Some questions about bridges.

gonzorob · #1 07-28-2008, 12:35 PM

I have read here in a couple of different threads that people have been taking their squier VMs to guitar shops for setups and upgrades and have actually been advised that they should not replace the bridge.

why would this be?

I am thinking of doing this sort of upgrade on both of my VMs and I am sitting here scratching my head trying to figure out a reason behind this. While I am sure the stock bridge is perfectly fine for most, I feel like it is a bit flimsy, especially with .50,.70,.85,.105 gauge strings.

Both of mine are going in at the end of this month for a little TLC and I am looking to do a little upgrading without doing a complete overhaul. The bridge replacement seemed like a logical place to start. Am I mistaken?

JTE · #2 07-28-2008, 02:13 PM

What do you expect the bridge to do? I haven't seen a Squier VM, but I'm assuming it's a typical Fender bass bridge design. A heavier mass bridge like a BA will change things, but it's not necassarily an improvement. So, with any mods you're planning, you should have a very clear idea of what you expect from the change, and realistic expectaions of whether the solution you're proposing will cause that change.

Just changing something is not the same as upgrading it.

So, let's be specific here. What short-comings do you see in the stock bridge? All you say is that it seems "flimsy" but you don't specify what that means. Help us help you.

jte

spaz21387 · #3 07-28-2008, 02:21 PM

I have a vm p bass I did have a badass2 bridge on it for maybe 30 minutes and went back to the stock bridge. I cant really figure out why but with the action on the bridge set all the way up my p bass sounded really twangy almost like a telecaster guitar. But my jazz is a different story, The mim jazz bass had a problem with the bridge and the saddles sunk when I was playing the E string. And the tone improved too It got punchyer with more attack and longer sustain. Only one problem with the ba2 bridge though you cant put an ashtray over it. So if you want an ashtray dont get the ba2. I would recomend leaving the stock bridge as well. Its great when I use 105s Maybe you dont have the innotation set up right a shop can do that for you. I would recomend new pickups and new pots and a new jack though.

gonzorob · #4 07-28-2008, 02:29 PM

I had another thread in here somewhere where i asked questions about types of bridges. I decided on Gotoh 201 because I don't necessarily want to change my tone a bunch, I just want better quality hardware.

The flimsyness I am talking about is noticeable when I dig in. It seems like the bridge has a little give in it. Maybe too much. And I always assumed it was just the cheap stock bridge that gave it that feel.

Basically thats what I am after, I would like to make sure all the moving parts are of good quality. I realize the stock bridge is probably fine, and I will hang on to it. The bridge just seemed like a logical place to start. I mean, I guess I could replace the tuners instead, but the only problem I have had with them is one will get stiff now and then.

I have been thinking about upgrades for awhile and I am still just enough of a beginner that I don't want to replace pickups and electronics yet, because I am still trying to find my "sound".

Does any of this make sense?

Should I just used the extra dough to buy strings?

gonzorob · #5 07-28-2008, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spaz21387

I have a vm p bass I did have a badass2 bridge on it for maybe 30 minutes and went back to the stock bridge. I cant really figure out why but with the action on the bridge set all the way up my p bass sounded really twangy almost like a telecaster guitar. But my jazz is a different story, The mim jazz bass had a problem with the bridge and the saddles sunk when I was playing the E string. And the tone improved too It got punchyer with more attack and longer sustain. Only one problem with the ba2 bridge though you cant put an ashtray over it. So if you want an ashtray dont get the ba2. I would recomend leaving the stock bridge as well. Its great when I use 105s Maybe you dont have the innotation set up right a shop can do that for you. I would recomend new pickups and new pots and a new jack though.

Can you give me a ballpark price on what it would cost to do the pots and jack?

spaz21387 · #6 07-28-2008, 02:34 PM

It seems to me that you dont like the fact that the saddles move slightly from side to side right? All you need is a bridge with grooves cut in it so the saddles dont move. And pickups arent very hard to install. All you need are wire cutters a soldering iron and solder. CTS pots will cost 7 dollars a piece, A capacitor will cost like 1 to 3 dollars. I cant remember the price of a switchcraft jack but it shouldnt be more then 10 dollars. Then extra wire should be a couple dollars too.

gonzorob · #7 07-28-2008, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spaz21387

It seems to me that you dont like the fact that the saddles move slightly from side to side right? All you need is a bridge with grooves cut in it so the saddles dont move.

This is exactly what I mean. I don't mind a little bit of movement, but it seems like they move more than they should. This is why I decided to go with a gotoh 201, because it is very similar to the stock bridge, but with grooves.

Also, I don't know how to solder. Not the first clue how. I'd rather pay todd the guitar guy to do it for me.

spaz21387 · #8 07-28-2008, 02:46 PM

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,...s.html#details

Is that the bridge you want? It looks alot like the stock bridge but in the picture I dont see the grooves that keeps the saddles from moving, Maybe they are there and it was just a bad picture. And for almost 2 years I didnt have a soldering iron and the pickups in my jazz werent soldered in the wires were just wrapped around each other and then wrapped with electrical tape. You could do that too.

spaz21387 · #9 07-28-2008, 02:51 PM

Im sure both of these bridges would stop the side movement of saddles.

http://www.bestbassgear.com/hipshot-...ss-bridges.htm

http://www.bestbassgear.com/badass-bridge.htm

gonzorob · #10 07-28-2008, 02:59 PM

Here is what I am looking at. Click to enlarge and you should see the grooves.

Clicky

spaz21387 · #11 07-28-2008, 03:10 PM

ok that one is different then the one I found. And I can see the grooves that should be a good bridge. You should also replace the strings if you havent yet. The stock squire strings sucked. I would recomend ernie ball or dean markley blue steels. I still think you should replace the pickup eventualy. I hated the stock one on my vm p bass. It was close to a vintage p bass tone but It didnt sound fat enough.

gonzorob · #12 07-28-2008, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spaz21387

ok that one is different then the one I found. And I can see the grooves that should be a good bridge. You should also replace the strings if you havent yet. The stock squire strings sucked. I would recomend ernie ball or dean markley blue steels. I still think you should replace the pickup eventualy. I hated the stock one on my vm p bass. It was close to a vintage p bass tone but It didnt sound fat enough.

I use Ernie Ball 2832s on both basses right now, but I am having the P set up for flats when I take it in. Still not sure whether I will put EB flats or Chromes on it though. The pickup change is tantalizing. I love the sound of the VM jazz but it has been harder for me to get a sound I like out of the P. I was hoping flats would help remedy that situation. Plus I have been really chomping at the bit to try some flats lately.

I can always have them drop a quarter pounder in it during the next set up I guess.