Can you hear the differences in tone between these two bridges?

[Deep Cat]

I completed an assembly build almost a year ago, but I was never quite satisfied with the set up. The action was way too high, and even with the saddles bottomed out, it still couldn’t make it low enough to play reasonably, let alone strike fret.

After some careful inspection I decided to replace the Gotoh 201 high mass bridge with a bent tin that’s been knocking around in my tool box for almost 20 years. It seemed easier than shimming the neck.

As part of the process I decided to record a few clips so that I could compare tone along with the playability. My logic was that if swapping the bridge altered the tone to its detriment, I’d swap it back and then go through the headache of shimming the neck.

What I found was pretty interesting, so I figured I’d share.

For your listening pleasure, I’ve included three clips of me playing my bass in different bridge configurations.

One is bent tin with a proper set up, another is the original Gotoh “high mass”, and a third is the bent tin with too high action as measured by a digital caliper.

The bass in all the clips is the same with the same pickup configuration. The volume is set full out, no tone knob, with 500k pots where appropriate. I recorded the clips with a Tone Port Ux1, into Sonar Home Studio 7 with no effects or processing of any kind.

Can you pick out which bridge in each clip is which?

For bonus points, identify the type of pickup, the fret board wood, and the body wood.

Caveat: the neck is a Warmoth with jumbo stainless frets, and I am a tonewood skeptic.

 

[Deep Cat]

The third clip

 

[Dave W]

Having clips where the same phrases are played would be much better for trying to hear any differences.

I can hear differences in the clips but I couldn't say that the differences are from anything other than your different playing in each clip.

 

[Hopkins]

I hear a difference, but it has more to do with attack than the bridge change. I seriously doubt anyone would be able to hear a difference audible enough to tell which was which.

 

[Pilgrim]

No difference as far as I'm concerned. There is a difference in the music, but that's all I can hear.

And I agree that unless you play the same music with the same technique on the same equipment at the same volume with the same settings throughout the system, the comparison is meaningless.

 

[tjh]

if you hear a difference, there is one ...

... in every case, bridges, wood, pick-ups, diet, weather, etc ...

... especially if you like it ...

... not being rude ... just that for every test like this, somebody can come back with one that shows something else ... JMHO

 

[Deep Cat]

I'm not actually trying to prove anything. I recorded the bass before after and after after so that I could hear for myself if there was any difference in perceptible tone. I know it's not a scientific study and I'm not trying to prove any point in particular. I was just hoping to share an observation, but I understand if I came across a little troll-y.

Clip 1 was the gotoh, Clip 2 was the bent tin with the terrible string height. Clip 3 was the bent tin with proper set up.

The bass has a maple fret board with a stupidly heavy ash body. The pickup is a DiMarzio Model J wired humbucking parallel.

My takeaway is basically that with this particular bass, with this particular player (me) the gotoh sounds about identical to a bent tin. I think in clip 3 there is an increase in attack a bit because the strings are closer to the pickups.

I'd like to hear the gotoh with proper action, but it's probably not going to be for a while. I don't plan on getting rid of the the bridge, so I'm sure I'll use it for something.

But if a kid were to ask if he or she should spend fifty bucks on a replacement bridge I'd probably tell them to hold off, based on my own experience.

I'm surprised no one mentioned mp3 compression in the rundown of my not-shootout.

 

[bonruiz]

For me the original stock bridge works best , I used BadA** IIs, American made Wilkinsons, and Gotoh 201s , and recently went back to the original Fender bridge of my 72 Jazz. Simplicity in design works wonders!

Have a great day man!

 

[JLS]

?

 

[megafiddle]

I heard more differences within a single sound sample, than I heard between any two
different sound samples.

Since playing style had the greatest effect on the sound, I would recommend putting
your money into things that really make a difference - strings, pickups, practice time.
Don't worry about the bridge unless it has an actual problem.

-

 

[Deep Cat]

I heard more differences within a single sound sample, than I heard between any two
different sound samples.

Since playing style had the greatest effect on the sound, I would recommend putting
your money into things that really make a difference - strings, pickups, practice time.
Don't worry about the bridge unless it has an actual problem.

-

I appreciate your input, but have you actually read any of this thread?

 

[Munjibunga]

No discernible difference.

 

[megafiddle]

I appreciate your input, but have you actually read any of this thread?

I did read all of it.
I also read all of it again.

You wanted to know if I could hear any difference in the bridges.
I could not.

Perhaps you were not intersted in any advice beyond that. Fair enough.

-

 

[paulears]

They sound different.
Was it the bridge? - No idea as you played different stuff, in a different way.

 

[Deep Cat]

I did read all of it.
I also read all of it again.

You wanted to know if I could hear any difference in the bridges.
I could not.

Perhaps you were not intersted in any advice beyond that. Fair enough.

-

I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but the reason why I'm posting this thread in the "hardware set up & repair" forum was because the bridge had set up problems because of my assembly. I repaired the bass's overly high action problem by swapping out the bridge.

I recorded it for my own use and have basically posted on this forum because I thought it might have some value to someone other than myself. I understand that by not playing and replaying the same riffs other folks might have trouble determining a difference, but really, if a piece of equipment is supposed to change your life for fifty to a hundred bucks, it should really jump out at you.

I know I need to practice more. I'm pretty rusty from reading Talkbass and teaching myself to set up, repair and build basses.

Happy face emoticon.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

As others have said, you have to play the same thing with relatively the same attack and phrasing.

I could tell a difference between the first two examples but I would attribute it mostly to technique, you sound like you are digging in MUCH harder in the second clip. I did not listen to third clip because it was going to different music and a pointless comparison in my opinion (sorry, that is my opinion)

 

[walterw]

nice job TB, folks are rudely arguing to the OP the point i think he himself was making, that there wasn't a significant tone difference in the two bridges

 

[Deep Cat]

Same riffs or you can't compare. Got it. My bad.

In these clips I did basically stay in the same key, play in the same area of the fret board with the same technique.

When I present materials in the future I will come more correct.

 

[megafiddle]

I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but the reason why I'm posting this thread in the "hardware set up & repair" forum was because the bridge had set up problems because of my assembly. I repaired the bass's overly high action problem by swapping out the bridge.

I recorded it for my own use and have basically posted on this forum because I thought it might have some value to someone other than myself. I understand that by not playing and replaying the same riffs other folks might have trouble determining a difference, but really, if a piece of equipment is supposed to change your life for fifty to a hundred bucks, it should really jump out at you.

I know I need to practice more. I'm pretty rusty from reading Talkbass and teaching myself to set up, repair and build basses.

Happy face emoticon.

You didn't sound like like jerk. I may have, though. Sorry about that.

I was by no means criticising your playing. Just pointing out some things that really do
make a difference in tone. You, yourself, will have a large effect on your tone. That's all
I meant by "practice time". Time is just as much an investment, as money is when invested
in bridges, strings, pickups, etc.

-

 

[Scoly]

I personally thought it was a great idea. I tried to listen carefully and did hear a difference but still got configuration wrong. Again thanks for the attempt. Scoly.