller barrels on 201's to address this issue, but then some of the high mass is lost of course.

Yup.

The Gotoh uses 10mm saddles. Standard Fender is 5/16" or 8mm.