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Bridge Recomendations for Jazz Bass

Garret Wheeler

Garret Wheeler

Mar 1, 2016
200
249
28
#1
Hi all,

I made another post about pickup suggestions for a Jazz bass with a SD 1/4 Pound P in the neck position today. I'm debating changing out the stock bridge while I'm getting some work done. I've used Badass bridges (and Fender's version of the Badass II) before, and I liked those, but does anyone have any suggestions?

Right now my Jazz has the old-school Fender bridge with threaded barrel saddles. I don't have any major problems with it, but a bridge upgrade is fairly cheap and easy.

The Fender HiMass and the Hipshot Kickass both look cool, but I'm open to suggestion!
 
#4
No real reason to change it, but the gotoh 201 is quite possibly the finest replacement bridge out there.

Honorable mention is the schaller, not sure the model number, then the fender hi mass.
 
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#5
Garret Wheeler said:
Hi all,

I made another post about pickup suggestions for a Jazz bass with a SD 1/4 Pound P in the neck position today. I'm debating changing out the stock bridge while I'm getting some work done. I've used Badass bridges (and Fender's version of the Badass II) before, and I liked those, but does anyone have any suggestions?

Right now my Jazz has the old-school Fender bridge with threaded barrel saddles. I don't have any major problems with it, but a bridge upgrade is fairly cheap and easy.

The Fender HiMass and the Hipshot Kickass both look cool, but I'm open to suggestion!
Click to expand...
Is there a problem with the stock bridge that you are try to ameliorate/correct/address? Or, are you just looking for something "cool"?
 
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#7
Garret Wheeler said:
Right now my Jazz has the old-school Fender bridge with threaded barrel saddles. I don't have any major problems with it, but a bridge upgrade is fairly cheap and easy.
Click to expand...
The Fender bent plate bridge with threaded saddles gets the job done just fine. A different bridge wouldn’t really be an “upgrade”, just something different. If you want something different, go for it. :)
 
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#9
There's been quite a few discussions here about difference between simple bent plate bridge and aftermarket hi-mass bridges. My impression from reading those is that there is none or minimal diference in sound if both are instaled proper, but sometimes aftermarket bridge can be better for fine tuning setup.
Just wanted to put this for you to consider before opening your wallet.
 
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#10
Garret Wheeler said:
Hi all,

I made another post about pickup suggestions for a Jazz bass with a SD 1/4 Pound P in the neck position today. I'm debating changing out the stock bridge while I'm getting some work done. I've used Badass bridges (and Fender's version of the Badass II) before, and I liked those, but does anyone have any suggestions?

Right now my Jazz has the old-school Fender bridge with threaded barrel saddles. I don't have any major problems with it, but a bridge upgrade is fairly cheap and easy.

The Fender HiMass and the Hipshot Kickass both look cool, but I'm open to suggestion!
Click to expand...
s-l1600.jpg
 
#11
Jeff Scott said:
Is there a problem with the stock bridge that you are try to ameliorate/correct/address? Or, are you just looking for something "cool"?
Click to expand...
I don't have any major issues with the bent plate/barrel saddles at the moment. When I first got this bass I had issues with the saddles staying at the correct height because they would progressively get lower after hours and hours of playing. After explaining the issue, my luthier put some stuff inside the threads that basically locked them into place. You can still adjust it, but it's harder now and the brass saddles were kinda discolored by the stuff he used to lock them off.

My previous No. 1 was a P bass with a badass II on it. I won't say that the bridge was THE SECRET to it sounding so good, but I think it helped. They're also like $60 bucks and a drop in replacement, so I figured I might as well go for it while my bass is gonna be in the shop. I'm also adding a Hipshot D-Tuner, swapping out the bridge pickup, and changing the setup a little bit so this would be an easy upgrade while I'm at it.
 
#12
RattleSnack said:
There's been quite a few discussions here about difference between simple bent plate bridge and aftermarket hi-mass bridges. My impression from reading those is that there is none or minimal diference in sound if both are instaled proper, but sometimes aftermarket bridge can be better for fine tuning setup.
Just wanted to put this for you to consider before opening your wallet.
Click to expand...
I agree, I dropped a Badass II into a P bass I used to have. It didn't totally change the sound, but I think it did slightly increase the sustain. Not necessarily in the sense that all the notes would ring out for longer, but they sounded slightly fuller to my ears. I will also say the Badass stayed in place once set. That isn't always the case with my current bridge.
 
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#14
marchone said:
Another vote for a Fender HiMass Bass Bridge. I replaced the bent bridge ones I had on. They may or may not offer longer sustain and a fuller tone, but they look the part and are properly branded.
Click to expand...
Maybe a silly question, but you mean the one that looks kinda like a Badass right? They offer two "high mass" models and I've seen the wrong names applied to both of them lol.
 
#17
Interesting. I wonder if that’s discontinued? I recall reading something about Badass supplying Fender in the past.

It looks like a good one too, at a better price.

Whatever you choose, make certain it has the correct number of holes and placement. Otherwise, you’re drilling new holes.
 
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