My question is this: Why should I have to shim a neck just because I replaced a bridge?
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Badass Bridge III, Not Recommended
- Thread starter Bassbwithu
- Start date
Agreed, that's a great bridge. The Hipshot A also comes in several different widths (string spacings) and each one allows further lateral adjustment of the saddles, so getting the right spacing is a non-issue. I was able to make the string-spread on my MIM Jazz 5 a bit wider than stock when I put on the Hipshot, and I really appreciated that.
Reid
I have owned 2 Fender Jazz basses with BAII bridges and they were both great. One was factory installed on a Geddy Lee and the other was bought on eBay and put on a MIM Jazz. Both were slotted though.
The only negative I can see is that the BA bridges are thicker (therefore higher) than standard Fender bridges. As a replacement bridge, ubless you route the wood under the bridge, the action will be higher.
The only negative I can see is that the BA bridges are thicker (therefore higher) than standard Fender bridges. As a replacement bridge, ubless you route the wood under the bridge, the action will be higher.
My question is this: Why should I have to shim a neck just because I replaced a bridge?
because the bass wasn't originally assembled with that bridge in mind. your acting like there's something WRONG with shiming a neck. its extremely common, even among 'high end' luthers.
But not everyone wants to start drilling new holes to install the Hipshot. With the BAIII, you need not drill anything.
You get the "high mass" bridge sound, without screwing around with your instrument.
And a word about all the adjustments the Hipshot A offers... they all are simply not needed. It is in no way superior to the BAIII in terms of functionality. My bass keeps in tune, intonation is perfect, strings don't move, height adjustable... I mean really, what else is there? Do you want your bridge to microwave your dinner too?
But I can name more than a few other aftermarket bridges where such a mod is not necessary.
There's nothing wrong with it, but why should someone have to?
A simple bent-plate Fender bridge does all that too. Why swap that out for a BA, then?
I have had to do that on every bolt on I have owned to date (4), it's VERY normal on Fenders.
Here is my response to your problems:
1. The saddles are so huge, that you are limited to medium high action unless you grind down the bottoms of the saddles.
A. Shim the neck, this is very normal on Fenders, even with stock bridges.
2. The grooves are a joke. They aren't cut deep enough, so your strings WILL pop out. You can try to file them, but you will go through many files.
A. I haven't had that problem, but a small jewelers file should be fine. Mine grooves are super light and look like they would slip out but they never have.
3. The saddles are misaligned from standard Fender pole pieces. No matter what you do, you'll get a severe "break" in the string before the saddle to get them to align right. To really get it right, you have to move the bridge (redrill, etc.), but then you will negate through body stringing.
A. This is normal on Fenders even with the stock bridge as well. Are your strings even with rest of the fretboard? If not, your neck pocket is slightly out of alignment there are threads here on how to remedy. If not, it's a either just the way the pickups lie (many fender polepieces don't line up, as long as the magnetic field covers the string you are fine) or the bridge wasn't slotted properly.
4. Leo Q. customer service does NOT return emails.
A. I have no experience with that.
I am no Leo Quan fanboy, just trying to inform you of a few facts.
1. The saddles are so huge, that you are limited to medium high action unless you grind down the bottoms of the saddles.
A. Shim the neck, this is very normal on Fenders, even with stock bridges.
2. The grooves are a joke. They aren't cut deep enough, so your strings WILL pop out. You can try to file them, but you will go through many files.
A. I haven't had that problem, but a small jewelers file should be fine. Mine grooves are super light and look like they would slip out but they never have.
3. The saddles are misaligned from standard Fender pole pieces. No matter what you do, you'll get a severe "break" in the string before the saddle to get them to align right. To really get it right, you have to move the bridge (redrill, etc.), but then you will negate through body stringing.
A. This is normal on Fenders even with the stock bridge as well. Are your strings even with rest of the fretboard? If not, your neck pocket is slightly out of alignment there are threads here on how to remedy. If not, it's a either just the way the pickups lie (many fender polepieces don't line up, as long as the magnetic field covers the string you are fine) or the bridge wasn't slotted properly.
4. Leo Q. customer service does NOT return emails.
A. I have no experience with that.
I am no Leo Quan fanboy, just trying to inform you of a few facts.
Those Leo Quann bridges are garbage. I have never liked them , and this doesn't surprise. The new Fender bridges are great. OP, just curious, why did you replace it?
I installed a BA2 on my P-bass, didn't cut grooves, no shim requiered, actions fine. The intonations great and the strings stay put.
Probably for the same reason you'd have to alter (or replace) your nut when drastically changing string gauges. I have Badass IIs on both of my P-basses. My Mexican one needed a neck shim (even despite my liking of higher action), while my American one did not. Weird, right? Not really. They're two different basses. Why someone would choose to route the wood beneath the bridge instead of simply shimming the neck is totally beyond me. In addition, I filed grooves in one (and strangely enough, only used ONE file that is still in good enough shape to be used again) but not in the other. They both play and sound 100%.
Agreed that a Badass bridge isn't for everyone. P-basses aren't for everyone either. There's no need to try to convince someone that it's a great bridge and worth having to shim the neck or whatever if they don't think so. If you feel you need to change your bridge and don't want a Badass, don't get one. As much as I try to eat healthy food, there's no one in the world that can convince me that I like broccoli. Because I know that I don't like broccoli, I don't buy it at the grocery store. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't find it appetizing. Same deal. To each his/her own. I find it funny that some people swear by swapping out the stock bent-plate bridge for something high-mass and others actually get pissed when people do. My basses are both much happier with badder asses and I'm happy if they're happy. Why would I change my bridge? 3 reasons: because I want to, because it's my bass, and because I can.
On the subject of customer service at Leo Quan HQ, I've dealt with both Leo and his son a few times and would never find anything to complain about. They're both pretty awesome, actually, and once even sent me a single replacement saddle free of charge.
On another note, I don't think I've ever even seen a P-bass that had pole-pieces aligned with the strings!
I put a BAIII on my Jaguar and had none of the problems you described, and I assure you that my action is as low as legal- no shim. I like the pre-cut grooves, but I had a choice 'cause my dealer had them both with and without. The strings don't pop out(and I play with all the finesse of Shaq) and go right between the pole pieces of my Fralin Jazz pick-ups. I picked the BAIII over the BAII because it has a smaller footprint, and I could put my vintage chrome ashtray cover it, whereas I never could with the BAII. Just my 2 cents.
I'm sorry for all of your difficulties, and I'm sorry to hear of the failing health of Mr.Quan.
Peace
I'm sorry for all of your difficulties, and I'm sorry to hear of the failing health of Mr.Quan.
Peace
Tone. The BAII alters the tone of the instrument, mainly in the strings behavior in attack and punch.
Really? I didnt notice, I installed mine last night and it seemed to match up just as well as the stock bridge did. And it sounds really great!
And with the Gotoh 201 you get that "high mass" bridge sound at half the price, also without screwing around with your instrument.
I've no experience with a BAIII. I do have a BAII on my custom Jazz and it can go low! Really low. In what way is the BAIII different other than one is a direct replacement for Fender basses??
I own an 82 Squier JV with a Badass II - no shim on the neck, and the action is perfect (and I like a low action). I regard it as a very nicely engineered component - far more professional than the bent steel effort it replaced. I can't comment on the badass 3, but a properly slotted BAII is an asset to this particular bass and offers a real improvement in the snap and attack.
