New Bridges for Fender Jazz Bass Help

[maverickhornet]

Hey all,

Fairly new to this but just wondering if anyone can offer any advice on new Bridges for Mexican fender Jazz Basses? Do they offer much more in terms of tone? Sorry if it's a silly question but you gotta learn somewhere right!

I've had the trouble of the saddles riding down and reading through the forums I see you can use nail polish to stop that. However would adding a new bridge add anything to the bass? I find jazz bass bridges a little boring too... I like to funk up my basses!

Cheers for your time

Peace out

[Turnaround]

The tonal change is minimal - not the reason I would choose to make a bridge change.

I have a Mexi Jazz that I have modified substantially. What is it that you are trying to achieve? Don't say "better tone" because that's a point of taste. Do you mean "more beef", "clearer articulation" or what? The more specific you can be, the better response I can give.

[JLS]

Originally Posted by maverickhornet

Hey all,

Fairly new to this but just wondering if anyone can offer any advice on new Bridges for Mexican fender Jazz Basses? Do they offer much more in terms of tone? Sorry if it's a silly question but you gotta learn somewhere right!

I've had the trouble of the saddles riding down and reading through the forums I see you can use nail polish to stop that. However would adding a new bridge add anything to the bass? I find jazz bass bridges a little boring too... I like to funk up my basses!

Cheers for your time

Peace out

Nail polish is cheap, and effective. Strings will make more difference than a bridge, IMHO.

The only reason I'll changeout/modify a bass bridge, is to make it more string-change friendly.

[Turnaround]

Not a bad perspective, not bad at all!

[maverickhornet]

I didn't think there would be much of a tonal difference, just a little curious. The reason initially for getting a new bridge was just getting tired with the saddles wearing out all the time and the intonation going out constantly...

As for tone, I'd love to make more of a punchier fat low end tone. Like you can get from Modulus Funk Unlimited sort of thing but not as 'intense'. I know its more about the bass but I am just a bit naive and just looking for ways to make it tones that little bit deeper and snappy.

I stick to GHS Boomer strings, they seem to wear out quickly though. Do you guys use anything to keep the strings / fretboard clean all the time?

Sorry if I sound stupid but I'm willing to learn

[Turnaround]

Originally Posted by maverickhornet

I didn't think there would be much of a tonal difference, just a little curious. The reason initially for getting a new bridge was just getting tired with the saddles wearing out all the time and the intonation going out constantly...

As for tone, I'd love to make more of a punchier fat low end tone. Like you can get from Modulus Funk Unlimited sort of thing but not as 'intense'. I know its more about the bass but I am just a bit naive and just looking for ways to make it tones that little bit deeper and snappy.

I stick to GHS Boomer strings, they seem to wear out quickly though. Do you guys use anything to keep the strings / fretboard clean all the time?

Sorry if I sound stupid but I'm willing to learn

Lots of questions - good. Answers - probably less so...

I wonder about the bit about the saddles wearing out quickly. I've seen lost of basses from the 1950's onward and have yet to see a saddle that was worn out. Please elaborate.

There are numerous things that you can do to make the tone "a little bit deeper and snappy". First try setting the volume knob on both pickups at about 75% to 80% rather than full-on.

Next try changing strings - I like DR Lo-Rider Stainless Steel in medium gauge (45-105).

Then try upgrading the pickups. Mexi Jazz basses do not come with high quality pickups. Try Fender Vintage pickups, Duncan Antiquities, Fralins, Barts, Sadowsky.... etc. This can become an expensive proposition, and may cause you to consider buying a whole new bass.

Final steps (if you are crazy enough to consider pursuing this nutzy quest) is to add a preamp. I won't even begin to coach you here - it's a HUGE crap shoot concerning costs, perceived benefits, personal taste...... and on and on.

So, some not-so-defintive answers. Bring on more questions.

[maverickhornet]

Originally Posted by Turnaround

Lots of questions - good. Answers - probably less so...

I wonder about the bit about the saddles wearing out quickly. I've seen lost of basses from the 1950's onward and have yet to see a saddle that was worn out. Please elaborate.

There are numerous things that you can do to make the tone "a little bit deeper and snappy". First try setting the volume knob on both pickups at about 75% to 80% rather than full-on.

Next try changing strings - I like DR Lo-Rider Stainless Steel in medium gauge (45-105).

Then try upgrading the pickups. Mexi Jazz basses do not come with high quality pickups. Try Fender Vintage pickups, Duncan Antiquities, Fralins, Barts, Sadowsky.... etc. This can become an expensive proposition, and may cause you to consider buying a whole new bass.

Final steps (if you are crazy enough to consider pursuing this nutzy quest) is to add a preamp. I won't even begin to coach you here - it's a HUGE crap shoot concerning costs, perceived benefits, personal taste...... and on and on.

So, some not-so-defintive answers. Bring on more questions.

As for the saddles wearing out. I mean if I play are hard song, using slap of very rigorous finger playing, after about 20 minutes of playing either the G or A string has ridden down to the bass. The A string therefore just mutes itself anything above the 7th fret so then I have to raise the saddles again. I've put some nail polish on the screws now and they seems to be holding, its a bit of a make shift way but it will do.

Done what you have said and the tone is a little better. I've tried out DR's before and they are pretty good.

I replaced the mexi pickup's with EMG ones a while back, advised by Mansons Guitar shop that thats what I want. However, I was wondering if there are better ones that give that woody tone.

I guess this is what I am hunting for... But thats a 61' American J Bass that probably costs well over $1000.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dani California (Itunes Originals Sessions 2006) - YouTube

I'll look in to a pre-amp, not entirely sure what they exactly do yet but I will read up on them. Once I get a better salary I'll probably look about getting either a Modulus or MM Stingray as those are the tones I like....

Thank you for your help though Much appreciated

[fhm555]

I also had a mexi j suffering from wandering string syndrome associated with their less than perfect imitation of the original fender L plate bridge design.

I replaced the stock bridge with a babicz and it solved every issue I was having with the stock bridge.

I couldn't tell you if there was any sound change. If there was it was minimal, but tuning and intonation are now locked in and don't change even if you take string pressure off the saddle.

The babicz was a major improvement but it was spendy. If the only problem is wandering strings, replace the single slot mexi saddles with a set of saddles made from threaded rod. This allows you to shift the E and G strings one grove outward from straight over the saddle which forces the two outside saddles hard against the two center saddles, which prevents any movement of any saddle once string tension is applied to the formula.

Bass Parts Resource has the threaded saddle sets for less than $15.00.

[96tbird]

Originally Posted by maverickhornet

I've put some nail polish on the screws now and they seems to be holding, its a bit of a make shift way but it will do.

Don't worry about makeshift. It's tried and true. Very few bridges other than Babicz eliminate the problem and this is a perfect solution because It's 100% reversible. Works on output jack and pot nuts too.

Hmmm, maybe you won't approve of precision micro dowels for repairing strap button holes either.