High Mass Bridges vs. Vintage Bridges

[Richard Lindsey]

Isn't the point of a hi mass bridge to add body weight to fix neck dive?

No, not really, or at least, neck dive isn't the main "problem" high-mass bridges were originally introduced to solve. When first marketed, their main benefits were supposed to be tonal improvements--more clarity, stronger attack, longer sustain, etc. I'm not saying they couldn't help with neck dive (though I don't know how much they actually would help), I'm just saying that wasn't the initial primary purpose.

 

[truand85]

No, not really, or at least, neck dive isn't the main "problem" high-mass bridges were originally introduced to solve. When first marketed, their main benefits were supposed to be tonal improvements--more clarity, stronger attack, longer sustain, etc. I'm not saying they couldn't help with neck dive (though I don't know how much they actually would help), I'm just saying that wasn't the initial primary purpose.

Interesting because in my experience that's really the only thing they help with

 

[Richard Lindsey]

Interesting because in my experience that's really the only thing they help with

You may be right; I don't have a dog in the fight either way. With bridges, if the bass sounds good and the bridge isn't causing me other types of problems (like not having enough adjustment range or looking like a POS), I tend to leave things alone, whether I'm starting with a high-mass bridge or a low-mass one.

Regarding neck dive, I've gotten more benefit out of going to lighter tuning keys than anything else. YMMV, and probably does.

 

[Rnr..........4]

Geddy Lee even said that the hi-mass bridge does nothing pretty much. Obviously, using them on the Rickenbacker made a whole lot of sense because that bridge was terrible but I have to agree I've noticed nothing in difference in tone except the opposite. The Nate Mendel P bass Fender have put out use a hi-mass bridge but it has zinc saddles not brass.

I don't know if Fender's Am Pro series basses sound better tho with their cold pressed steel bridge?

 

[Grinderman]

You may be right; I don't have a dog in the fight either way. With bridges, if the bass sounds good and the bridge isn't causing me other types of problems (like not having enough adjustment range or looking like a POS), I tend to leave things alone, whether I'm starting with a high-mass bridge or a low-mass one.

Regarding neck dive, I've gotten more benefit out of going to lighter tuning keys than anything else. YMMV, and probably does.

I'll congratulate anyone who chooses to add weight to a bass with heavier hardware for the purpose of minimizing or eliminating neck dive rather than reducing weight at the other end of the seesaw with lighter tuning machines simply for having a better back then me.

 

[Grinderman]

I'll congratulate anyone who chooses to add weight to a bass with heavier hardware for the purpose of minimizing or eliminating neck dive rather than reducing weight at the other end of the seesaw with lighter tuning machines simply for having a better back then me.

**better back than me.

 

[jimmydean]

After all these years of thinking about this subject , the definitive answer is .................what ever works for you .