MIM bridges

RayO5421 · #1 01-02-2008, 12:43 PM

Happy new years everyone, hope you all had a good, safe holiday. The bridge on my MIM J slips and can't really hold an action after a bit of me playing it. I'm not beating it up or anything like that, I just think that Fender really didn't spend good money on the saddles or I got a lemon (go figure

).

I've got a bit of extra christmas money and I was wondering if someone could reccomend me a good, solid bridge that could fit a MIM Jazz without much fuss or modification. If you could send me a link too that'd be greatly appreciated.

I was thinking about a badass but I figured I might as well get an opinion from everyone around here and wish you all happy holidays too. Sorry if there were threads on this before, I was too lazy to look!

Thanks again, peace and love,
Ryan

SuperDuck · #2 01-02-2008, 12:55 PM

The Gotoh 201 seems to fit the bill. It's not that expensive but is a nice improvement over stock. One of the features that I really like are the grooves that keep the saddle screws from moving side to side. It's also just overall beefier and better constructed than the stock Fender bridge. I had one on my MIM Jazz a few years back and really liked it. It's a direct drop-in; you will not need to modify your bass.

http://www.warmoth.com/hardware/brid...dges_gotoh_201

edit: As far as the Badass goes, it's a nice bridge but I'm not a fan of the looks or the price. In both categories I prefer the Gotoh. (I have owned both.) The whole "the badass is more massive! Mass = better!" is still up for debate, and I personally don't really buy it.

saxnbass · #3 01-02-2008, 01:26 PM

Gotoh 201 and BadAss are the 2 most popular ones on the forum.

RayO5421 · #4 01-03-2008, 01:32 PM

Thanks guys, I haven't heard much of Gototh but I'll have to look into them.

Edit: Off the bridge topic but does anyone know if pickguards purchased from Warmoth will fit a MIM J?

SuperDuck · #5 01-03-2008, 01:42 PM

Not very well. I put one on a MIM J and some of the screw holes didn't line up and I had to use a Dremel to cut down the pickguard a bit where it lined up against the control plate.

You might be better off ordering from someplace that specifically sells pickguards for the MIM line, like Pickgaurds.com (I've never ordered from them but I see that they have pickguards for the Mexican instruments.)

http://pickguards.com/FenderBasses.htm

needmoney · #6 01-03-2008, 08:29 PM

Also check out one of these..

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

You gotta drill a couple of new holes at the top of the plate, but as long as you don't plan on swapping it doesn't really matter. Or you could just not utilize them. The standard 5 holes line up fine. Not as beefy as the 201 or Badass, yet just as secure.

RayO5421 · #7 01-06-2008, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperDuck

Not very well. I put one on a MIM J and some of the screw holes didn't line up and I had to use a Dremel to cut down the pickguard a bit where it lined up against the control plate.

You might be better off ordering from someplace that specifically sells pickguards for the MIM line, like Pickgaurds.com (I've never ordered from them but I see that they have pickguards for the Mexican instruments.)

http://pickguards.com/FenderBasses.htm

Thanks for that!

Flizzy21 · #8 01-06-2008, 12:47 PM

i had the same problem with my MIM jazz, from what im told there all made like that. This Christmas I got a Badass II just to fix the slipping problem, but to my amazement, the first this I noticed after putting the bridge on was what it did to the tone. Im told that bridges dont effect tone that much but compared to the stock bridge this thing proved to do more then just hold my strings tighter.

vtbass1 · #9 01-06-2008, 01:00 PM

I agree on the Gotoh bridges, but the stlye of music you're playing may be a factor. If you are after a more upright type of tone I'd go with the cheaper Gotoh or similar. If you want more sustain, go for the Hipshot or Badass.

RayO5421 · #10 01-06-2008, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vtbass1

I agree on the Gotoh bridges, but the stlye of music you're playing may be a factor. If you are after a more upright type of tone I'd go with the cheaper Gotoh or similar. If you want more sustain, go for the Hipshot or Badass.

I'll be playing mostly rock and punk so as long as it holds tight and in tune I think I'll be good.

Off topic again: Anyone looking to sell a set of passive Jazz bass pickups? Just looking to upgrade from the stock ones I've got here now. Thanks!

