I bought the Badass II at a The Music Store in Stroudsburg, PA, in the mid 70s. I think it cost about $40 and the store installed it for little or no extra cost. At that time I believe they all came unfiled. I remember the manager taking it out of the show case. At that time, I was a newbie on BG and recall I was having problems tuning the strings to the frets, and the BA was easier to tune (its good looks and the fact that it fit on my bass without re-drilling also figured into my decision). In hindsight, it must have been my ear or the strings (I have never used Fender strings since that time (Just a fact no put down)
because now my Jazz Bass tunes perfectly all the way to the last fret (Eb), and I had no trouble at all tuning it with the Fender bridge yesterday.
The BA II, which I am holding in my hand as I type, looks just as pretty as when I bought it. It certainly was well made. It is chrome plated except for a 5cm strip on the underside, upwards toward the finger board, starting just below the screw holes where it has been quickly ground smooth by what looks like a belt or rotary sander. Also, underneath is an indented box which reads: Manufactured & Distributed by Leo Quan Inc. Recommended Installation by Professional Guitar Repairman.
I have to take back something I said in my last post: "My BA may have been cut wrong" (I will go back and try to delete it). As I very carefully measure the notch spacing on the BA, I find that they are exactly 2cm apart and the E and G strings are exactly 1cm from the edge of the bridge. Does anyone know if these measurements meet the specs?
Finally, I believe WalterW has hit it right on the head--again! :
i suspect that the big difference you heard was from the lower strings now being closer to the pickups!
pickup distance makes a huge difference, while bridge variations are more subtle in result.
Sorry for all the trouble I've caused. In the future I'll try to curb my enthusiasm.
because now my Jazz Bass tunes perfectly all the way to the last fret (Eb), and I had no trouble at all tuning it with the Fender bridge yesterday. The BA II, which I am holding in my hand as I type, looks just as pretty as when I bought it. It certainly was well made. It is chrome plated except for a 5cm strip on the underside, upwards toward the finger board, starting just below the screw holes where it has been quickly ground smooth by what looks like a belt or rotary sander. Also, underneath is an indented box which reads: Manufactured & Distributed by Leo Quan Inc. Recommended Installation by Professional Guitar Repairman.
I have to take back something I said in my last post: "My BA may have been cut wrong" (I will go back and try to delete it). As I very carefully measure the notch spacing on the BA, I find that they are exactly 2cm apart and the E and G strings are exactly 1cm from the edge of the bridge. Does anyone know if these measurements meet the specs?
Finally, I believe WalterW has hit it right on the head--again! :
i suspect that the big difference you heard was from the lower strings now being closer to the pickups!
pickup distance makes a huge difference, while bridge variations are more subtle in result.
Sorry for all the trouble I've caused. In the future I'll try to curb my enthusiasm.
