Help figuring out this Fender Bridge

irock · #1 08-13-2010, 03:42 PM

I just bought a 1977 Fender Jazz and this bridge is on it.
It says Fender on it. The guy I bought it from says it came with it when he originally bought it.
Any info - year, worth - is much appreciated
I do want to swap it out for a badass II bridge when I can find one

hdracer · #2 08-13-2010, 03:47 PM

What are you trying to figure out? Why do you want to change it?

irock · #3 08-13-2010, 03:50 PM

I never seen one of these before.
Is it after market?? What's it worth?? What years or basses where they put on???

mongo2 · #4 08-13-2010, 03:55 PM

That bridge is affectionately known as "The Claw" and was an aftermarket Fender offering as part of it's Brass Works line starting ca. late '70s. It was made by "The Brass Factory" aka Kahler.

BigOldHarry · #5 08-13-2010, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mongo2

That bridge is affectionately known as "The Claw" and was an aftermarket Fender offering as part of it's Brass Works line. It was made by "The Brass Factory" aka Kahler.

Interesting... That *was* when everyone and their sister decided that Brass was somehow the magic solution for bad tone...

I'd leave it be unless you find it too ugly...

walterw · #6 08-15-2010, 09:10 PM

what. the. hell?

that's stock? i've never even heard of it, much less seen one!

so that thing is kahler's fault?

**ExaltBass** · #7 08-15-2010, 09:16 PM

If the '77 is all stock, I'd hang on to it to maintain the integrity and value of the bass. You can always put a BAII on it for yourself if you hate the claw, and it's still reversible down the road.

jazzblade · #8 08-15-2010, 09:25 PM

i have a stock 77 and that is not the bridge offered or one I have ever seen before, Interesting

walterw · #9 08-15-2010, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExaltBass

If the '77 is all stock, I'd hang on to it to maintain the integrity and value of the bass. You can always put a BAII on it for yourself if you hate the claw, and it's still reversible down the road.

+1

i'd keep it stock just because of the rarity. besides, it's obviously every bit as massive as a badass, so you probably wouldn't even gain anything tonewise by switching.

a badass will allow for proper string-spacing, where the strings go right between the pickup magnets like they're supposed to. if the bass were mine, i would just swap out the saddles for the steel threaded-rod vintage type (assuming they fit), so i could space the strings exactly where i wanted them.

Pilgrim · #10 08-16-2010, 09:14 AM

I don't see anything to gain sound-wise from swapping it - as Walter points out, there's a lot of mass in that bridge. Further, with the increasing collectability of older Fenders, IMO removing it would be a big mistake.

Chasarms · #11 08-16-2010, 10:13 AM

As long as it is fully functional, I agree that you should leave it. It is unique, original and the BAII will gain you nothing whatsoever.

mongo2 · #12 08-16-2010, 10:54 AM

That's not the stock bridge, it's an aftermarket replacement bridge.

walterw · #13 08-16-2010, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mongo2

That's not the stock bridge, it's an aftermarket replacement bridge.

so fender sold them, but didn't install them?

mongo2 · #14 08-17-2010, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

so fender sold them, but didn't install them?

I've never heard or seen of Fender installing them as standard production OEM bridges. However they did use a more traditional brass bridge as OEM in the P bass special series of the '80's but not "The Claw"

irock · #15 08-17-2010, 01:32 PM

The bass isn't all original. The guy I bought it from changed the pickups and electronics. Thats why I figure I'd change the bridge to a BBII, which is coming in the mail anyday now.
Anyone insterested in buying the bridge??

mongo2 · #16 08-17-2010, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irock

The bass isn't all original. The guy I bought it from changed the pickups and electronics. Thats why I figure I'd change the bridge to a BBII, which is coming in the mail anyday now.
Anyone insterested in buying the bridge??

Please PM me with your price.

JTE · #17 08-17-2010, 07:11 PM

Fender never (to my knowledge as a Fender dealer 1977-1988) installed The Claw on any factory basses, but it was sold by Fender for after-market replacements. Along with brass nuts, brass control knobs, brass tremelo arm tips, brass bridge saddles, brass string retainers, brass brass Strat trem assemblies, brass strap buttons, and brass commodes...

... well, not the last one, but it was an era when brass was supposed to save the music world.

John

walterw · #18 08-17-2010, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irock

Thats why I figure I'd change the bridge to a BBII, which is coming in the mail anyday now.

again, a BII isn't going to gain you anything tone-wise, and you're sure to have a nice Claw-shaped outline in the finish if you take that thing off.

Chasarms · #19 08-18-2010, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

again, a BII isn't going to gain you anything tone-wise, and you're sure to have a nice Claw-shaped outline in the finish if you take that thing off.

Agreed. And if you leave it, you have bridge called "The Claw," which is pretty cool. There's lots of Bad Asses, but far fewer claws!!!!

darkstorm · #20 08-19-2010, 04:54 PM

If that is brass, Id say it sounds better then a baddass bridge. Cause the latter have a trebly zingyness to them and brass bridges have better balanced more even tone to them in my experience. Id say keep that bridge on it.