Anything is better than the generic fender bridge. I had to put some stuff under the saddles to keep them still. The intonation is fine but I'd rather have a nicer bridge than keep the generic one on. Know what I'm saying?
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Hipshot brass bass bridge?
- Thread starter Precision101
- Start date
I understand, I just hate to see people waste money on things thinking they're going to get all of these great features when they make the switch only to be disappointed in the end.
I think the generic Fender bridge works just fine as it is, there is nothing wrong with the design. I would upgrade to threaded barrels like others have suggested. That will give you nearly infinite string spacing options to get your strings aligned with the pole pieces on your pickups better. Lots of bassists take off the Fender HMV bridge on the new American Standards to put an old bent steel bridge on instead because they think it's a better bridge. I have a Hipshot A bridge and like it quite a bit, but it's no "better" than my bent plate Fender bridges either.
In the end, it's your money and you can certainly do what you wish. Just make sure you give it a good setup no matter what you decide. That will do more for the overall feel about reliability of the bass than a lot of people give it credit for.
I think the generic Fender bridge works just fine as it is, there is nothing wrong with the design. I would upgrade to threaded barrels like others have suggested. That will give you nearly infinite string spacing options to get your strings aligned with the pole pieces on your pickups better. Lots of bassists take off the Fender HMV bridge on the new American Standards to put an old bent steel bridge on instead because they think it's a better bridge. I have a Hipshot A bridge and like it quite a bit, but it's no "better" than my bent plate Fender bridges either.
In the end, it's your money and you can certainly do what you wish. Just make sure you give it a good setup no matter what you decide. That will do more for the overall feel about reliability of the bass than a lot of people give it credit for.
Absolutely. There's another thread floating about bent-plate bridges that makes two positive suggestions:
*Add threaded (multi-grooved) saddles for more accurate string spacing.
*Bind the saddles together by wrapping an electrical tie around the intonation screws. This prevents them from "skating" laterally during normal use.
My Pedulla Raptures bent-plate bridge base is grooved to accommodate the height adjustment screws so no problem there. You'll find the consensus that a change of bridge will not produce any significant tonal improvement. I can neither confirm nor deny...I always stick with whatever stock bridge is present. OTOH, I'm of the understanding that a Fat Finger attached to the headstock will eliminate / minimize dead spots because of the increased mass. Does this application (addition of mass) have the same effect on a solid guitar body? Heck if I know.
Riis
BS huh? Nice.
You modded a J...totally different tone than a P, which is what the OP has, IIRC. It certainly DID brighten the tone up on my P. Perhaps the change on a J wasn't enough for you to notice,but it was very noticeable on my P.
I agree with your comments about increased sustain (not necessarily something a bass player needs, but it did increase it) and definitely increased the punch.
I also thought it was very interesting that you mentioned a difference in the body's resonance and being able to feel the difference....I noticed that too, and remember thinking that even unplugged, it suddenly felt "alive"...
now after saying all that, and since I have both, I want to add that I think the hipshot bridge is probably one of the best bridges made, if not THE best...but I'm still not 100% in the camp that it's THE best bridge for a P (BECAUSE of the tone change
)...A regular bent metal bridge has been THE bridge for P's for so long, that it seems like the "right" bridge, IMO....I think it is perfect for a J, though...Go to YouTube and enter HipShot in the search bar- they have some nice testimonials. I put one on my SD Curlee recently and since I'm still making some needed changes after installing a new OEM neck, I only used two of the 5 screws to hold it in place. The strings pass through the body so there's plenty of downward force but this bass sustains for days and it's short scale (32"). It's very well made and their customer service is great. They don't just read from a brochure- I didn't want a rough brass casting and I didn't want it plated, either.
The bridge I bought is the A Type, which has 16.5mm spacing. What I really like is the adjustability- the saddles have a set screw that locks the rollers, so it's a lot more flexible than a fixed groove-type saddle. Mine have a black Teflon coating, rather than polished/clear coated brass.
BS huh? Nice.
Perhaps the change on a J wasn't enough for you to notice,but it was very noticeable on my P.
I agree with your comments about increased sustain (not necessarily something a bass player needs, but it did increase it) and definitely increased the punch.
I also thought it was very interesting that you mentioned a difference in the body's resonance and being able to feel the difference....I noticed that too, and remember thinking that even unplugged, it suddenly felt "alive"...
now after saying all that, and since I have both, I want to add that I think the hipshot bridge is probably one of the best bridges made, if not THE best...but I'm still not 100% in the camp that it's THE best bridge for a P (BECAUSE of the tone change
I too had a dilemma regarding the looks.
But I have a pro guitar tech (btw, the overhaul cost me a thousand US dollars) and it can be seen thru the perfect job he did on the bass.
He has been modding Foderas, and has a collection of "horror pics" foubd regarding the poor factory/manufacture jobs on many basses.
If you look at history of Fender you will understand, that this company begun to do massive QC cuts in the 70's. Garbage pots, wiring, tone caps, plastic nuts, crap bridges, etc. Save a buck here and there, make profit. A lot of sloppy work.
Do not justify the threaded POS bridge. Have you tried to downtune on it? Obviously not. The mi string tuned to re jumps from groove to groove. Its okay if you are deaf, unacceptable in other circumstances. My basses are perfectly tuned - I spend big money on this, and Am searching for ways to keep the intonation as stable as possible.
