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Brass saddles on chrome bridge?

nrs7six

nrs7six

Sep 17, 2007
78
23
Bristol, United Kingdom
www.myspace.com
#1
Hi,

I recently bought a MIJ P bass. It has the stock bridge but one of the saddles has been replaced, I assume it was either lost or broken. I was going to replace the whole bridge but I have just seen 4 brass saddles for a precision bass bridge for 9.99 Inc delivery. It would save me both cash and the need to remove the bridge itself. Does anyone know how this might sound?

Cheers Steve
 
#3
This is another YMMV. Some folks say the higher mass makes a big difference. I can't tell a difference myself, but they won't hurt anything, and they look damned sharp IMHO

Edit: I just grabbed a Gotoh 201 with titanium saddles for a project bass. We'll see how it does. Got it for a few bucks LESS than the chrome version on a wacky sale (maybe sku error).
 
#4
First of all, odds approach certainty that under the chrome on of your existing saddles lurks a heart of brass. They get chrome plated because we humans tend to like order and clean shiny things better than dull looking old yellow/gold/greenish stuff that begs to be dismantled and cleaned on occasion. I've stripped several sets of nickel plated MIM saddles and they were all brass under the plating. And nickle by the way is step 2 in triple chrome plating, with brass being the first step if the item being plated is not already brass to start with.

Not saying you won't notice any difference because our ears are each unique to us as individuals and some are much more sensitive than others. Beyond that the only alteration you can truly count on will be visual, and depending on the difference in size between your current saddles and the replacements you are eyeing, some setup changes may be required.
 
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#5
Thanks for your responses.

The reason I want to replace the saddles is because the one that has been replaced seems inferior in quality to the stock ones. I want to replace all four so that I get more consistency. In terms of set up, it will only require action and intonation won't it? I shouldn't need to adjust the neck?

Cheers
 
#9
A couple things that can be a problem fitting saddles to an existing bridge:
1- saddle width- so you maintain the same string spacing,
2- saddle diameter- if the barrel diameter is much larger, the rest for the string cannot go as low.
Just check measurements first.
 
#10
I'm going to double check that. I have been thinking, if I spend another 20-30 quid I could just get a whole new bridge. Seems a waste though because the bridge itself is solid enough.
1436198395136-23253480.jpg
 
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#11
Here's a couple options.
The saddles alone are around $20 give or take. Beware imitations. I've bought a couple sets off an unnamed bay store and they were different sizes, didn't want to work right kind of stuff.

Option 2 is the whole bridge. For less than ten more bucks you can get the whole bridge.

saddles.jpg bridge l plate.jpg I prefer allen head hardware for the saddle height adjusters so I swap those out.
 
#12
Here's a pic of a complete vintage bridge on an MIM deluxe J. If you just swap the saddles you wind up with nickle saddles on a chrome L plate. A small thing to some, not so much to others, but it won't affect anything but looks. Oh and this also shows the height screws I use instead of the slotted units.
 

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#14
Ok, this thread is over a year old, but I have the exact same situation as the OP on a MIJ P Bass (E-Series 32" Scale, but prob the same bridge). I've read this thru a few times, but I didn't get the last step: Did the OP end up buying the brass saddles off of evilbay (if so, what is the brand, model, etc?) or did he buy a new bridge and swap out the saddles (if so, what is the brand, model, etc?)
 
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#15
I’d be interested as well, bc I’ve got a MIJ 32” precision I’m looking for a new bridge for.
fffreddy said:
Ok, this thread is over a year old, but I have the exact same situation as the OP on a MIJ P Bass (E-Series 32" Scale, but prob the same bridge). I've read this thru a few times, but I didn't get the last step: Did the OP end up buying the brass saddles off of evilbay (if so, what is the brand, model, etc?) or did he buy a new bridge and swap out the saddles (if so, what is the brand, model, etc?)
Click to expand...
 
#16
The primary difference between brass saddles and steel saddles:

With brass saddles the string vibrates within the magnetic field of the pickups which creates flux, the pickups then “pick up” the flux and transmit that signal to your amplifier.

However, when using steel saddles the string vibrates within the magnetic field of the pickups which creates flux. But in this case, the flux is sensed by the pickups and only then will it be transmitted to your amplifier.

Years ago I had a DeTemple bridge with titanium saddles. That was a completely different situation because the pickups detected the flux instead of sensing it.
 
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#17
Killing Floor said:
The primary difference between brass saddles and steel saddles:

With brass saddles the string vibrates within the magnetic field of the pickups which creates flux, the pickups then “pick up” the flux and transmit that signal to your amplifier.

However, when using steel saddles the string vibrates within the magnetic field of the pickups which creates flux. But in this case, the flux is sensed by the pickups and only then will it be transmitted to your amplifier.

Years ago I had a DeTemple bridge with titanium saddles. That was a completely different situation because the pickups detected the flux instead of sensing it.
Click to expand...
How does the pickup "pick up" the flux when the brass saddles, or any other metal, are so far away from the pickup?
 
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#20
nrs7six said:
Hi,

I recently bought a MIJ P bass. It has the stock bridge but one of the saddles has been replaced, I assume it was either lost or broken. I was going to replace the whole bridge but I have just seen 4 brass saddles for a precision bass bridge for 9.99 Inc delivery. It would save me both cash and the need to remove the bridge itself. Does anyone know how this might sound?

Cheers Steve
Click to expand...
I replaced the saddles on one of my J-basses with brass. There's no noticeable difference in sound quality that I've been able to detect. My bass had a black pickup, so the brass looks cool. I made the saddles so that I could change to 20mm spacing and brass was all I had on hand. No other reason.
 

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