NBD - A few little mods...

[P. Aaron]

Fender will offer any shiny object that will make us buy more basses. The novice is likely taken in by the glitz without regard for how something might enhance or hinder performance. Others may like those chunky hi mass bridges but not me.

I have one that came stock on my Dimension Deluxe 5. I've wondered about swapping it out for the high-mass vintage as it has the flatter base like the bent metal ones but, the tone & playability are fine. Chicks & drunks wouldn't ever notice so, it stays stock.

 

[aka-sundogue]

My perception hasn't changed. Those are wild claims.

I said "probably" given that I've built, owned and modded more basses than (and I'm just guessing here) more than the majority of players here on TB (but certainly not all). I've also designed, built and gigged with my own custom bass cabs for the last 20 years. Anyone recall Greenboy?

 

[SJan3]

I said "probably" given that I've built, owned and modded more basses than (and I'm just guessing here) more than the majority of players here on TB (but certainly not all). I've also designed, built and gigged with my own custom bass cabs for the last 20 years. Anyone recall Greenboy?

Here is your quote:
"I have as much experience playing and gigging as anyone on TB. I've also owned, set up and modded as many basses as anyone here over the last 45 years."
I don't see "probably" in there but at least you're coming back down to earth now.

 

[Stewie]

If I posted that I was 225 years old, would you guys flame me? Or just assume that I was saying I was old?

 

[SJan3]

If I posted that I was 225 years old, would you guys flame me? Or just assume that I was saying I was old?

If you posted 225, I might think you're rather young at 22 or 25..

 

[aka-sundogue]

Here is your quote:
"I have as much experience playing and gigging as anyone on TB. I've also owned, set up and modded as many basses as anyone here over the last 45 years."
I don't see "probably" in there but at least you're coming back down to earth now.

I "probably" thought I said that. No big deal to me.

I'm only 61 years old, but I've been playing, modding and doing my own setups on all my basses since my very first one back in the mid-70's. I've owned vintage basses and gear long before they became "vintage". I've turned 4 stringers into 5 stringers, and 5 stringers into 6 stringers. I learned everything I could about tonewoods, electronics, fretwork, woodworking, and everything having to do with making a bass the way I like them. I also had my own side business...building, repairing, modding and setting up basses for other bass players. If I still had every bass I've ever owned I could open a store.

I should have a t-shirt that says..."I drink and I know a thing or two about basses."

So, if I want to throw a Hi-Mass bridge on my Squier Jazz bass, it's really nothing to get into a tizzy about. I like the old bent plate ones too.

 

[Bonafide]

I have as much experience playing and gigging as anyone on TB...

The only reason I did what I did is because I could, and I like the change.

There is another advantage to the Hi-Mass Bridge...

I like it better. I like the looks of it better, it seems to balance the bass a bit better for me, and I did notice the bass is punchier, for lack of a better word. This wasn't something I was looking for, or expected. All of my amp and bass settings were identical to what I had with the old bridge, and that's all that changed and it seems to have more "punch". This isn't a case of having that expectation and my mind playing tricks on me to support some confirmation bias. Just a side benefit. I haven't noticed any increase in sustain, though I don't really care about that anyway.

Most of all though, I like it better...and that's all that matters to me.

^^ best reason ^^ and it looks great

Mods are generally 5% one way or the other and are individual, personal and just for the players enjoyment on any level. I love a HM bridge, I also love a vintage bridge.

Nothing wrong with stating you have just as much experience as others.... You did refer to him as a "novice" just because people like glitzee guitar things, which I though was a little arrogant.

Agreed.

but at least you're coming back down to earth now...

You too, coming back to earth. A whole lot of posturing over someone else's educated and experienced choice.

The novice is likely taken in by the glitz without regard for how something might enhance or hinder performance. Others may like those chunky hi mass bridges but not me.

Professionals, techs, players, builders, tone heads and modders enjoy HM or similar non-bent plate bridges. They look great, they sound great and are on a majority of higher end basses and vintage non Fender basses. Classifieds are only a click away.

 

[duanev3]

My Squire 60's transformation.... just to get things back on track.

From this

To this:

 

[aka-sundogue]

My Squire 60's transformation.... just to get things back on track.

From this

To this:

Very cool.

