Upgrading Badtz Maru Bronco bridge?

[J.D.B.]

I know, I know, they're poop, but I'm having fun with one for low bucks, so far. (Yes, I'm still in that Turd-polishing mode). I put a Dimarzio Pro-Trak pickup in it and a set of light Roto-Flats so now it almost sounds like a neat old...something.... from my dilapidated memory of the early sixties. Getting thumpier anyway. I've been seeing reissue MusicMaster bridges for under $30.00 new online(they have four saddle adjustments and body-through stringing). I 'd like to be able to better dial in the intonation than I can with the current 2 way set-up on there now. I'm not having any luck finding out if all the mounting holes line up with what's already there or will I need to fill and redrill the lower-most pair. I was also thinking of drilling the bridge for top-loading the strings as well like the current bridge(thinking(?) the "thumpiness" it has now will be preserved)(such as it is). I can always come back and try the through-body option later as they come with body ferrules. Any body know if all the mounting holes in the stamping are in the same places? Also(while i'm thinking(?) about it, would the string spacing stay the same?
Thanks,
Josh (Chief cook and turd polisher)

[ponticat]

Here's what I did with an '04 Bronco:



Assuming your Badtz Maru has the same stock bridge as my plain Bronco, you will have to drill new pilot holes for the pair of screws nearest the strap button on the Musicmaster bridge. I did not bother to plug the old holes. I drilled the bridge for top loading strings easily using a drill press, 3/16" holes in fairly soft steel. But...what happens is that the strings no longer have a truly straight pull from the saddles to the new holes; they veer very slightly to the bass side of the body. This doesn't seem to be a real problem but it bothers my sense of neatness and order. The string spacing seems to be the same. On my next Bronco project I'll almost certainly skip the modified bridge (and save $25.00!) as my simple minded style of playing never takes me above the 12th fret; hell, above the 7th fret is a real adventure for me.

Ponticat (Fellow Turd Polisher)

[J.D.B.]

Nice polishing 'Cat, how's it sound with that Duncan? I see the offensive angles but the set up does look real good.
Josh

[J.D.B.]

Turd polishing Part 3. I snagged a new MM bridge. It showed up today and I mounted it up. I went ahead and did the string-through set-up. No problem. The two lower mounting screws extant were absorbed by the through-holes for the A and D stringes. Looks factory. Easy and quick to change over and so far well worth the effort. It has noticeably (not huge) better sustain and the D sounds a bit more alive. The saddles on this install lean to the treble side. The intonation is good all over the neck now, too. Decent polish fer the dollar. I think I'll gig it Saturday and see how cool it really is.
Josh

[dewbass4]

interesting looking, I'd like to see full body and full overall pics.
How much work was required on the neck/frets?
Still using stock tuners?

[J.D.B.]

More pix....not much going on. Kind of a Badtz MusicMaster(HA!). Actually sounded pretty good doing old Sabbath (Hand of doom) this evening. I just set it up the usual way. It has a 12" radius fretboard for some wacky bending. The tuners are poop, but serviceable. This bass isn't worth the jump above 2 bills to go the rest. This maple neck is more funky than funk and the nut is, well, a nut job. Just for fun. Made something mediocre at best a little less so, and having fun with it. We'll see what the 3rd Saturday crew thinks tomorrow night.
Josh