Ever Replace the Bridge on an American Standard Precision Bass?

[atomicdog]

I'm not a fan of the hi-mass vintage bridge on the American Standard Precision Bass. Too bright, too modern. I like a lot of other things about this bass, especially neck and overall feel, but am thinking about swapping the bridge with a regular Fender vintage bent-metal bridge.

Ever done that on this model? How did it alter the sound? Iknow I'll lose the ability to string through the body--is that a major minus.

 

[king_biscuit]

Save your money and keep your bass stock, IMO. I think any difference would be completely unnoticeable. The Fender high weight bridge is nothing more than a thicker backplate. The base plate is the same as any other modern American Fender bridge.

 

[BassBob1]

I have an American standard Jazz and I have to say I'm not convinced the high-mass bridge does much of anything. When compared to other jazz basses I've either owned or played my jazz with the HM bridge doesn't sound bright or modern like you say. I haven't done this mod but I speculate that you'll get a more substantial change in sound if you try different strings or if you want to spend more, a different pickup. Oh yeah and loosing the ability to string through the body is only a minus if you like to string the bass through the body.

 

[atomicdog]

I noticed a marked change when I swapped the BAII bridge on my Geddy Bass--punchier, warmer.

What's the advantage of stringing through the body? Some think it adds a woody tone.I haven't noticed.

BTW/ BassBob1, I like that tune.

 

[king_biscuit]

You are obviously convinced you need to mod your bass -- it's your bass, so go ahead.

 

[packhowitzer]

I believe I would try different strings first, before I changed the bridge. Unless of course you really like the strings that you are using. I have never been able to really tell much of a tone difference from one bridge to another, but there are plenty of other factors that might be import to consider. The BAII that came on my Geddy Lee and my Highway One p feel better under my hand if I am picking than the standard vintage bridge on my new '70s p. Plus the BAII is big and shiny. That is a plus for me (not every body likes the look though). In the past I had tried to convince myself that dropping money and spending time would help me chase after some elusive little bit of tone that I was convinced was missing from my sound. In the end- when I get really honest with myself- I can't really hear any difference. Certainly not in a band setting anyway. I wouldn't take the time to remove the BAIIs that came on two of my basses. Nor would I go out of my way to "upgrade" the el-cheapo bridge on the '70s p. Every so often, I'll be on allparts.com and take a gander at the Gotoh 201. I bet it would add a bit of manliness to the look of my '70s p, but honestly- could I hear any REAL diff? probably not. YMMV. Good luck!

 

[Johnny Alien]

I noticed a marked change when I swapped the BAII bridge on my Geddy Bass--punchier, warmer.

What's the advantage of stringing through the body? Some think it adds a woody tone.I haven't noticed.

BTW/ BassBob1, I like that tune.

The BAII is a different beast than the current Fender high mass bridges. As others have said that is a marketing ploy more than anything else.

As far as stringing through the bridge, I have switched back and forth with the same type of strings countless times on the same bass and have yet to hear any tone difference between the two. I once tried to convince myself that the strings felt a bit tighter when strung through the body but I am sure that is all in my head. I tend to prefer to string through the bridge nowadays.

 

[Marihino]

you can always turn the tone knob a little bit, or do some other sort of EQing. Or let the strings go dead.

 

[atomicdog]

I swapped out the stock Fender strings with EB Hybrids--those should break in soon. Already sounds warmer. I think I just need to accept that the AM Std has a certain sound and roll with it. That's why I own 7 other basses, right? Each one has its own charm.

 

[iriegnome]

I changed mine, but in reverse to what you are doing. I went from the low mass bent metal standard bridge to a huge chunky Bad Ass II bridge. Nothing to drill, or change. Holes were exactly the same. Made it easy to put it back to stock if I wanted. Simple changes. Made the most difference in sustain. At least that was my take on it.

 

[PastorofMuppets]

In a live situation
no one will ever notice.

It takes substantial changes to actually come across live.
imho

 

[lipancek]

I also noticed a change in tone when I replaced a standard fender bridge with hi mass gotoh 201 bridge. Much brighter sound with the hi mass bridge. More vintage sound with bend metal bridge. You will certainly hear the difference if you go with classic bend metal bridge

 

[Bongolation]

I have an American standard Jazz and I have to say I'm not convinced the high-mass bridge does much of anything.

That's because it's not significantly high-mass, any more than it's "vintage" as Fender calls it.

Remarkable to let marketing so far off the leash as to call something "vintage high-mass" when these are not only contradictory terms but in fact it's neither.

 

[sloppy_phil]

hmm, i have an MIM P which I put the Gotoh 201 on. I happen to find that it was a pleasing difference. I noticed a change first in the sound of the bass when unplugged; a little more woody and punchy than with the stock bridge. It's one of those subtle differences that would get swallowed in a band mix, but when solo'd you can hear the change. Plus the grooves for the saddles to sit in were a nice bonus; way less slippage and movement.

With an instrument as high quality as the Am Std, a bridge swap is probably not as significant.

 

[topcat2069]

I had a MIM Jazz deluxe that I switched the bridge to a Bad Ass II and the immediate difference was that the E string ball end stayed put and didn't pull through the hole so I could actually use the E string..... not a Fender high mass bridge answer

 

[Tunaman]

I swapped out the stock Fender strings with EB Hybrids--those should break in soon. Already sounds warmer. I think I just need to accept that the AM Std has a certain sound and roll with it. That's why I own 7 other basses, right? Each one has its own charm.

+1 to this... strings would make a bigger difference here than bridge

 

[flewis]

If you really would like to replace the newer HM Fender bridge, instead of the installing the vintage threaded barrel bridge that would require drilling five new holes (), take a look at the Fender Deluxe bridge that was stock prior to the HM bridges. They are somewhere in between mass wise to that of the vintage and HM bridge.

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[Bongolation]

I approve the above choice...though I don't think it'll make much sonic difference.

Hate that new bridge, though.

 

[David Jayne]

I did it. Swapped it for a L-plate from an earlier model. Its the thicker L-plate that was in use until the high-mass came along. No difference. Looks cooler, that's it.

 

[carlos840]

Save your money and keep your bass stock, IMO. I think any difference would be completely unnoticeable. The Fender high weight bridge is nothing more than a thicker backplate. The base plate is the same as any other modern American Fender bridge.

The high mass has a base plate that is twice as thick as the standard base plate (3mm vs 1.5mm)

IMO it does a change the tone a lot and i to am not a fan of it.
Pretty much all my basses have a bent plate bridge now!