new bridge on fender jazz bass??

[RockFace]

hey everyone. i just came across something interesting in another post.

the bridge on my MIM jazz is garbage, and buzzes. i am going to replace it, most likely with a Badass II. it advertises more sustain, which is a strong selling point to me, but i just read something that someone posted that said that the badass II does give more sustain, but kills the midrange growl of the tone.

this is a huge issue to me because that's why i bought a jazz bass. tons of mids. i'm not satisfied with the stock bridge at all, but i don't want the sound of the bass to change if i replace it

HELP! i know tons of people have Badass II's installed, so please let me know if you find this to be true. it sounds wrong to me, because it wouldn't sell so much if it did...but i just want to be informed before i change anything

thanks in advance

[AlembicPlayer]

I doubt you will hear much of a difference in tone. what you will find with the badass is more stability, better machining of the parts so intonation and action are way more stable. There is more mass with the badass, but I don't think it will effect the tone in the way you are concerned. Go ahead and put the baddass on and you will have years of trouble free service.

[blipndub]

Maybe a bigger bridge would provide more sustain (how much do you need anyway) the point is to have stability and an upgraded vintage style bridge will do this and not set you back what the BA would. No doubt Fender stocks crappy bridges. I've also found that some of the fancy aftermarket bridges require a lot more adjustment to get the string distance ratios right and that can be a bummer.

[RockFace]

Originally Posted by blipndub

Maybe a bigger bridge would provide more sustain (how much do you need anyway) the point is to have stability and an upgraded vintage style bridge will do this and not set you back what the BA would. No doubt Fender stocks crappy bridges. I've also found that some of the fancy aftermarket bridges require a lot more adjustment to get the string distance ratios right and that can be a bummer.

thanks for the advice. the badass II is seems by most accounts to be "the one" for replacing j-bass bridges, but i will look into the upgraded vintage bridges.

thanks a lot

[jwymore]

Check the springs on your current bridge. They are a common source of rattle on the MIM's and it can be easily fixed by just stretching the spring out longer so it's in higher compression against the saddle.

If you must go with a new bridge check out the newer Hipshot bent plate bridge. It's still got a vintage look to it and runs a little less than the BA II.

FWIW: There have been thousands of posts made in bass forums arguing about whether the BA II is an improvement over the stock Fender bridge. Some swear by it, others hear no difference and still others swear it reduces bottom end (or adds to high end). YMMV

[rllefebv]

Originally Posted by jwymore

FWIW: There have been thousands of posts made in bass forums arguing about whether the BA II is an improvement over the stock Fender bridge. Some swear by it, others hear no difference and still others swear it reduces bottom end (or adds to high end). YMMV

Count me in the 'reduced bottom' camp... I came quite close to ditching my Geddy Lee at the thirty day point, (and that's unheard of for me!)... I swapped a stock thin bridge for the BA II and it made the bass come alive to my ears... Granted, it is such a subjective thing, and way too many people swear by the BA II for me to think that it is anything other than a decent bridge... Just not for me...

Rockface - Shoot me a PM with your mailing address and I'll send it to you free... Already has the slots filed

-robert

[Rocinante_x1]

well, thats why i changed my MIM jazz bridge. It was terrible. constant adjustment was needed, and the strings would rattle out of control and sometimes pop out ofthe grooves. When i put my BAII on there, it was like.. wow. i mean, I got growl that i never knew my bass had. My MIM sounds almost exactly like an MIA. just because of my bridge. my intonation never goes out, and it is simply the best, in my book.

[Kickin'Fruit]

Hey I'll take that BA if he doesn't want it

[rllefebv]

Originally Posted by Kickin'Fruit

Hey I'll take that BA if he doesn't want it

Same deal... shoot me a PM with your mailing address and I'll get it out on Monday...

-robert