Hello Kitty Bass??

[Basshole]

For her birthday, I gave my daughter the Hello Kitty Strat, and the Badtz-Maru bass (both straps too). Badtz Maru has a nice Fender growl, and being shorter scale (Bronco) you can really dig in, and get some nice articulation, and some funky bends.

As girly as the guitar looks, it's actually set up just like Van Halen's axe; one humbucker, and just a volume knob. The ultimate in rock and roll attack simplicity. Taking the tone control out of the circuit entirely assures that the tone isn't compromized at all by the cap, as even rolled all the way up, there is still a bit of bleed-off.

The pickguards are painted, which gives me a bit of pause (don't know how resistant to abrasion they might be). I don't think Fender would sell them separately.

Both seem to be very nicely made, in terms of overall quality, but the fret ends are a tad sharp. I little time with a file would make it all feel better in the hand. To be fair my MIA P-bass has frets just as sharp at the ends. I replaced the neck with a CIJ, and now it's SMOOOOVE.

 

[SBassman]

Who wants a bass with TWO saddles???????????

People who think intonation is a pesky little detail not necessary to reckon with.

 

[Basshole]

The original Telecasters (and Broadcaster, Esquire, No-caster) guitars, and original Precision (and subsequently, the similar slab Telecaster) bass all had strings paired on saddles.

Presumably, one compromises the pairs as best as possible.

As it came, I found no great issues with the intonation on the bass.

 

[SBassman]

The original Telecasters (Broadcaster, Esquire, No-caster) guitars, and original Precision (and subsequently, the similar slab Telecaster) bass all had strings paired on saddles.

Presumably, one compromises the pairs as best as possible.

They were all inaccurate. You just can't share those saddles and have perfect intonation.

 

[62Walnut]

Telecasters with the vintage type bridge and three brass saddles can now be fitted with angled compensated saddles for perfect intonation. I can't see that being the case for these Broncos.

Walnut

 

[Basshole]

They were all inaccurate. You just can't share those saddles and have perfect intonation.

I didn't know perfect intonation was possible with a fretted instrument (I think you know damn well it isn't). Even the piano is tuned in compromise. Nothing to lose sleep over.

I can play a fretted bass more in tune than most people I know. You just compensate with your hand. You probably do a bit of it, and don't even realize.

 

[Chuck King]

They were all inaccurate. You just can't share those saddles and have perfect intonation.

Of course, the three-saddle Tele bridges are an improvement on the old Les Paul Junior wrap-around bridges that offer no adjustment whatsoever. And of course those are being re-issued with the same old un-adjustable bridge. Why, for a mere $2400 from MF you too can have a Gibson custom shop reissue Les Paul Junior, with that bridge meticulously recreated in all its fit-for-a-guitar-that-originally-sold-for-under-$50 vintage glory.

On the other hand, non-adjustable bridges seem to work okay on just about every acoustic guitar ever made...

By the way, I've played one of the Hello Kitty Strats in a store and it was really snarly. If I felt any need to convey an ironic campy image I would probably buy one. But the Strats are standard guitar hardware; the bass is a different thing, apparently.

 

[Basshole]

...I believe the much coveted Rob Allen MOUSE bass has a completely non-adjustble bridge.

 

[Minger]

Who wants a bass with TWO saddles???????????

A person with two strings.

Obviously.

 

[bassman10096]

Typical TBer: "What pickups should I get for my Badtz-Maru? I don't have it yet, but I'm thinking either Nordstrand or Bartolini. Do you think EMG will have the punch that I'm looking for?"

I swapped the single coil out of mu Musicmaster (looks to be the same size as Bronco) for a DiMarzio Track One strat replacement. It killed. Fantastic bass, clear mids and highs - all for $45 and no routing. I've heard a couple other folks did the same with similar result.

Originally Posted by moopants
Who wants a bass with TWO saddles???????????

Nobody (at least if they really like the bass). There are plenty of four saddle Fenders, clones, etc that would work. I used a Schaller Rollerbridge (very adjustable string spacing) and it sounded great on the Musicmaster.