Just putting this out there wondering, what would your choice be for a replacement bridge for a '79 P if it was yours, and why? Looking for something drop-in on the 5 screw setup. I believe its an 'A' neck, and to me the string spacing is *perfect*, so no need to have any crazy adjustable spacing. The stock bridge has very coarse adjustments, its almost bottomed out on some strings, and the saddles move left and right and some of the end wraps ride up on the saddle itself. FWIW keeping light strings on it (45-100) to keep the neck and frets happy, Nickel Rounds, tho might go flat on it soon. Thanks for the advice. Heres a picture of the ol' gal.
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'79 Precision Bridge Reccomendations
- Thread starter c-level
- Start date
Turnaround
Commercial User
Several things come to mind.
First, there are many choices in the market for bridges with shallow channels that the height screws ride in that prevent side to side movement of the saddles. The Gotoh 201 is one such bridge that fits the same mounting hole pattern. It's not a hi-mass bridge, though not as light as the stock bridge. You will likely have to shim the neck though too deal with the slightly thicker base place.
The Hipshot Vintage Bass Bridge is more like the original, but with the grooves to prevent saddle movement. It also mounts on the original holes and will not likely require a neck shim. And it has the advantage of a quick string change arrangement. You want the one with 0.75" spacing. It's pricey though.
And the final note - your E string saddle looks to be exceedingly far back. That suggests to me that you did not set the string's witness point at the saddle while intonating. If you set the witness point i think you'll find the E string will intonate quite a bit further ahead, which will keep the fatter string wraps off the saddle.
First, there are many choices in the market for bridges with shallow channels that the height screws ride in that prevent side to side movement of the saddles. The Gotoh 201 is one such bridge that fits the same mounting hole pattern. It's not a hi-mass bridge, though not as light as the stock bridge. You will likely have to shim the neck though too deal with the slightly thicker base place.
The Hipshot Vintage Bass Bridge is more like the original, but with the grooves to prevent saddle movement. It also mounts on the original holes and will not likely require a neck shim. And it has the advantage of a quick string change arrangement. You want the one with 0.75" spacing. It's pricey though.
And the final note - your E string saddle looks to be exceedingly far back. That suggests to me that you did not set the string's witness point at the saddle while intonating. If you set the witness point i think you'll find the E string will intonate quite a bit further ahead, which will keep the fatter string wraps off the saddle.
If you're bottoming out with the bent L, you'll only make it worse with a fancy "high mass" replacement.
Personally, if it were my bass, I would investigate the cause of the bottoming out issue with the bent L and correct it.
And after decades of seemingly endless experimentation, I haven't found a better bridge for a standard Fender P than the original standard basic bent L.
Personally, if it were my bass, I would investigate the cause of the bottoming out issue with the bent L and correct it.
And after decades of seemingly endless experimentation, I haven't found a better bridge for a standard Fender P than the original standard basic bent L.
I also recommend complete proper set up- nut, ensure frets are uniform and level, relief is correct, strings installed correctly (including witnesses points) etc. before changing the bridge.
Hey this is great info, thanks. And echoes the advice ive recieved on other platforms. I am going to look into shimming the neck on this one and see if it returns a little more play to the saddle, thereby bringing them in line and buffering each other better left to right. I also have 3 year old strings on them (they sound like flats, i love it.) as its been a while since its been gigged, but with the return of church gigs, ive decided to make this, rightfully so my number one. I think a refret is a little bit out of the question for price and added value to a well worn bass.
