Gotoh 201 or Hipshot Vintage bridge?

[stewart8980]

Hey all.

I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place right now. I want to upgrade the bridge on my MIM Jazz, and have come down to either the Gotoh 201 or the Hipshot Vintage cast bridge.

The problem is, I like the way the Hipshot one looks, and the quick string access, but a guy at my local guitar shop (and luthier) says that Hipshot bridges are crap and that i should get the Gotoh. Now my brain says to go with the Gotoh, but I like the way the Hipshot looks, and it looks like its also made out of cast brass.

Gotoh 201:
http://www.warmoth.com/catalog/produ...ducts_id=12262

Hipshot Vintage bridge:
http://store.hipshotproducts.com/car...t_detail&p=209

Any help on this dilemma?

P.S. There wasn't a section for bridges so I just winged it with this.


Thanks

[praisegig]

For price and performance, I chose Gotoh on most all my basses.

[BigOldHarry]

In this case, Gotoh. The higher-end hipshots are nicer, but that particular hipshot is not so great.

If you want a real *upgrade*, I'd look at something a bit better - - BAII, for example.

[DavePlaysBass]

I have put the Gotoh on two basses. One I took right off. It may force you to shim if you want low action because it is thicker and taller. It did on both my Fenders I put tried it on.

The Hipshot Vintage is kinda pricey. But it gets a lot of good reviews around here and is a quick change. But it is pricey.

If I were buying a bridge for a fender I would go with this Gotoh. It is vintage like but has slots for the saddles.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,...ss_Bridge.html

[DaveF]

Gotoh all the way. Just put one on my Fender Jaguar. Really stable, looks nice and feels like pure quality. Plus, it was only $35!!!!

[flewis]

The Hipshot Vintage Bass Bridge is a fine bridge. They are beefier than they look! Besides, they seem to be good enough for Carey Nordstrand's "Nordy" Basses.

[bassman10096]

Both are good bridges. You won't go wrong. I always suspicious of broad statements like "(Brand X) is crap". It happens a lot of people have had great experience with Hipshot bridges (I've had 4 and my luthier has never seen a bad one). Could it be the guitar shop stocks Gotoh (and gets a dealer discount) and would have to order Hipshot (no discount)? Like I said, both are fine and neither's going to blow the other out of the water.

[joelb79]

I've had both on my basses. The gotoh made the best contact with the body and had the best sound as far as i'm concerned. The Hipshot was very similar but just not the same although the quick change on strings is a really great feature i wish more basses had.

I'd stick with the Gotoh and save yourself the bucks. Definitely stay away from the Badass unless you like decoupling your strings from the wood of the bass.

[mattsbass]

I put the Gotoh on my MIM P bass and so far I am very pleased with it! Its not a huge difference in sound but you do notice more sustain.

I really like it because I got it dirt cheap! The only problem I found with it that the screws it came with really suck haha!

[Bassguy1]

I just installed the Hipshot Vintage Brass bridge on my 98 MIM P and I really like it...great sustain and appearance. String replacement is now a piece of cake.

[blipndub]

I had to replace the saddles on my 201 because the stock ones were too big. As stated above they prevented the action getting low.