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Bridges Difference maker or no?

Bridges Difference makers or no?

  • Yes

    Votes: 15 60.0%

  • No

    Votes: 10 40.0%
  • Total voters
    25
  • Poll closed .
shawshank72

shawshank72

Mar 22, 2009
5,493
8,311
Canada
#1
I know there are many who mod a bass and add a new bridge to their bass. I used to be one of them but never noticed a difference so i stopped.
I would see vintage gear with the original cheap bridge and think hell, if its 30 yrs later and it still works why am i bothering?
I remember seeing a youtube video (but cant find it again) of someone who put many different bridges on the same bass and recorded them. For the life of me and many others you couldnt tell the difference.
Was wondering what the tbers thoughts were.
 
#2
To me, the difference they make, if any, is minimal. That said, a nice top loaded bridge can definitely be a real convenience that's worth paying extra for if you change strings regularly.
 
#3
I build a lot of parts basses and mod a lot of other basses ... some bridge changes make no difference. Some bridge changes make a big difference. I have tried some bridges that consistantly give me a poor low B and some give me a good low B.
 
#6
DWBass said:
Depends. If it's a cheap POS, then yes. Most bridges are solid. Some have more features (i.e. adjustable string spacing) than others. Changing a Fender bridge to a Badass or Gotoh won't make a difference.
Click to expand...

I've had the same experiences. I guess I should have added that going from a cheap bridge to a quality one will make a difference, but most stock bridges on US made basses are more than fine. Heck, I'd say most stock bridges on most basses these days are fine.
 
#7
Its hard to say if it makes a big difference on your bass if you can't play your exact setup against itself with the new/old hardware configs (if that makes any sense).

This video seems to indicate that the bridge does make a difference:

Pretty cool.
 
#8
My first bass was a squire P. I of course still have it. But after about a year or so I think it was, I took the stock bridge off and put a BAII on it. At the time I thought I noticed a slight difference. Years pass. I put a fender threaded vintage bridge on my P. I notice a slight difference in playability. Again, a slight difference. I like the fender bridge. I like the BAII too though to. Eh, I have to say at this point I can't notice a big enough difference between the two but I'll stick with the fender for a while.
 
#12
The difference I noticed after changing my MIM stock bridge to a Badass was night and day. The tone has a lot more high end snap and the sustain goes for days. I could see how some people wouldn't like the change but I cannot see how somebody couldn't notice it.

I haven't changed any other bridges though... I imagine depending on the bridge style you could not notice any difference though.
 
#14
I generally like to play the bass the way it came from the factory. It was designed and equipped to sound a certain way - and I go along with that, other than putting my chosen strings on it (which does alter the sound, I grant.)

I've never found Fender bridges to lack anything in terms of adjustability, performance, sustain, durability or sound quality, so I'm not interested in changing them for the sake of making a change.
 

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