Bridges

[WayneS]

It seems to me that a bridge is a bridge is a bridge. Saddles move back and forth the same way. So, why are some advertised to be so much better than others? So much better sustain and intonation. I just dont see why one is so much better than the other. As for sustain, it seems the the only part that matters is the tiny spot in the saddle where the string sits.


Could someone explain this to me?

 

[Kalyptic]

very good question, ive been wondering the same thing.

 

[DeliriumTremens]

more mass = more sustain or that's the theory at least

 

[fabubass]

I put badasses on all 3 of my jazz's, they sound like new guitars, more focus, clarity of notes, more even sounding, Especially, with a good set up.
Set Up is Soooooo important!!

 

[ehque]

It seems to me that a bridge is a bridge is a bridge. Saddles move back and forth the same way. So, why are some advertised to be so much better than others? So much better sustain and intonation. I just dont see why one is so much better than the other. As for sustain, it seems the the only part that matters is the tiny spot in the saddle where the string sits.


Could someone explain this to me?

You're assuming a bridge is perfectly rigid and is bolted to the body rigidly - which is too much to expect from any bridge, even a very good one.

Good/heavy/stiff bridges just don't move as much, which sounds different. I'm not saying they sound better, but different.

Other things to note are the ease of adjustment of action, intonation, restringing, and whether they hold said adjustments well. I know the normal fender bridge is not so good at holding intonation adjustments in place, from my experience.

 

[dabbler]

It seems to me that a bridge is a bridge is a bridge. Saddles move back and forth the same way. So, why are some advertised to be so much better than others? So much better sustain and intonation. I just dont see why one is so much better than the other. As for sustain, it seems the the only part that matters is the tiny spot in the saddle where the string sits.


Could someone explain this to me?

I believe that there is some black magic involved in some of this , but I will also say that changing my Fender style bridge to a badass style DID change the tone, I'm not sure about sustain. In THIS change I believe it is because of the following:

EVERY guitar is an elastic entitity, the strings exert significant pull on both neck and body (via the bridge). When played, the strings cause the body and neck to vibrate (every action causes an opposite and equal reaction). The neck/body's reaction also feeds back into the string, affecting the tone.

Sooo, in MY case, the change of the part of the bridge where the string is actually anchored (even though it is past the saddle) is more rigid in a badass style bridge and transmits more string vibration back to the body. In a Fender style bridge more of the vibration probably gets absorbed. Therefore the 2 bridges affect tone differently.

When you have 2 bridges of similar mass, things get less clearcut, but each element of the bridge DOES impact the transmission/absorption of vibration and can impact your tone.

 

[idoru]

I find that the standard bent-plate (Fender) bridge can rattle when you pluck the strings. My Warwick and ATK bridges do not.

 

[alexofc69]

I put badasses on all 3 of my jazz's, they sound like new guitars, more focus, clarity of notes, more even sounding, Especially, with a good set up.
Set Up is Soooooo important!!

+1

 

[DeliriumTremens]

I find that the standard bent-plate (Fender) bridge can rattle when you pluck the strings. My Warwick and ATK bridges do not.

never had that happen to me

 

[EpicSoundtracks]

the bent-plate bridge is the nadir of Leo Fender's creative output.

 

[ClassicJazz]

Why??

MARKETING!

 

[bluestarbass]

I did setups for a store for a while and IMO there is a big difference. Some bridges are impossible to work with. Some rust really bad and then they are basically useless. Some will allow through body stringing some wont. Some have an individual bridge for each string, ala 2 tek. Some have piezo pickups under the saddle. Everyone is right, a bridge with a higher mass will increase sustain. Ive never had a problem with sustain so ive never had to replace a bridge. If you dont do the setups on your own basses it may not make as much of a difference.

 

[Rumblin' Man]

Yeah, the 2Tek. Now *that's* a bridge.

I have a 4 string on a DIY P body and I used to have a 5. Best sounding bridge ever, IMO, built like a tank and just about as heavy, especially the 5...ouch.

I'm currently lookng for a new project for my 2Tek 4. Maybe a nice stick EUB and I can call it the 2x4Tek.

 

[EpicSoundtracks]

Why??

MARKETING!

 

[rummy]

A bridge with a bigger contact surface to the body will obviously transfer more vibrations, ergo the Badass or the Musicman.

 

[grovest]

It seems to me that a bridge is a bridge is a bridge. Saddles move back and forth the same way. So, why are some advertised to be so much better than others? So much better sustain and intonation. I just dont see why one is so much better than the other. As for sustain, it seems the the only part that matters is the tiny spot in the saddle where the string sits.


Could someone explain this to me?

To repeat a point already made, you will find some after market bridges offer much easier and more reliable adjustments for height and intonation. Good machining and design is important for the small changes involved in a setup.

 

[ack]

the bent-plate bridge is the nadir of Leo Fender's creative output.

Please explain, I'm really curious.
Fenders aren't the only mfg that uses the bent plate bridge, as it has been copied worldwide.

Is the bent plate bridge just a cost cutting measure used by Fender and the folks cloning (SX, Turser, etc.)?

I don't own any Fenders, so I really wouldn't know...
Just curious, thanks.

ack

 

[lug]

Good/heavy/stiff bridges just don't move as much, which sounds different. I'm not saying they sound better, but different.

Great point. In my opinion, adding a BAII cause more overtones and made my Pbass sound a bit more modern/focused. I've seen people actually recommend them to someone going for an old school tone/vibe. Definately NOT the right bridge for that. I heard a bigger difference in the mix than just playing the bass alone, kinda seems to focus the lower registers a bit (more overtones causing this maybe?). I'd love to see someone with a good quality audio spectum analyser look at the overtone levels to see if there really is a difference. To me, the effect seems to vary widely between similar basses as well.

 

[EpicSoundtracks]

Please explain, I'm really curious.
Fenders aren't the only mfg that uses the bent plate bridge, as it has been copied worldwide.

Is the bent plate bridge just a cost cutting measure used by Fender and the folks cloning (SX, Turser, etc.)?

I don't own any Fenders, so I really wouldn't know...
Just curious, thanks.

ack

i don't know ANY of the history behind it, I'm afraid, but the bent-plate Fender bridge pales in comparison to some of the engineering marvels Leo & Co. pulled off. it almost seems like an afterthought.

 

[cnltb]

I've gone from a very heavy brass bridge to a light wooden bridge on one and a light aluminium( naimish) bridge on another.
Both sound better to me than the brass bridge.
Brass does something to the sound that I personally dislike.
And any added weight does not ,in my experience, result in added sustain.
The wooden bridged bass ( which is a very light bass with set one piece douglas fir neck and salomon padouk body), has no less sustain than the five piece sandwich bodied, nine piece necked bass with the brass bridge.