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Hi-mass bridge? Bahhh humbug!

#81
IF you have a nice, resonant body, the low-mass stamped bridge will allow you to hear that sound. The high-mass bridge will block the sound of the body to a much greater extent, just like a block wall blocks sound more than drywall.

On modern basses, the woods are not as good as in "the day" and high mass bridges are used in production to give more consistency between the instruments.

That being said - there are many mechanical features common to high-mass bridges that should be added to the stamped types such as tracks in the bridge to prevent sideways movement of the saddles and multi-grooved saddles.
 
#82
That makes sense...
I'll try it myself by replacing the high mass Squier CV 60 bridge on my precision by a Fender vintage.
This bass resonates very nicely unplugged. I'll tell about the difference when done ;)

BTW, I know the mounting holes will not be aligned and I'll need to drill new ones (19mm spacing on the squier CV bridge)
 
#83
If I could find fault with anything in my American Standard P, its the HMV bridge. It lends a certain stiffness to the action that the regular vintage style bridge did not. Many complain about the "lateral movement" of the older design, but I think it's a good thing. I think a lighter, less rigid bridge suits the Fender design better. I've never had a problem with intonation, movement, or the mysterious moving set screw phenomena that people often complain about. If it didn't mean filling and drilling, I'd replace the HMV in a second.
 
#89
Rich McCoy said:
After experimenting with a hi-mass bridge (I will not mention names), I am back to my trusty Fender Vintage with the threaded saddles.
Don't get no better than that!
:D
Click to expand...
+100000000000000000000000000000000000000
So am I on my custom half-fanned fret bass.

A Guitar Player article from about 35 years ago, when brass was all the rage, and before GP split into GP & BP, did a trial of all the bridges available at that time, and came to the same conclusion for a combination of proper sustain and clarity of tone. Nothing new in the world.
 

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