 

[Grinderman]

Sustain has never been a concern to me. All my basses have plenty. None have a high mass bridge.

 

[aka-sundogue]

Sustain has never been a concern to me. All my basses have plenty. None have a high mass bridge.

Me too. There have been times when working on others basses, especially those who owned vintage ones, where I've recommended staying with the bent plate bridge. If they still wanted the bridge replaced I always recommended one that that was a drop-in replacement should they ever want to restore it back to stock without modification.

 

[mongo2]

Early ones were crazy heavy brass monstrosities - chasing a problem that didn't exist, or more specifically - addressing the issue incorrectly.

View attachment 4686119

I used to have "The Claw" bridge on a P bass until I compared it to the threaded saddle bridge and found I preferred the sound with the threaded saddle bridge. The treaded saddle bridge has been my Fender bridge of choice for decades. If Fender made it in black I'd install it on my Mustang PJ LE.

I think The Claw may still be around here somewhere. I'll have to look for it someday.

 

[MotorCityMinion]

My perception hasn't changed. Those are wild claims.

and transfers acoustic vibrations to the body better resulting in a more organic tone.

 

[SJan3]

^^ best reason ^^ and it looks great

Mods are generally 5% one way or the other and are individual, personal and just for the players enjoyment on any level. I love a HM bridge, I also love a vintage bridge.

Agreed.

You too, coming back to earth. A whole lot of posturing over someone else's educated and experienced choice.

Professionals, techs, players, builders, tone heads and modders enjoy HM or similar non-bent plate bridges. They look great, they sound great and are on a majority of higher end basses and vintage non Fender basses. Classifieds are only a click away.

When I was a child, probably 12 years old, I saw my 1st bass guitar and was smitten with it's looks. Of course, I wanted the shiny one. 2 years later my dad bought me my first real Fender Jazz bass. It was a '66 and I was disappointed when I took the covers off and saw plastic covered pickups. My 1st bass was a Tempo jazz copy with chrome pickups. I was even more disappointed when I saw Fender go to blocks on the fretboard. Mine had dots and binding. Did these things matter? From a performance standpoint, not likely but they tickled my senses as someone who did not yet know what made a good instrument. These days my basses might be considered bland visually but they play like a b**ch. And sound the part. And even those claims are subjective. As I said initially, if he's happy I'm happy.

 

[blowinblue]

I'm new around here. What's all the fuss about?

M. M.

 

[duanev3]

I dunno..... I don't think I would be disappointed if my Dad gave me jazz bass at 14. My dad gave a 65 Chevy impala at the age of 15 that needed to be towed home, and my job was to rebuild the engine and have the transmission rebuilt. Seven months later and a $99 paint job i had my car running just in time to get my license.... No disappointment there other than I wish I still had the car.

Considering I had to deliver a year of Herald Examiners news papers to get my first guitar at the age of 11 (Gibson SG200) which I still have today.... Never any disappointment there either.

Maybe things are different when you come from a family with six siblings and watched both your parents worked their butts off for all of us..... disappointment never entered our minds..... Only things that comes to my mind is how the hell they were able to do it.

 

[aka-sundogue]

I'm new around here. What's all the fuss about?

M. M.

Well, it's Talkbass, where there is always something to fuss over.

 

[Peter Hess]

I put a high mass bridge on my paranormal Jbass primarily to get the action where I wanted it. I still had to shim the neck as well. The other mod was purely aesthetic.

 

[rickster4003]

Nice! Did you have any problems with string height? I did this and bridge could not go low enough and had to put in neck shim.

 

[aka-sundogue]

Nice! Did you have any problems with string height? I did this and bridge could not go low enough and had to put in neck shim.

I actually had to shim the neck pocket as the old bent plate bridge's height adjustment screws were sticking out and up so high, it was like having the bridge wrapped with barbed wire. I like super low action. Shimming it allowed me to set the screws lower in the saddles of the bent plate bridge to raise the saddles up. So the new bridge worked out perfect for me.

But that's why I posted pics of both bridges as a reference for others contemplating getting a Hi-Mass bridge. The Hi-Mass base and saddles are already significantly "taller" even when set to the lowest point. Anyone thinking of going with the Hi-Mass bridge, be aware of that.