RayO5421 · #11 01-06-2008, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flizzy21

i had the same problem with my MIM jazz, from what im told there all made like that. This Christmas I got a Badass II just to fix the slipping problem, but to my amazement, the first this I noticed after putting the bridge on was what it did to the tone. Im told that bridges dont effect tone that much but compared to the stock bridge this thing proved to do more then just hold my strings tighter.

Did you notice a positive or negative change? I'm told the Badass increases your sustain and makes tone a bit brighter.

Atoz · #12 02-13-2008, 12:29 PM

I was going to post a separate topic, but this thread seems somewhat to address what I'm looking for.

I am also looking for a drop-in 5-hole replacement for an MIM J, and Gotoh 201 and Badass II seem to be the only names that pop up. Are there others? I heard that Ken Smith had one, but I can't seem to find any info about it anywhere. Thanks.

dbcandle · #13 02-14-2008, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saxnbass

Gotoh 201 and BadAss are the 2 most popular ones on the forum.

On a MIM Jazz, is the saddle-height range the same, or is shimming the neck commonly needed?

I'd assume that a "meatier" bridge would have thicker metal where the bridge attaches to the body, and require shimming the neck; I seem to recall comments on that previously.

While shimming is easy, I'd prefer to not mess with the neck/body joint any more than I have to.

Atoz · #14 02-14-2008, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbcandle

On a MIM Jazz, is the saddle-height range the same, or is shimming the neck commonly needed?

I'd assume that a "meatier" bridge would have thicker metal where the bridge attaches to the body, and require shimming the neck; I seem to recall comments on that previously.

While shimming is easy, I'd prefer to not mess with the neck/body joint any more than I have to.

I came across a really cheap used Badass II, and I ran into that problem on my MIM J. I couldn't get the saddles low enough. I didn't feel like messing with shimming (though it's not that hard like you said) so I put the stock bridge back on.

bassbully · #15 02-14-2008, 09:07 AM

Gotoh would be my choice over the BA anyday. But for $30.00you can put on an aftermarket Fender US bridge (vintage) on it drops right on. I like the threaded saddles and that they take a small flathead screw driver over an allen wrench to adjust...they also dont drop or move at all. You can even go up to the deluxe bridge which is heavyer and even string thu for $65.00 but its overkill IMO.

Dr Illing · #16 02-15-2008, 11:51 AM

I read in another thread that a lot of people really like the hipshot one.

I believe this is a direct replacement, but I don't know for sure.

http://www.hipshotproducts.com/cart....duct_list&c=13
And they have a few different finishes. I think the satin one would look amazing.

Atoz · #17 02-15-2008, 02:29 PM

Maybe I'll look into the Hipshot. The "A" style looks like a 3-hole (MIA) to me. THe "B" style specs show a 5-hole version, but they also have a 4-hole with the same spacing that looks like the one in the website picture. Perhaps I'll call Hipshot and find out what's available.

glwanabe · #18 02-15-2008, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassbully

Gotoh would be my choice over the BA anyday. But for $30.00you can put on an aftermarket Fender US bridge (vintage) on it drops right on. I like the threaded saddles and that they take a small flathead screw driver over an allen wrench to adjust...they also dont drop or move at all. You can even go up to the deluxe bridge which is heavyer and even string thu for $65.00 but its overkill IMO.

This is a very good bridge. The threaded saddles are excellent. I have one on my MIM jazz.

I read of people all the time saying they have problems with stock Fender bridges dropping on them. I guess I'm fortunate, because I've never had that problem with them. For that matter I've never had a problem with any threaded saddle adjustment not staying at the location where I put it.

bassbully · #19 02-15-2008, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glwanabe

This is a very good bridge. The threaded saddles are excellent. I have one on my MIM jazz.

I read of people all the time saying they have problems with stock Fender bridges dropping on them. I guess I'm fortunate, because I've never had that problem with them. For that matter I've never had a problem with any threaded saddle adjustment not staying at the location where I put it.

I agree i have never had a problem with stock bridges dropping myself. even my old squiers is great. The vintage reissue is a good bridge and wont effect the string highth or setup at all.

lord toranaga · #20 02-15-2008, 04:27 PM

so, what is the difference between the two?
metallurgically?