High Mass Bridges and String Tension

[MrB64]

I've recently tried swapping out my stock "classic" Fender bent plate bridge for a Fender high mass bridge on my Fender Player Series fretless Jazz, and also put a .020" plastic shim in the neck pocket. The string tension seems stiffer than it used to be. Do high mass bridges increase string tension?

 

[Zooberwerx]

No but the perceived tension under your fingertips may be different just from the change in geometry. Also a good chance you haven’t fully duplicated the previous set-up.

Riis

 

[Killing Floor]

No. The string is anchored at one end by the “ball” which looks like a tiny metal donut and at the other end it’s looped around the post of the tuning machine.

Tuning the pitch higher or lower changes tension.

 

[Turnaround]

I've recently tried swapping out my stock "classic" Fender bent plate bridge for a Fender high mass bridge on my Fender Player Series fretless Jazz, and also put a .020" plastic shim in the neck pocket. The string tension seems stiffer than it used to be. Do high mass bridges increase string tension?

No. Unless you also changed strings, the stiffness is the same.

 

[MrB64]

No. Unless you also changed strings, the stiffness is the same.

Thank you. I've been reading your ski jump study. It's very interesting to me because this same bass guitar has a small ski jump on it.

 

[MrB64]

No but the perceived tension under your fingertips may be different just from the change in geometry. Also a good chance you haven’t fully duplicated the previous set-up.

Riis

Thank you, I'll check that asap.