All my basses are modded. And its not a cheap pu swap My EBMMSR has a completely remade (quality caps and wiring) preamp. It enjoys the EBMM design, yet brought to tonal perfection.
And even with the MM I am appauled at how the hardware gets worse, and I cant do anything about it.
The bronze Hipshot bridge is arguably the best, as the lateral adjustment, lockable with a screw (butter smooth threading! Thats quality to me) allows to align the string and keep it there. And I love the drop-in string loading design.
But justifying and inferior and highly flawed threaded bridge makes one wonder.
That's a lot of misinformation you're spreading there...
There is absolutely nothing wrong with EBMM hardware. It's universally known to be excellent.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with EBMM hardware. It's universally known to be excellent.
Misinformation? Please. Are you endorsing EBMM? i have two sr4s: from 1983 and from 1996. The bridge on the 1983 is better, and heavier. D string saddle sides on the 1996 had to be polished.
Whenever I hear that something is known to be perfect I wonder who is spreading it. If you are an amateur - I have no problems then.
Or do you think that crappy plastic... sorry, perfecta-tune or whatever nut put on modern era stingrays is good? Something tells me my handcrafted bone nut with perfect string alignment is better.
Apart from being able to afford fine basses i am able - thanks to a luthier and guitar tech to perfect them too. Currently working on an OLP MM32 which I will make sound like a bongo. Just to show that it can be done.
And misinformation differs from lack of knowledge.
Cheers
Nope, and I won't be doing so either. The music I play doesn't call for that, and if I ever need to go any lower I'll use a 5 string. If someone wants a 5 string down tuned, then they want a different bass player too
I debated on whether or not to say anything about this...I don't know how old you are or what your skill level is, but I can handle pretty much any mod on my own just fine. Just because you are forking over big money to someone doesn't mean your mods are done any better than half the people on TB could do on their own.
Now, having said that, the reverse is also true...just because I can use my decades worth of experience and do it myself, doesn't mean I'm doing anything any "better" than your well-paid tech. EXCEPT...that I know exactly what I am looking for, which can sometimes be hard to communicate to someone else...and with statements like this:
Well, you see my point
Which is why I like to encourage people to learn to do their own mods and set-ups (not to mention the benefit of saving money).
I've seen bass snobbery, I've seen reverse-bass snobbery, but this is the first time I've seen modder snobbery. :scowl:
I was referring the rest of your comments, not just the EBMM stuff. And no, I don't endorse anything.
I never said anything about it being perfect.
It's called a compensated nut. I guess I don't see a nut as hardware. Given a choice I prefer bone too, but I've never had a problem with any factory nut either. I can absolutely guarantee you that my Stingray stays in tune/intonation/etc. just as good as yours with a crappy plastic nut.
Okay? Should I say you're spreading a lack of knowledge then? AKAIF Hipshot doesn't make a bronze bridge. They make them in brass or aluminum.
I don't want to fight about it. You've clearly got some strong opinions that, IMO, do not have any fact in them. That's all...
Mi is E and re is D. What that basically said is an E string dropped to D. I prefer standard notation.
I said bronze by mistake as brass is bronze in Russian. Thank you for correction.
As for snobbery - there is none. Russians are more straightforward, may seem hostile even, but not.
And bassgod, with a modesty of your name I did not see how I am spreading misinformation. This entire forum is 80% google reposts - most incorrrct.
What I do see is surprisingly childish reaction to criticism and hurt feelings. Quite frustrating, as it kills the argument. You are used to getting support and awe to anything - but how can I support inferior ideas? Fender stock bdidge is garbage.
If you like being kissed on a cheek for preferring stock f bridges - fine! But the ts asked whether Hipshot bridges are good - and I replied they are.
Cheers
I said bronze by mistake as brass is bronze in Russian. Thank you for correction.
As for snobbery - there is none. Russians are more straightforward, may seem hostile even, but not.
And bassgod, with a modesty of your name I did not see how I am spreading misinformation. This entire forum is 80% google reposts - most incorrrct.
What I do see is surprisingly childish reaction to criticism and hurt feelings. Quite frustrating, as it kills the argument. You are used to getting support and awe to anything - but how can I support inferior ideas? Fender stock bdidge is garbage.
If you like being kissed on a cheek for preferring stock f bridges - fine! But the ts asked whether Hipshot bridges are good - and I replied they are.
Cheers
Let's add incorrect assumptions to the list
I am Russian...
Double cheers! I live in Moscow, Russia)
I'm just reaching out to other bassists on here who use Hipshot products and give a brief good or bad review is all. I'm new to Hipshot so I want other professionals opinions.
It is top quality product. I had bass Style A on my previous bass. The bridge itself very stable and versatile - and you can adjust it every direction you may need. Not to mention string-through-body option and top-load and very smooth roller-like steel saddles. Sting rattle is eliminated forever!
Although, I can't tell if it changes sound a lot at least for my previous esp ltd bass. Maybe because of being the same mass.
Highly recommend it for an upgrade.
Although, I can't tell if it changes sound a lot at least for my previous esp ltd bass. Maybe because of being the same mass.
Highly recommend it for an upgrade.
One more question regarding the bridge my bass has 5 screw holes and the hipshot has 4 will it still fit?
A and b type Hipshots can be ordered with 3 screw holes for use on Fender. You can order one without string through body holes.
For Fender holes, go to the "retrofit" section.
http://store.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=306
For Fender holes, go to the "retrofit" section.
http://store.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=306
