SX Bridge replacement - Guitar Fetish Bridge?

Doodaddy · #1 10-31-2009, 01:12 PM

I desperately need to change the bridge on my 4 SX Jazz. I'm not looking to spend much at all in the spirit of keeping a cheap bass...cheap.

I'm looking pretty hard at the Guitar Fetish High Mass bridge.

http://store.guitarfetish.com/ovtopmobabrs.html

Any experience or suggestions of a different bridge?

GearHeadBassMan · #2 10-31-2009, 01:21 PM

a fender fit badass II fit my sx jass, although it was a close fit.

make sure it's got 5 screws unless you're planning on drilling new ones

Ryan Mohr · #3 10-31-2009, 01:22 PM

Just curious, what's wrong with the SX bridge?

Doodaddy · #4 10-31-2009, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan Mohr

Just curious, what's wrong with the SX bridge?

To put it simple, it's very cheap.

I can't get the bass to intonate with decent action without the actual bridge rattling. The saddle on the E string likes to travel away from the other saddles during playing, about 1/8" from the A.

Ryan Mohr · #5 10-31-2009, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doodaddy

To put it simple, it's very cheap.

I can't get the bass to intonate with decent action without the actual bridge rattling. The saddle on the E string likes to travel away from the other saddles during playing, about 1/8" from the A.

I see what you are saying, but they are essential the same as Fender bridges from the '60s and '70s.

dullsilver_mike · #6 10-31-2009, 02:50 PM

I haven't actually used it yet, but the Gotoh 201 seems cheap and awesome!

I have one sitting in my build box

waiting for the finish to be... finished on my next build.

It feels heavy and sturdy as heck, and the saddles look tough and move like they'll hold exactly how they should. Does not feel at all like a $32 piece of hardware.

JimmyM · #7 10-31-2009, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doodaddy

To put it simple, it's very cheap.

I can't get the bass to intonate with decent action without the actual bridge rattling. The saddle on the E string likes to travel away from the other saddles during playing, about 1/8" from the A.

Man, you must play hard. I never have those troubles with mine. The bridge rattles once in a while but adjusting the springs usually makes it go away.

Oh well, different strokes...

Ryan Mohr · #8 10-31-2009, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Man, you must play hard. I never have those troubles with mine. The bridge rattles once in a while but adjusting the springs usually makes it go away.

Oh well, different strokes...

+1

Doodaddy · #9 10-31-2009, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Man, you must play hard. I never have those troubles with mine. The bridge rattles once in a while but adjusting the springs usually makes it go away.

Oh well, different strokes...

I probably do. It's probably a technique thing too, but never the less; I tried to get a fairly low action. The saddles would start to rattle. Almost as if there isn't enough tension to hold them in place. The bridge was my first complaint, and only real one of the SX entirely.

Now that I've shielded all the cavities and installed MEC's, it's become quite the player.

electracoyote · #10 10-31-2009, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doodaddy

I desperately need to change the bridge on my 4 SX Jazz. I'm not looking to spend much at all in the spirit of keeping a cheap bass...cheap.

I'm looking pretty hard at the Guitar Fetish High Mass bridge.

http://store.guitarfetish.com/ovtopmobabrs.html

Any experience or suggestions of a different bridge?

If everything lines up with your bass, this is a nice bridge. I have ordered several parts from Guitar Fetish (and a couple of Xaviere guitars, excellent value), and they sell good stuff.

Regarding high-mass bridges, don't be surprised if you really don't hear all that much difference. I'm in that group who has experimented with high-mass bridge versus stock factory bent-L plate style bridges, and most of the time I don't hear a big improvement. Once in a while a high-mass bridge is actually a good match for a guitar and I hear a marked improvement, but usually it's kinda "meh" and the stock bridge goes right back on.

If you like low action, sometimes the thickness of a high-mass bridge plate complicates that. Many times, I have bottomed the saddles out on a high-mass bridge just to find the action still high, and that forces you into a decision about shimming the neck (of which I am not a fan). That's another deal-breaker with high-mass bridges for me.

$20.00 is worth a gamble. Good luck with it, and please let us know how it goes.

Doodaddy · #11 10-31-2009, 05:35 PM

I don't really expect an audible difference; I'm more interested in a mechanical difference. I don't necessarily play low action (I thought I did until I received a bass that was incredibly low and sold one and was told it wasn't that low

), so I'm hoping the thickness will not affect the action too much for me.

Ric5 · #12 10-31-2009, 05:45 PM

http://instruments.shop.ebay.com/Mus..._from=R4&_ipg=

Doodaddy · #13 10-31-2009, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric5

http://instruments.shop.ebay.com/Mus..._from=R4&_ipg=

Golly gee. How helpful.

basslinejam · #14 10-31-2009, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doodaddy

I desperately need to change the bridge on my 4 SX Jazz. I'm not looking to spend much at all in the spirit of keeping a cheap bass...cheap.

I'm looking pretty hard at the Guitar Fetish High Mass bridge.

http://store.guitarfetish.com/ovtopmobabrs.html

Any experience or suggestions of a different bridge?

That bridge is made by Grizzly. I can't vouch for that one, but I put this other
grizzly bridge on my SX P. Nice bridge. More vintage-looking, which I prefer.

madbassplaya · #15 10-31-2009, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doodaddy

Golly gee. How helpful.

hahahahaha!

Doodaddy · #16 10-31-2009, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basslinejam

That bridge is made by Grizzly. I can't vouch for that one, but I put this other
grizzly bridge on my SX P. Nice bridge. More vintage-looking, which I prefer.

Very interesting. That looks to be a very nice bridge for the price. Seems to be well built. Given that I feel fairly confident in that one, I could see keeping the original look to the bass. Thanks!

jumbosilverette · #17 10-31-2009, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basslinejam

That bridge is made by Grizzly. I can't vouch for that one, but I put this other
grizzly bridge on my SX P. Nice bridge. More vintage-looking, which I prefer.

Was that a drop-in replacement, basslinejam? Or did you redrill?

ProfGumby · #18 10-31-2009, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doodaddy

I don't really expect an audible difference; I'm more interested in a mechanical difference. I don't necessarily play low action (I thought I did until I received a bass that was incredibly low and sold one and was told it wasn't that low

), so I'm hoping the thickness will not affect the action too much for me.

I would disagree with not much difference. The biggest difference is the increase of sympathetic string vibration. I know, I know, my technique needs work...

But there you have it.

Doodaddy · #19 10-31-2009, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfGumby

I would disagree with not much difference. The biggest difference is the increase of sympathetic string vibration. I know, I know, my technique needs work...

But there you have it.

That being said, at what point does the increase become audible, or rather, at what point does the increasing stop being audible? I'm sure there is a point of diminishing returns, yes?

NortyFiner · #20 10-31-2009, 08:00 PM

The bridges on SX P's and J's, according to everything I know, are pretty much direct copies of stock Fender 5-screw bridges. You also don't need to go putting big expensive upgrades on a bass that costs only slightly more than pocket change. With that in mind, here is probably your best option:

http://www.warmoth.com/Gotoh-201-4-String-C718.aspx

Hope that helps.