• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Gotoh 201 action/setup help!

R

RockFace

Jul 14, 2006
136
8
Quincy, MA
www.redsquareboston.com
#1
I have a MIM Fender Jazz bass that I've been playing since '06 with a Badass II I installed myself. Over time, I started to realize that my action was pretty freaking high and causing more frequent discomfort, so I recently filed down the string saddles to reach Fender specs, because the saddles were pretty much as low as possible already. I wasn't able to FULLY get down to the specs, but it was pretty close.

Fast forward to today. I put in the Gotoh 201. My neck relief is about .010, which is lower than it should be. String height of the E string at fret 17 is 5/32 or about 10/64, which is way higher than it should be (or than I want it at least). Height of the G is 8/64, again, significantly higher than it should be. The string saddles are touching the bottom of the bridge, as shown in the pic below. I can't go any lower, and the neck already has less relief than it should.

I'm pretty good with set-ups and whatnot, and I understand changing a bridge is going to cause the instrument to behave differently, but what's the story here? I don't want to keep tightening the neck for obvious reasons, and it seems odd to me that such a highly rated replacement bridge can't get down to the specs of the instrument it is meant to work with.

Am I missing something? Has this happened to anyone else? Any advice or pointing out my oversights are greatly appreciated.

Thanks guys.

Rock.

ImageUploadedByTalkBass1375570910.295583.jpg

ImageUploadedByTalkBass1375571127.051030.jpg
 
#3
Yes, shimming the neck is often required with replacement bridges on Fenders. Most people replace the bridge becuase they want something more substantial, and that often means sometging with a thicker baseplate than the typical bent-style plate. A narrow shim across the width of the neck pocket at the bridge end will do wonders. Start with something about as thick as a calling card - usually that's enough.
 
#4
Turnaround said:
Yes, shimming the neck is often required with replacement bridges on Fenders. Most people replace the bridge becuase they want something more substantial, and that often means sometging with a thicker baseplate than the typical bent-style plate. A narrow shim across the width of the neck pocket at the bridge end will do wonders. Start with something about as thick as a calling card - usually that's enough.
Click to expand...

Ah ok. This certainly makes sense. The stock bridge IMO was not sturdy at all and the sustain and over all tone of the instrument suffered I think. That's why I went with the BAII. I love the look of the Gotoh, and it feels and sounds great with the DR Hi-beams, other than the action issue.

Thanks for the suggestions!
 
#6
RockFace said:
Ah ok. This certainly makes sense. The stock bridge IMO was not sturdy at all and the sustain and over all tone of the instrument suffered I think. That's why I went with the BAII. I love the look of the Gotoh, and it feels and sounds great with the DR Hi-beams, other than the action issue.

Thanks for the suggestions!
Click to expand...

So a piece of 1/8" press bent steel is not sturdy? Ill be dipped.

Seriously, take it and try your hardest to bend it, they are much sturdier than people say they are.
 
#7
Hopkins said:
Seriously, take it and try your hardest to bend it, they are much sturdier than people say they are.
Click to expand...

Don't forget though that the force applied to the bridge is in excess of 170 pounds with a medium weight set of strings. I'm not saying that bent plates aren't sturdy enough though. They will handle the tension. But trying to bend them is not a good test of sturdiness if you think hand pressure is a good measure.
 
#8
Turnaround said:
Don't forget though that the force applied to the bridge is in excess of 170 pounds with a medium weight set of strings. I'm not saying that bent plates aren't sturdy enough though. They will handle the tension. But trying to bend them is not a good test of sturdiness if you think hand pressure is a good measure.
Click to expand...

Screw it to a board and try and bend it with a pair of pliers. You will be able to put much more pressure with the leverage involved than any set of strings can.

The notion that the factory bridges are some how weak and flimsy baffles me. It's a press bent piece of steel. The high mass bridges that people seem to think are stronger, are usually made of cast pot metal. There are exceptions of course.
 
#9
Hopkins said:
Screw it to a board and try and bend it with a pair of pliers. You will be able to put much more pressure with the leverage involved than any set of strings can.

The notion that the factory bridges are some how weak and flimsy baffles me. It's a press bent piece of steel. The high mass bridges that people seem to think are stronger, are usually made of cast pot metal. There are exceptions of course.
Click to expand...

^^^^^ What he said.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back