What's the difference between the first two gotoh bridges listed on the page?
[This invalid link has been removed] one of says "standard"
[This invalid link has been removed] one of says "standard"
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Badass Bass Bridge
- Thread starter woodsideh
- Start date
I wish I saw that first!! I originally bought the Gotoh 201, but the strings were too close spaced. I went and got the BadassII and grooved it myself. I recently went with flats. First Sadowskys then DRs. The DRs are real dark and sound excellent with the BAII. I bought a bent plate hipshot, but it makes the sound too dull. I put back on the BAII. If I make another bass, I will prolly use the bent plate bridge on it.
I appreciate all of the input form you guys. I put a Badass III on my American Standard Jazz this week. Figured I would give it a try. Gigged with it last night and the sustain was definitely better. I would recommend the upgrade to anyone.
Hmm at first I thought Squier, no grooves for the bridge saddles. Just took a look an there they are. Looks identical to a Gotoh but is chrome with brass saddles.
I'm sitting here looking that the Fender HMV bridge I just bought to put on my MIM Fender P, and I cannot tell for the life of me if the HMV will fit the 5-hole screw configuration on the MIM.
I has SEVEN holes, three of which (second from each end, middle) are a mite smaller than the other four. The holes are fairly even-spaced, although I have nothing with which to measure them at present.
I don't have my P-bass here, or I'd hold it up there and see.
Can I "drop" this into my 5-hole MIM P-bass, or not?
I has SEVEN holes, three of which (second from each end, middle) are a mite smaller than the other four. The holes are fairly even-spaced, although I have nothing with which to measure them at present.
I don't have my P-bass here, or I'd hold it up there and see.
Can I "drop" this into my 5-hole MIM P-bass, or not?
From a couple of posts of mine from a couple of different threads at TB:
No.
IME, if you've got a functional bridge- if it isn't broken or cracked, the saddles aren't drifting and it intonates- it's not much of an upgrade.
Around the turn of the century I thought it would be a good idea to "upgrade" my Jazz, so I picked up a Badass II. I didn't know what to expect- a certain 'zip' to the tone, or it would magically sound "better" and have so much "sustain" I wouldn't know what to do with it. I put it on, and I couldn't tell the difference.
On paper, it makes all the sense in the world. The larger footprint, the longer string traverse, the troughs to prevent saddle drift... it all adds up to a "better" bridge... on paper.
In practical application- the only difference is this big shiny block of a bridge on your bass. If you think that's an "upgrade," cool. Have at it.
For those of you that have changed bridges and have experienced a magnificent transformation of your sound- did you change strings when you did it? So you've got your new bridge with new strings... think for a second...
Over the past 8 years or so, I've switched bridges back and forth- sometimes kept the old strings on, sometimes changed strings when changing the bridge. I've notice NO appreciable difference- I don't even notice the couple of extra ounces over the stock bent piece of metal bridge.
The only reason I've used the Badass as long as I've used it is because I forked out the money for it. I currently have the stock bent piece of metal that has just as much "tone" and "sustain" as the Badass.
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The HMV bridge is for string through MIA fenders. You can plug the existing holes and re drill 3 hold pattern to accept the HMV, and string through the bridge, but you might as well just go for the goth 201 bridge since they bolt right on and about the same mass.
Someone gave me an old Baddass and it sat around the house for years. When I bought An amer std Jazz I was busting strings left and right on that through the body style. I noticed that the baddass had the most gentle slope of any bass bridge I had ever seen so I decided to replace the stock with the BA. Not only did I break zero strings from there on out but my tone became richer and more muscular. I would have to say that this is the best bridge design out there for electric bass. But for me It only belongs on a fender.
Yeah, thanks. I guess I'm going for the incremental approach, then. I'm sticking on all the other hardware I bought on the MIM P-bass, including the new tuners (I always thought that when I ever bought a Precision, it would naturally have those long-stem tuners. Imagine my surprise...), neck plate and Bass Lines p'ups.
I now own both a Fender HMV and Badass III, neither of which of course fit on THIS bass. I'll either RMA them or just hang on to them for the future.
Sometimes for me, learning through mistakes is the only option.
Oh, and just so I don't end up looking dumber'n I really am: it finally dawned on me that the seven holes result from FOUR STRINGS (through the body) and THREE SCREW HOLES.
Duh.
Duh.
I don't know if anyone else mentioned it or not but another plus I had to upgrading my SX Jazz bass bridge with a BAII was that not only did the tone improve but it helped the bass balance better and not be so neck heavy.
Besides they look cool and don't dig into your hand as much if you ever hit the bridge.
Besides they look cool and don't dig into your hand as much if you ever hit the bridge.
Gotoh 201 doesn't fit older Fenders. My 77 Jazz has a different string spacing than modern MIMs. I tried the BA2 but it looks like a *beep* joke on a 77 and the action sucked. If you like the sound of banging a metal pipe with a hammer, then buy a BA2... j/k B)
I have Badass bridges on my two Jazz basses and my Precision. I like the solidity and stability.
I put a BAII on my P bass. I like it. I did it for looks. Sound? IDK. Can't hear much of a difference. But there also wasn't anything wrong with the bent plate bridge that was on it.
I'll eventually put a BA on my jazz as well.
I'll eventually put a BA on my jazz as well.
