Need Opinions on High Mass Bridges

[4andnomore]

I'd estimate there are 1,000s of player who back in the 70s dropped a hundred bucks to put a bad-ass on their p-bass, only to years later go beck to the original vintage-style bridge. High mass bridges have their place, but it really depends on the instrument and the player.

Now pass the carrots, please!

 

[amphlett7]

I swapped the bridge on my P-bass for a Wilkinson one with brass saddles and then a brass Hipshot A.

Sound-wise I cannot tell the difference, tbh. But I vastly prefer the Hipshot in terms of sturdiness and adjustability. I felt the bent plate bridges would shift as I played the strings sometimes.

 

[Malak the Mad]

I'm not going to comment on "tonal enhancement" or "improved resonance". If any of my high-mass bridges have an impact on them, I don't notice it, so I'll stick to the tangible features and improvements I can vouch for. This, so far, is the best bridge I've found…

…a big hunk o' brass! It has a number of built-in features that I really dig;

1. A direct, drop-in replacement for most MIM Fenders and some Squiers.
2. Threaded saddles. (So helpful for us Jazz & P/J players! Love 'em! )
3. A nice counterweight to stave off neck dive, especially when combined with Hipshot Ultralites.
4. Very long grooves in the baseplate.

The last part is really cool 'cuz it allows me to get proper intonation even when I'm using a 20-fret neck on a body built for 21-frets. And best of all, it doesn't cost a fortune, only a hair less than $40.

I'll let others bicker about the intangibles. It sure as hell ain't my fight.

 

[amphlett7]

I'm not going to comment on "tonal enhancement" or "improved resonance". If any of my high-mass bridges have an impact on them, I don't notice it, so I'll stick to the tangible features and improvements I can vouch for. This, so far, is the best bridge I've found…

View attachment 3846216

…a big hunk o' brass! It has a number of built-in features that I really dig;

1. A direct, drop-in replacement for most MIM Fenders and some Squiers.
2. Threaded saddles. (So helpful for us Jazz & P/J players! Love 'em! )
3. A nice counterweight to stave off neck dive, especially when combined with Hipshot Ultralites.
4. Very long grooves in the baseplate.

The last part is really cool 'cuz it allows me to get proper intonation even when I'm using a 20-fret neck on a body built for 21-frets. And best of all, it doesn't cost a fortune, only a hair less than $40.

I'll let others bicker about the intangibles. It sure as hell ain't my fight.

Which bridge is this? Looks very cool and similar to the big block american fender bridge

 

[Malak the Mad]

Which bridge is this? Looks very cool and similar to the big block american fender bridge

Tell you what, I'll send you the info by a PM. I don't know if they're made anymore and I wouldn't want to start a run on them, ya know what I mean?

 

[bobyoung53]

I won an Fender American Vintage Hot Rod P/J bass that came with a high mass bridge, I could never really get the action low enough so I finally took it off last year put a vintage bent plate on it and the action's where I want it now and it sounds the same, feels the same, still just one barely discernible dead spot and sustain is the same. The volume is the same unamplified and if anything it feels more resonant than it did before.

 

[Ian Lewis]

So look, I know this isn't as hotly contested as "tonewood" or even poly vs nitro. BUT! Is a high mass bridge worth the cost?

I design water and sewer systems now, but I ran a machine shop for 15 years before and I appreciate nice machine work. I think it's cool, so a nifty hunk of metal is just beautiful to me. I really want to buy a Babicz bridge ONLY because it looks awesome - tone is not the priority here (despite the poll option).

Do you like high mass bridges? Hate them? What's your faves? Also if you have a Babicz let me know how you like it.

If you're wondering it's going on a Blonde Fender Classic 50's PBass.

If you want to increase the sustain of your bass then do it. But as you bought a Classic 50s model you obviously like that vintage tone - so don't.

 

[rohi]

I really enjoy the G&L bridges, it's a nice combination of high mass and functionality. Plus it looks nice too!

 

[E4S]

My 1994 G&L SB-1 has the G&L high mass bridge, it's perfection!

 

[scott cuppello]

I was sceptical for a long time but I eventually fitted a Fender high-mass bridge to my Jazz and the difference was well worth the money overall.

 

[Samatza]

I tried a Fender high mass brass bridge on my Squier Jazz. Sustain was the same but the fundamental of the note seemed more prominent however the attack of the note was tamed so I went back to the stock bridge.

 

[Charlie28711]

Get the Babicz full contact bridge FCH-4 (5). Not the FCH-Z model, sure it's a few bucks more than the other. but well worth it. Besides if you don't like it you can sell it at near your full cost. you'll only be out a couple of $$

 

[candiehappy]

So look, I know this isn't as hotly contested as "tonewood" or even poly vs nitro. BUT! Is a high mass bridge worth the cost?

what do you think "mass" gets you? if you think it is sustain, you would be wrong.

A scientific study showed that "mass" has nothing to do with sustain on a wave on a string.
It is the HARDNESS of the material that increases sustain, since it isolates the vibration from being dampen prematurely.

If you think "mass' gets you "tone', you would be wrong there as well, everything else about the ELECTRONICS o an electric guitar/bass affects the "tone" or more accurately the sympathetic harmonics above the fundamental.

This is not "hotly contested" as it can all be easily proven with basic scientific measuring tools. People have debunked all these "tone wood/metal/bs" on the internet for years now with repeatable scientific tests.

"mass" gets you "weight" and that is about it.

 

[ruju]

So look, I know this isn't as hotly contested as "tonewood" or even poly vs nitro. BUT! Is a high mass bridge worth the cost?

I design water and sewer systems now, but I ran a machine shop for 15 years before and I appreciate nice machine work. I think it's cool, so a nifty hunk of metal is just beautiful to me. I really want to buy a Babicz bridge ONLY because it looks awesome - tone is not the priority here (despite the poll option).

Do you like high mass bridges? Hate them? What's your faves? Also if you have a Babicz let me know how you like it.

If you're wondering it's going on a Blonde Fender Classic 50's PBass.

I like the babicz..I've had one on a jaguar bass for years now. Trouble free.

 

[RodRy]

I only use bridges made of the finest tonewoods and coated with nitro.

 

[Killing Floor]

I've been really wanting to try a DeTemple titanium bridge. Not exactly high mass. But what I know about metallurgy, Ti (I would assume it is 3/2.5 because that is by far the most commonly available and a little less complicated to machine or weld) has some pretty interesting acoustic properties due in large part to the grain.
I know a builder who uses them but can't find any players with experience.

 

[shojii]

Check out the soundwaves in this clip....virtually identical between hi-mass and standard bridges.

 

[JimmyM]

Check out the soundwaves in this clip....virtually identical between hi-mass and standard bridges.

Maybe my dog could hear a difference, but I sure as heck can't. But far be it for me to tell people not to buy high mass bridges...I just sold a bunch and I've got a Kahler 5-string bridge left to sell

 

[La Faro]

I'm no dog, but the High Mass for the finger style seemed a bit more open, and also brought out the clack a touch more. The slap too, more open, a touch more bite to the sound. I preferred the stock sound though, but I guess you could get that by rolling back a little.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Maybe my dog could hear a difference, but I sure as heck can't. But far be it for me to tell people not to buy high mass bridges...I just sold a bunch and I've got a Kahler 5-string bridge left to sell

The same happened to me actually ..