High Mass Bridges vs. Vintage Bridges

[blipndub]

I actually think the lighter bridges do sound better for some reason, maybe it's a wood resonnance thing, I don't like a super bright sound. But I don't think it's appreciable certainly not in a band environment. I like the slightly heavier bridges mostly because I like the feel of heavier machined components I think it's a very subtle difference that's just totally up to the player it's like having thin chrome tuners as opposed to thicker (heavier) ones, it's a kinetic aesthetic. I've had HMB that I've swapped back for standard ones and vise versa. Just depends on what I'm looking for. I don't generally like the heavier weight of the badass. When a bass get's close to 9 lbs that's really pushing it. My ash bodied jazz with a BA2 is over 10 lbs BSM.

Actually i just weighed two jazzes and a pbass and the ash/BA is the heaviest but they are all up around 10# BSM!

 

[bassgod76]

I don't even consider them a cosmetic improvement on a Fender. The stock bridge is much classier.

I agree. I'm a huge Fender vintae bridge fan. However, some basses require a different look. A vintage bridge would look odd on my Explosive Ibanez project.

 

[blipndub]

The ash bass with the badass definitely has it's own looks, it's quite different from my jazz with the Wilkinson bridge, which is more traditional (although not to the discerning eye). Since my last post (10 months ago) I've been using the ash bass quite a bit for recording and I like the ash/badass combo it provides a really thick, creamy, middy and detailed sound that is the sum of it's parts, Rio Grande pickups help too of course. I have flats on my other jazz so it's hard to compare the two.

 

[sickest beast]

i put a BadassII bridge on my P-Bass special when I had it. I noticed a sound difference, it was not worth the money.

I would never replace the stock bridge on my American Standard Precision...

 

[Stranger Danger]

I think with string thru bodies, the effect is nil. On a top loader, there is some difference but I actually prefer less sustain (God forbid!) so I still prefer a normal bridge. God Bless Leo Fender.

 

[selowitch]

Would it be fair to say that since the Babicz FCH bass bridge is close in weight to the standard Fender Bridge it is therefore not to be considered to be "high mass"?

 

[atomicdog]

Don't like BAII (swapped it out on my Geddy), but am liking the hi-mass string thru on the new Am Std P.

 

[sickest beast]

I wonder how many bassists can tell the difference between a Squier and a Fender with the decal covered up.

I could. Easily.

 

[selowitch]

I could. Easily.

I depends which Squier and which Fender. I'd bet a Classic Vibe bass would fool many of us.

Regarding bridges, I like the unfussy, traditional look of the standard Fender bridges (esp. with threaded saddles), but IME it's easier to intonate an aftermarket bridge like the BA or the Babicz and that intonation stays in place longer.

 

[Session1969]

These days I am really liking these olp/mm style bridges. They look good, they sound good, and they are easy to adjust. I have tested them against some other bridges and these sound better to my ear.

That bass is awesome ! I'm really digging the wine red and black pick guard look these days. It's classy but still rock and roll ! Very cool 5 string.

 

[Session1969]

I could. Easily.

How is that ?

 

[sickest beast]

The hardware/build quality is different. It wouldn't be hard at all.

 

[sickest beast]

I could probably even tell MIM from MIA without anything on the headstock.

Don't get me wrong, I wish Squier were making the quality of instruments they are now back when I was starting out. I would have chose a CV Squier over a GIO Ibanez any day.

 

[meatwad]

I like the HMV bridge on my 2011 AMSTD Precision, mostly because of it's looks. I also like the old Ibanez high-mass bridges, found on the late 80's RD707/727 and Soundgear basses. My Tobias also has a top-load HM bridge..

The bridge on my StingRay is probably the only non-HM I have right now, but I have a Wilkinson vintage-style with brass saddles coming for my project P. Looks cool enough, but we'll see.

 

[walterw]

I could probably even tell MIM from MIA without anything on the headstock.

oh, without a doubt; an experienced gearhead could easily tell which bass came from where with the bass in his hands.

on record?

we already had a nice audio test done here on TB, where we found out pretty conclusively that lots of folks couldn't even tell clips of a P-bass from a jazz bass set to the neck pickup!

Don't get me wrong, I wish Squier were making the quality of instruments they are now back when I was starting out. I would have chose a CV Squier over a GIO Ibanez any day.

+1 the classic vibe squiers and new modern player chinese fenders have made their upper-end reissues and custom shops harder to sell!

 

[Matt R]

To my ears it is substantial

Agreed. I recently swapped the vintage bent metal bridge on my Tokai P bass for a high mass bridge and it really changed the sound of the bass. The vintage style bridge makes the bass sound open and uncompressed. The high mass bridge makes the same bass sound more compressed with a softer attack and more sustained notes. I find myself playing harder to try to get the same sounding attack as the bent metal bridge. I personally like the way the vintage bent metal bridge makes this bass sound.

 

[Batmensch]

I could. Easily.

I doubt it. You could probably discern that one bass sounds different than the other, but I doubt you could accurately tell which is which. Ed Friedland did an A/B comparison of six basses, 3 Fenders and their equivalent Squier models. They all sounded the same, except for the Classic Vibe Jazz and a Custom shop 60's Jazz, but regardless of all that, they ALL sounded like Fenders.

 

[kurosawa]

Hipshot B sounds like bent tin with all the mechanical benefits of a modern bridge (positive adjustments with no squirm). Also strings can be swapped without dragging them through holes. Gotoh 201 sounds more hi-fi, but uses holes. Those are my two favorite flavors in order.

 

[elBandito]

I dont really care for high mass bridges, but there aren't too many low mass bridges that secure the saddles to the baseplate like the modern bridges do. Hipshot vintage bridge is the only one I'm aware of.

 

[selowitch]

I dont really care for high mass bridges, but there aren't too many low mass bridges that secure the saddles to the baseplate like the modern bridges do. Hipshot vintage bridge is the only one I'm aware of.

What about the Babicz FCH?