Newbie question on parts

[Popbumper]

Hey all:

As part of my self "continuing education" series I am often found pondering the meaning of words/threads which have no meaning to me. TRANSLATION: I say "what the heck are they talking about"?

In that vein, I would like to ask specifically about bridges. Given some folks' propensity to change these out, I have to ask - WHAT is the value of doing so? Strings - I get. Bridges - um.....

Thanks!

Chris

[Pilgrim]

I wonder, too. My approach is that unless there is a problem with the bridge that can't be fixed, leave it as the manufacturer designed it.

But others believe that swapping bridges can convey a variety of sonic benefits.

This is a subject of frequent discussion and disagreement.

[JB696]

Lots of guys go to a high mass bridge so they can get more sustain. But when you listen to them play, they don't hold a note longer than three seconds. Maybe five seconds at the end of a song. So sustain is something cool to have even if you never use it. Even on a very slow song, just about any Fender bass will sustain nicely for two bars. Unless you are on a dead spot or have a foam mute. So I guess they need the sustain for when everybody is in the warmup room tuning up. Makes it easier for the guitar players to get the note.

[carl h.]

Check out a cello mute and a cello practice mute. Notice anything similar about either to the "upgrade" bridges?

[JB696]

Sure looks heavy. Couldn't they make that out of a piece of bent sheet metal?

[john grey]

Personally, I'm into the "if it works don't ix it" thing.

Wouldn't the time be better spent on practicing and the money be better pent on musical education materials?
If by some "magic" you could have the bass of your dreams or the chops of your dreams which would you gravitate to?

[fhm555]

I changed the bridge on my mexi j bass, but I did it because I got tired of the strings moving all over the place with the stock bridge.

My concern was to avoid constant tuning and intonation hassles associated with the wiggly stock L plate.

To be clear, it is my playing which causes this NOT the fender bridge.

[Staccato]

You'll often see very heavy bridges on more pricey basses, and the other extreme-cheapo kit basses that sell with amp, strap, and cable included in the box. Much of this stuff centers around design, quality of materials, price, and weight.

There's TB discussion about:
-inexpensive imported bridges
-increased sustain from a heavy bridge,
-floppy b string on inexpensive imported bridges,
-those that have string-through or top load setup,
-brand name bridges.

You'll find that lots of TB'rs will buy one (or more) basses that are not considered beginner models, and our tendency is to stick with the above average factory bridge that came on it.

[mech]

I mainly change bridges for cosmetic reasons (hardware color change) or just because it looks better to me. One or two were changed because they were uncomfortable for right hand palm muting when using a pick. I haven't noticed enough difference in sound/sustain to make me prefer one type over another tonally. Bridges that don't fulfill their intended function are few and far between IMHO.

There are some bridges I will never use due to the complexity of the adjustments.

mech

[bunnykeeper]

I've never owned a high-mass bridge, but have one arriving soon. Just for the sake of discussion, though...

I understand about not needing more than three seconds of sustain. Under ideal conditions. But let's say that for whatever reason, during a song, you don't fret a note cleanly, and it fizzles out. Does the high-mass bridge buy you a little extra sustain that you'd otherwise be losing with a standard bridge?