Which of these bridges is best for an MIM jazz?

fhm555 · #1 02-25-2011, 09:09 AM

Hey folks...I recently picked up a sweet little secondhand MIM jazz and and I'm not crazy about the bridge. I'm sure it's my ham fists, but the saddles are constantly moving side to side which plays hell with my tuning. I decided to try the Babicz based on price and reviews, and ordered one. While waiting for it to get here I was cleaning out some of my old stuff and found this Badass in a bag I haven't opened in over 10 years. I don't remember having it or why I got it, but it cleaned up real nice and appears to be serviceable.

I have not put them on a scale but the BA is much much heavier. Also, I don't know what kind of wood this body was cut from, but the rear strap button had punky threads when I got it (i'm assuming) from the softish wood, and I'm concerned if three screws will be enough to properly anchor the bridge versus the full five I can use with the Babicz.

Last of all, both of these things are rough ground on the bottom. Do I need to dress this a little to improve the contact surface area?

Thanks for your help, opinions, etc.

walterw · #2 02-25-2011, 12:36 PM

that badass is a "I", made for basses with steeper neck angles.

you'd want a "II", made for fenders.

the babicz is probably very nice, but is the spacing wide enough to line up the strings between the jazz pickup magnets? (not a major thing, but it bugs me and i do hear a difference.)

my vote would have been a set of saddles for one of these, something you can get for $20.

they fit right on your stock plate and solve the "sliding around" problem, as well as letting you get the spacing exactly right.

also, since the strings hold them tight against each other, you get better tone and sustain.

Pilgrim · #3 02-25-2011, 04:16 PM

Walter has my vote. Classic bridge, threaded saddles - a real winner that fits perfectly.

darkstorm · #4 02-25-2011, 04:16 PM

The babicz, I agree with you, 3 holes for mounting bridge to body isnt very good even if concidered "enough". If body wood is softer type like basswood, you'll diff want 5 screws holes for better anchoring with less pull on each screw.

THPBass · #5 02-25-2011, 05:35 PM

I put the Babicz on my fretless jazz and have no complaints. I, too, hated, the stock Fender barrell bridge and it's inherent rattles. The Babicz was a painless retro-fit.

fhm555 · #6 02-25-2011, 06:14 PM

WOW! Total failure all the way round. Not an auspicious start at learning to maintain my own equipment. At least the BA was found so I'm only out for the Babicz.

That said, the sliding problem is not the string on the saddle, it's the saddle(s) (height adjustment screws) on the plate. The string stays in the slot just fine, but the saddles slide like they are on ice, especially the E and A, and short of some cup point screws I don't see how replacing the problematic set with an identical set will solve the problem. It also appears the saddles in Walter's pic are longer with less gap between, but the problem is the E moves toward the edge of the plate and the A follows so longer saddles will not solve that problem either. Please understand, I'm not trying to be obstinate or difficult, I'm just not seeing much difference between what I have installed and what Walter suggested as it applies to my particular dilemma. I have not looked real close, but could it be possible the holes in the L plate are wallowed out allowing the intonation screws to move more than usual?

I've never had this problem with my US Plus, but it's got slots in the plate for the height screws to ride in and also has tapered "ears" on both sides to contain the saddles and in 20 years of enduring my spastic (non) playing style, has never done anything but work as intended. I thought I was getting the same level of performance with the Babicz, but if the string spacing is incorrect I guess that puts me back to square one.

I would like something like the bridge on my US plus, but with the correct (or adjustable) spacing and the same 5 screw mount pattern as the mexi jazz bridge.

Any ideas?

fhm555 · #7 02-25-2011, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THPBass

I put the Babicz on my fretless jazz and have no complaints. I, too, hated, the stock Fender barrell bridge and it's inherent rattles. The Babicz was a painless retro-fit.

Sorry, I didn't see your post before I put mine up. I'll give the Babicz a spin and see what happens before I look elsewhere.

Bassman822 · #8 02-25-2011, 06:35 PM

You might want to consider the Gotoh 201 bridge. Iir, its mounting holes will line up with the holes in the body

walterw · #9 02-25-2011, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fhm555

WOW! Total failure all the way round. Not an auspicious start at learning to maintain my own equipment. At least the BA was found so I'm only out for the Babicz.

That said, the sliding problem is not the string on the saddle, it's the saddle(s) (height adjustment screws) on the plate. The string stays in the slot just fine, but the saddles slide like they are on ice, especially the E and A, and short of some cup point screws I don't see how replacing the problematic set with an identical set will solve the problem. It also appears the saddles in Walter's pic are longer with less gap between, but the problem is the E moves toward the edge of the plate and the A follows so longer saddles will not solve that problem either.

what happens is when you string this kind of bridge up, you spread the string spacing slightly wider than the saddle spacing in order to have them line up between the pickup magnet pairs. this causes the two outer saddles to get pushed in towards the middle two by the string tension, holding everything together tightly.

here's an older american standard bridge; slightly different design, but it uses the same principle.

it's yet another detail that leo got right, then CBS forgot about.