Bridge Replacement for MIM Jazz

[BornboreD]

Need a bridge for a MIM Jazz I'm trying to restore. I just wanna go with the typical bent plate vintage style. Currently browsing my options on basspartsresource.com

Here's my question... Is there actually any difference at all between the Fender Mexi Standard replacement bridge, and the "aftermarket", and "economy" 4 string, 5 hole mount bridges they offer?? They all look the same in the pics.

 

[highway]

get a gotoh 201 from warmoth.com for $40 . . . best bang for the buck, performance is equal to that of a $100+ leo quan

 

[BornboreD]

get a gotoh 201 from warmoth.com for $40 . . . best bang for the buck, performance is equal to that of a $100+ leo quan

Yeah, I could do that. But honestly I find the basic vintage style bent plate bridges to function just fine. Plus, a bridge for $10-$20 for a project bass makes my wallet a lot more happy than $40.

 

[kedo]

Are you replacing the existing bridge or buying a bridge for a bass that lacks one?

 

[JayfromDeeKay]

I have a Gotoh 203 on my MIM and I'm very happy with it. The 203 is like a vintage bent plate, but a bit thicker and it keeps the saddles in place better than the original one.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/gotoh-201-vs-203-a-512473/

 

[mpdd]

used a vintage style threaded, works great

 

[kedo]

^yes

If you've already got the bridge plate, you could just get the threaded saddles. If not, the bridge assembly itself isn't terribly expensive. After using (and liking) BA2 and Babicz FCH bridges, I really do prefer the bent plate/threaded saddle bridge.

 

[BornboreD]

Are you replacing the existing bridge or buying a bridge for a bass that lacks one?

Replacing the existing one that was rusted, and corroded so badly the finish was flaking/bubbling. Couldn't clean it up at all. It was also missing one saddle and a couple set screws from the remaining saddles.

 

[kedo]

Link Removed

Theres an aftermarket threaded saddle bent plate. The Fender unit is around $35 at basspartsresource. i ordered mine from Amazon... forget how much. Once it's set up properly it's a great piece.

 

[kedo]

$21.99 on Amazon for the Fender unit.

 

[jazz3625tonic]

used a vintage style threaded, works great

I agree.... The very best bridge for fender Jazz or P style basses (for me anyway) is the original Fender bent plate bridge with the threaded saddles. It allows for very nice alignment (spacing) of the strings over the double pole pieces of the pickups and height adjustment is also very easy, as is intonation. If you set up the bass correctly the strings will draw the saddles inward and against each other allowing for very little movement. It is a very, very good bridge design indeed, and it sounds as good as any of the newer drop in replacement bridges coming to market as of late.
Now having said that there is the Fender bent plate bridge that has the saddles that seem to move around on the bridge plate... this is the bridge that to my knowledge was the bridge that was a "re-design" that CBS decided to use after they bought Fender. Well, don't use that bridge. Players can save a lot of money by just picking up the Fender vintage style bent plate bridge with the threaded saddles from a multitude of places on the internet and have a very easy to set up, and very good sounding bass bridge that provides plenty of sustain and note definition. Just listen to the very many great recorded tunes of the past 60 years. There's a lot of fluff out there with all these new bridges coming out but that's marketing I suppose. Peace.