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Hipshot Supertone 3 Point bridge: Opinions wanted

Tubehed

Tubehed

Oct 27, 2011
904
2,785
Westminister, CA
#1
I'm thinking about replacing the stock bridge on my Gibson SG Bass (EB-3) with a Hipshot Supertone. The only reason I'm considering this is because of tone. I don't have any issues with the stock bridge in terms of string height adjustment, spacing or intonation. I know the Hipshot is more versatile in those areas, but those aren't concerns for me. Also, the posts on the stock bridge are solid. They aren't being pulled up and out of the body by string tension, which I guess can be common with this design.

Tone is obviously a very subjective thing. But, generally speaking, I'm wondering if I can expect a significant improvement in tone and sustain if I go with the Hipshot. The fact that it is made of heavier, higher quality metal and mounts directly to the top of the bass, rather than sitting on "stilts", is what has really got me interested in it.

Thanks!
 
#3
Hey, those stilts focus the vibes man! As for significant difference, you said it, subjective, likely a crisp high end. But they look truly awesome. But so do the Gibbys IMO. Besides my Epi Tbird has good sustain.

But this is a good question, I saw one guy here who put one on a Epi Jack Cassady I think it was and he used, at the suggestion of Hipshot, felt tabs under it because of the body contour: isolation. So do you want to slam it down on the finish or put felt under to protect it? Food for thought.
 
#4
I replaced the stock bridge on my T-bird with a Supertone because I wanted to be able to adjust individual string height. I'm very pleased with it because it's allowed me to set the bass up exactly as I want it.

As regards tone though, I can't say I've really noticed a difference - certainly not within a band context. The bass sounded great before and it sounds great now.

Personally I reckon you'd be better off trying some different strings rather than swapping out the bridge if a change in tone is what you're after. I think the Supertone bridge is excellent, but I'm not sure it represents the solution to your particular quest.
 
#6
I have Supertones on three of my basses. I put them on because they are better bridges and allow me to set the bass up properly. Not because of any "tone" improvement, witch I have not seen.

A bass that is set up properly will always play and sound better.
IMO the Gibson three point bridge is the worst bridge there is.
 
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#7
hdracer said:
I have Supertones on three of my basses. I put them on because they are better bridges and allow me to set the bass up properly. Not because of any "tone" improvement, witch I have not seen.

A bass that is set up properly will always play and sound better.
IMO the Gibson three point bridge is the worst bridge there is.
Click to expand...

Why do you think it is the worst bridge there is? I understand why you would want to be able to set each string's height individually. I have basses with bridges that I can do that with and it is nice to have that feature. I guess I just like the way the action is with the 3 point. If I installed a Supertone, I would actually set the string height to the same specs as the 3 point, anyway.
 
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#10
Any suggestions for keeping body inserts in place after installation of Hipshot three point bridge on a Gibson ripper? If glue, what brand or type? Or should I glue a couple of toothpicks in the wholes and try to wedge the inserts in? Suggestions much appreciated. Btw, new bridge is awesome.
 
#11
The Supertone uses two of the three original inserts for mounting, and the front insert as a guide. So leave them as they are. I used a little wood glue on mine, only because one had started to come loose with the three-point.

As the other folks have said it's much easier to setup that way. As to tone, there might be a small difference, but I wouldn't count on any.

Best of luck,

Bob
 
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#12
Thanks Bobster
I've enclosed some pics of the bass as my son found it, and how it looks now. It's a ripper knockoff by Maya. Someone, somehow bent the bridge way beyond the 7.25 radius of the fretboard so we had to replace it. (We also replaced the caps, pots, switch and jack.) The hipshot, which improved the bass considerably, is pulling the inserts from the body, as you can see.
I didn't think wood glue would hold the metal, but might give it a try.
Thanks for your input; much appreciated.

See the fullsize version at: http://s1117.photobucket.com/albums...tion=view¤t=d3c5b73c.jpg&evt=user_media_share
 
#14
I've got the Supertone on my Grabber II and i noticed quite a difference in tone. The tone was a lot more open and it definitely sustained longer. It's a lot harder to hear any difference through an amp but through my headphone amp(cafe walter) it was obvious.
 
#20
Hi Tbird. Your instructions were great. I found some medium ca glue (Zap-a-Gap) for a few bucks at a chain-style crafts/hobby store. Although I probably used about 50X too much, the ferrules are solidly in place and the bridge is flush to the body. The strings were easy to adjust and intonate. This bridge is a huge improvement over the previous, incorrectly modified bridge. Thanks again!
 
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