Hardware (Tuners and Bridge) For New Fender 70's Precision Bass (MIJ)

TMart99 · #1 09-15-2011, 11:58 AM

Hello everyone.

I just recently purchased one of these new Fender 70's Precision basses. This is a brand new model which was just recently released. It's a Made In Japan model. I have the "Olympic White" finish (which is actually closer to vintage white than it is any Olympic White finish I have ever seen.

Fender® Products

I love this bass.

I've been making a few aesthetic changes (pickguard, pickguard screws and V/T knobs). I'm going for a certain look I have in my head.

But now I'm looking at this and I'm thinking how much I would love to find a similar bridge in Black and Black tuners to complete the look.

Fender, on their webpage, describes the Bridge as: Vintage Style 4-Saddle Bridge( five screws at the back end of this bridge). But no other specs (no string/saddle spacing specs) on the site. I called them, but he had no specs, either.

The Tuners are described as: Vintage '70s Fender® Stamped Open Gear Tuning Machines. Again, no other specs are available.

I want find a Bridge that won't fundamentally change the tone of this bass and especially do NOT want a bridge that accentuates the high frequencies.

I just want these hardware pieces to be as close as possible to the stock pieces, but in the Black finish; and so I do NOT have to do any drilling into the body or headstock, of any kind.

Below are some pics of this bass's original stock hardware (prior to the aesthetic changes). Underneath the pictures, I have searched around the net and I have provided links to Bridges that appear to be similar and may work. I'm hoping some of folks may have some experience with these bridges and tuners and suggest/guide me to the hardware pieces that are most likely to be drop-in replacements. Thank you:

" TK-0791-003 - Schaller Black Bass Keys.
Schaller BML Bass tuning keys, Black, with screws and bushings, CBS Fender®Style, 20:1 11/16"-diameter holes required. Can be rebuilt for left-hand "

Schaller Black Bass Keys | Allparts.com

Schaller BML Bass Tuners, Set of 4, Black

" TK-0790-003 - Gotoh Bass Tuning Keys Black
Schaller BML Bass tuning keys, Black, with screws and bushings, CBS Fender®Style, 20:1 11/16"-diameter holes required. Can be rebuilt for left-hand "

Gotoh Bass Tuning Keys Black | Allparts.com

"Gotoh 201, 4 String Bass Bridge, Black
This is a top quality cast bridge with the standard 3/4" (19mm) string spacing. It features stock Fender mounting holes and is adjustable for string height and intonation. Comes with matching mounting screws and Allen wrench."

Gotoh 201, 4 String Bass Bridge, Black

Hipshot 4 strg Vintage Bass Bridge Black
4 stg Vintage Bass Bridge Black > Store > Hipshot Products

" BLACK SQUIER MB-4 SKULL BASS BRIDGE
Genuine Fender Squier black MB-4 Skull & Crossbones bass bridge."

http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/i...6-2377-000.jpg

"GOTOH GB-1 BLACK NICKEL AERODYNE BASS TUNERS
Genuine Fender set of four GB-1 Gotoh® black nickel tuners as used on the Aerodyne Jazz Bass®. Includes bushings. Do not come with screws."

http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/i...8-0190-000.jpg

TMart99 · #2 09-17-2011, 02:00 PM

Anyone?

96tbird · #3 09-17-2011, 02:51 PM

Any 5 screw Fender pattern bridge works. I used a black Wilkinson with brass saddles, 18 bucks eBay. Hipshot makes a set of tuners that ate direct fit for all the various Fender tuners. Email them or check the website for fitment

FronTowardEnemy · #4 09-19-2011, 10:34 AM

Very nice bass. I love the Japanese Fenders, I own 2, a 75RI and a MM IV. I can tell you that Hipshot makes a detuner, BT2, that would fit your bass. Look for the B2 specs under the Hipshot site and I am sure you can find other brands with those specs as well. Also for a bridge, no doubt a BadAss II would fit on there perfectly as well.

bassgod0dmw · #5 09-19-2011, 10:59 AM

For what you're describing I would use a Gotoh 201 bridge and either the Hipshot HB-2 or the Schaller tuners. You can email Best bass Gear or Hipshot to be positive on the fitting, but I'm fairly certain there is no drilling for the HB-2's.

I'm a Hipshot kinda guy and use them whenever I have swapped tuners out. They are light, accurate, and very high quality.

96tbird · #6 09-19-2011, 11:13 AM

He wants a black bridge that is same as a vintage Fender bent plate.

bassgod0dmw · #7 09-19-2011, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 96tbird

He wants a black bridge that is same as a vintage Fender bent plate.

He mentioned he wanted something similar to it, nothing about it being bent plate. And he mentioned he was looking at a Gotoh 201, which can be purchased in black.

96tbird · #8 09-19-2011, 12:24 PM

But now I'm looking at this and I'm thinking how much I would love to find a similar bridge

I just want these hardware pieces to be as close as possible to the stock pieces, but in the Black finish; [/quote]

bassgod0dmw · #9 09-19-2011, 12:32 PM

Ok? And a Gotoh 201 isn't close to a stock bridge? It's arguably the most used Fender replacement bridge other than a BAII, would he did say he specifically doesn't want because it would accentuate high frequencies.

He also provided a link for it in the first post...you want me to quote that?

Its a matter of interpretation. Feel free to make a 2nd or 3rd recommendation instead of just criticizing my choice...

96tbird · #10 09-19-2011, 12:40 PM

No, slow down not criticizing QUOTING. With a smilie. Again,

Edit; and I did make a recommendation in my.first post.

bassgod0dmw · #11 09-19-2011, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 96tbird

and I did make a recommendation in my.first post.

Hence the reason why I said 2nd or 3rd...

TMart99 · #12 09-19-2011, 01:47 PM

Thank you for the responses, guys.

The only issue I have read (in my research on this forum), is that severel people say the Gotoh 201 doesn't allow for the type of low string action/level I like; because the saddles are over-sized and the bottom plate is thicker. Which means I'd have to buy smaller saddles.

Have any of you had any experience with the Hipshot 4 string Vintage Bass Bridge (in Black)? Pros? Cons?

According to a gentleman I spoke with there, this Hipshot bridge is a direct drop-in replacement for the bridge I have on this bass.

He also stated that the Hipshot HB2 Tuners/machines are a direct drop-in replacement, for the stock tuners on this bass.

Are the HB2 tuners a high quality tuner?

How do they compare to the Gotoh and Schaller tuners I listed?

Gotoh Bass Tuning Keys Black | Allparts.com

Schaller Black Bass Keys | Allparts.com

96tbird · #13 09-19-2011, 01:55 PM

All three tuners are top quality. You may find hipshot are the lightest which is a good thing. No experience with the bridge. It will be top quality though.

Turnaround · #14 09-19-2011, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMart99

The only issue I have read (in my research on this forum), is that severel people say the Gotoh 201 doesn't allow for the type of low string action/level I like; because the saddles are over-sized and the bottom plate is thicker. Which means I'd have to buy smaller saddles.

I put a Gotoh 201 on my MIM Jazz and had to shim the neck to get the kind of low action I like. It's not a big deal to shim and it's a nice bridge at a really good price.

TMart99 · #15 09-19-2011, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turnaround

I put a Gotoh 201 on my MIM Jazz and had to shim the neck to get the kind of low action I like. It's not a big deal to shim and it's a nice bridge at a really good price.

Will trading out the Gotoh saddles, for smaller saddles in fact work, so I don't have to have the neck shimmed?

bassgod0dmw · #16 09-19-2011, 03:49 PM

Shimming a neck is pretty standard, I've never heard of swapping out the saddles though.