NBD - Sprucing up a Nate Mendel

[commonplayer]

Picked up a Nate Mendel P bass yesterday on a whim. Had a Fender pure vintage mint green pickguard laying around so I threw it on, replaced the hi mass bridge and added a tug bar for even more vintage feel.

The guard looks more white in this photo than it does in person, but I’m digging the overall vibe so far.

 

[mmbongo]

The Nate is an awesome bass! What difference did you notice with the bridge swap? I don't have any issues with the high mass bridge but just curious if you noticed a difference.

I've had a few different pickups in my Nate (really swapping just to be swapping) and I have settled on the EMG GZR. It's less 'ganky' than the stock SPB-3, although I do like the SPB-3. I just like the GZR because it's more standard P sounding and is very quiet. Fralin stock wind is also great and is more vintage if you are looking to go that route, but it's more noisy than the GZR.

 

[commonplayer]

Honestly I haven’t noticed a bit of difference tonally from the bridge swap. Not saying it doesn’t exist but just not discernible to my ear.

 

[P. Aaron]

Was it the Fender BA ‘high mass’ bridge or the ‘vintage’ high mass bridge found on most USA models?

 

[commonplayer]

Was it the Fender BA ‘high mass’ bridge or the ‘vintage’ high mass bridge found on most USA models?

The Fender BA hi mass knockoff

 

[shojii]

Any tonal variations following the P/G change? Looks sharp.

 

[PJ Muzikmansky]

Honestly I haven’t noticed a bit of difference tonally from the bridge swap. Not saying it doesn’t exist but just not discernible to my ear.

I still remember the occasion in the late eighties, when I bought a Badass bridge for my 1978 jazz bass, thinking it would tighten up the sound, because the advertisement in Guitar Player magazine - which included endorsements from famous players of the time - had convinced me it would.

Well, here's what I found:

1) $100 spent.

2) Absolutely NO difference to the sound of the bass.

LOL...lesson learned.

 

[commonplayer]

Any tonal variations following the P/G change? Looks sharp.

The mint guard has much more sustain and a higher top end

I still remember the occasion in the late eighties, when I bought a Badass bridge for my 1978 jazz bass, thinking it would tighten up the sound, because the advertisement in Guitar Player magazine - which included endorsements from famous players of the time - had convinced me it would.

Well, here's what I found:

1) $100 spent.

2) Absolutely NO difference to the sound of the bass.

LOL...lesson learned.

Yup totally hear that. Much more an aesthetic choice than anything else.

 

[PJ Muzikmansky]

The mint guard has much more sustain and a higher top end



Yup totally hear that. Much more an aesthetic choice than anything else.

Yes, and by way of clarification, I should have mentioned that in the context of my experience with the Badass, your experience in changing back to a stock fender bridge and hearing no discernable difference in sound made perfect sense...

P.S. I've got to say... that is one good looking bass

 

[JRA]

nice results of "on a whim," @allanmac00! neat ax! hope it plays for you and that it does all of the tricks you need it to do --- congratulations on your new instrument!

 

[bassist4dalord]

Man oh man, that looks great.

 

[Tbone76]

Beautiful changes, congrats! I had a NM Sig for a bit and did very similar upgrades on it:

I replaced the pg with a Fender mint, replaced the pups with an EMG Geezer, swapped the bridge with a Fender Pure Vintage 70’s and added the ashtrays. I turned it into a late 60’s tribute (of sorts). The NM is an underrated bass imo, and it’s really a unique P-Bass in the line. The swamp ash body, super deep belly cut, narrow nut and very lightly aged nitro finish make a great platform for customization/personalization. I might have to pick up another one in the future!