New bridge for Fender P bass!!

[KieranK]

Hey bass players! Just wanna know what people recommend for a new bridge for a fender American special p bass. Im looking for a bridge that will give me more punch, attack, tightness and sustain. I know that the bad ass II bridges are awesome, but apparently Leo Quan no longer makes them. So I was wondering from the bass community what else they recommend!

Cheers,
Kieran

 

[Hopkins]

Hey bass players! Just wanna know what people recommend for a new bridge for a fender American special p bass. Im looking for a bridge that will give me more punch, attack, tightness and sustain. I know that the bad ass II bridges are awesome, but apparently Leo Quan no longer makes them. So I was wondering from the bass community what else they recommend!

Cheers,
Kieran

I think you are asking a lot out of a bridge. That being said, Babicz and Hipshot both make really nice bridges that will fit your bass.

 

[Terracite]

I think you are asking a lot out of a bridge...

+1

Also, punch means different things to different people. For me, less sustain helps give more punch. Have you looked at different strings?

To answer your question: I like the Hipshot A for sustain (and ease of changing strings,) and Fender bent metal bridge for punch.

 

[walterw]

this is definitely a "do a search" subject.

you're likely not gonna change the sound much with a bridge, spend the money on a pickup instead if that's the goal.

that said, i'm not a big fan of the stock bridge because it's essentially the '70s vintage-type with one groove per saddle; this means the saddles aren't held together (in fact the string pull separates them) and thus they tend to slide around on the plate.

the cheapest solution is some '60s-style threaded saddles for it, which solve the sliding around problem and might net you a slightly more "solid" tone as a result.

 

[mapleglo]

I put a Babicz bridge on my Precision. I don't know that it changed the sound of the bass much, but it did eliminate the sticky uppy saddle adjustment screws that were tearing up my hand.

 

[adi77]

http://www.allparts.com/BB-0335-003-Leo-Quan-Badass-Bass-II-Black-Bass-Bridge_p_569.html

http://store.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php?m=product_list&c=3

 

[Jamesray740]

Even though Leo Quan Badass bridges are no longer made, theres alot of NOS of them that you can find online. I havent really used any other aftermarket bridges. But I have but the BadassII on few basses. Only noticed a big difference in sound when it was replacing a questionable stock bridge. I mainly put them on my basses because I like the smooth adjust-ability and stable intonation of them compared to most stock bridges. If you can find one at the right price I would get it.

 

[MovingPitchers]

I got rid of my Badass. Sometimes the stock are best. If it ain't broke, don't fix it

 

[PortlandBass77]

Badass 3 is the new one from Leo Quan or get a used Badass II on CL.

 

[Precision101]

Hipshot aluminum a style bridge. Best I've ever used.

 

[kesmit]

I like the Babicz too, but as others have mentioned, it likely won't change your tone that much.