The truth about the badass II

[InyeccionNaranj]

I'd like to get the badass bridge II but i've heard that you need to file the saddles !! How do I do this ?? should this be done by a professional guitar repairman ?? what kind of tools am i going to need in case i do this by myself ?? what would happen if i just don't file the damn saddles and leave the bridge like that ??

THANKS A LOT

[gkbass13]

good question...i was gogin to order one for one of my basses(maybe 2)...i ahd no idea about this...consider me subscribed.

[Nick Ioannucci]

yes you need to file the slots down, but ive seen a couple put it on without doing this. actually one person had the thing installed by some music shop that does repairs and the guy didnt even slot it for him... thats plain sad. but yes it requires slotting.

[Trevorus]

It's not hard. Just get a needle file set from a harware store. They should only be like 10 bucks. Just enough to keep the string in place, and not allow it to rattle around/

[rawrOOO]

if you dont file it down it's be just like not having any grooves in your nut

what a wacky sentence
you know what i mean tho

[Philbiker]

The newer Badass II bridges have different saddles with a string groove built in.

[godspeed68]

I played an original Badass without slotting it when I was younger. It's possible, but expect it to play a little weird until the string makes a slot for itself.


tOm

[main_sale]

If memory serves me correctly the Basass III has slotted saddles. Get that.

[Philbiker]

Originally Posted by main_sale

If memory serves me correctly the Basass III has slotted saddles. Get that.

The Badass III and II are not compatible. The Badass III is for the US basses with through-body stringing. The II is for traditional style bridges. And the newer II version, as I pointed out above, has slotted saddles. Not sure if they've made it out into distribution yet, but I've seen pictures here of the II with the III style slotted saddles.

[aquateen]

my son installed a BAII on his j-bass and it only cost avery reasonable $15 to have the saddles notched.

[Delberthot]

I fitted a Badass I myself.The trick is to put it on without doing any filing, play it for a week or 2 and then take the strings off. You now have marks where the strings naturally go over the saddle so you can file them down using a small round file. the metal is pretty soft so you don't have to put much effort into doing it.

Apparently Glen Quan, the dude behind the name does this but instead of playing the bass, he hits the strings on the saddles with a rubber mallet to leave marks to cut the grooves

[Jazzin']

I filed them down myself. There happened to be a filer in my house which was round and about the diameter of the strings. It's actually easier done than said.

[lug]

Originally Posted by rawrOOO

if you dont file it down it's be just like not having any grooves in your nut

what a wacky sentence
you know what i mean tho

Actually, depending on how the headstock is made, the string can extend much farther beyond the nut than it usually does between the ball of the string and the saddle on a typical bridge. The amount it extends beyond is important to how stable it is.

[truckin88]

actually this is the reason I have been going Gotoh, plus I just have had luck with GOTOH, and am pleased with the quality

[oldrocker]

I use an unslotted BAII on my MIM P Bass Special. I was going to play it for a while and then groove it, but It didn't need it so just left it tha way.

It plays fine, much better than the stock bridge.

[fender_mod]

i think the whole point of the unslotted groves is to accomodate unique and custom string spacings; my bass is a frankenstein and theres no way i could use a regular bridge to get my saddles to line up with my pup pole pieces. cutting your own just lets you do things your way, good for do it your selfers like me.

[babs1234]

the badassII bridge is the best i advise getting it you wont be sorry. it adds so much more tone to your bass that you never know it had and the attack and sustain from it is a lot better, but get it done professionally itll cost you a little more but dont try to do it yourself unless you know how to

hope this helps

[Rodent]

just received a brand spanking new BAII bridge on Saturday ... and it had beautiful slot-free saddles, just as I expected.

the day that Leo Quan makes saddle slotting standard on the BAII bridge is the day I start looking for a different bridge to use.

I love this bridge for the simple fact that I can use the same bridge for a client who prefers 11/16" spacing, and then instsall another bridge for a client who prefers 3/4" spacing. I also love this bridge because I can correct minor neck mis-alignments by simply shifting the location where I install the slot.

all the best,

R

[InyeccionNaranj]

thanks a lot for sharing your thoughts, but i'm still asking, is it really necessary to have a professional installing the bridge? i mean... unscrew the old bridge and remove it, put the badass and screw it... doesn't sound that hard !!

and for the saddles... i think i'll try it without slotting it first... if I notice something's wrong or i just don'l like it... i'll try to slot it very carefully...

[Trevorus]

Originally Posted by InyeccionNaranj

thanks a lot for sharing your thoughts, but i'm still asking, is it really necessary to have a professional installing the bridge? i mean... unscrew the old bridge and remove it, put the badass and screw it... doesn't sound that hard !!

and for the saddles... i think i'll try it without slotting it first... if I notice something's wrong or i just don'l like it... i'll try to slot it very carefully...

A pro can usually get the string spacing right the first time. You can only correct a filing into metal so much.