Now there are bridges that really affect tone, such as the 2tek.
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NEWB QUESTION ALERT!!! - How does the bridge affect sound?
- Thread starter Bottom Hammer
- Start date
A good bridge will allow you to adjust up/down, left/right, and (critically) forward/backward. As to how it affects sound, you need to be able to adjust the string length in order to properly intonate. You need to be able to adjust the bridge saddle height in order to limit fret buzz.
I still haven’t heard a substantial demonstration of the impact of bridge materials, mass, density, etc. on an instrument’s tone.
However, I would think the old Bakelite saddles on original P Basses had a different sound than the newer metal ones. Although, I would bet it would be so slight, that you could call it imperceptible.
I still haven’t heard a substantial demonstration of the impact of bridge materials, mass, density, etc. on an instrument’s tone.
However, I would think the old Bakelite saddles on original P Basses had a different sound than the newer metal ones. Although, I would bet it would be so slight, that you could call it imperceptible.
This is a pretty varied topic with lots of opinions, none of which I think are wrong. I've had 3 different brands of replacement bridges over the last, 20-ish years, and have come to these conclusions:
An aftermarket high mass bridge can give you more sustain, but It's subtle. It's going to minimally contribute like, for example, a bone nut as opposed to a plastic one. Make a difference? Sure. A big one? Not so much.
If you are tryng to fix something, like, say if the one you got with your bass is of a lower quality and is giving you problems, sure.
An aftermarket bridge can get you:
Ability to change the string spacing a little (be careful)
More efficient string changing (if it has drop in vs. pulling the string through the hole-type loading)
More efficient string height changing (look at babicz, they have a good system for that).
I've heard that:
Brass bridges are warmer.
Aluminum & steel bridges have more sustain.
I've experienced that:
Individual rails (as opposed to a solid bridge) are supposed to eliminate string "cross-talk". That's been as subtle an improvement as the improved sustain. Although I will say, that one bass I own has a B string that would have been impossible to intonate with a one-piece bridge as it needed to be scooted backward to get enough travel for it to be set properly. Again, if it's to fix something, it's a move that would make sense...
Not sure if improved sustain is a goal for you not, but honestly investing in a good-brand of compression/limiter pedal will get you miles further.
I don't mind a good high mass bridge, but don't find it to be an imperative, must have ASAP add. If the bridge that's on any given bass is good and works, leave it be.
An aftermarket high mass bridge can give you more sustain, but It's subtle. It's going to minimally contribute like, for example, a bone nut as opposed to a plastic one. Make a difference? Sure. A big one? Not so much.
If you are tryng to fix something, like, say if the one you got with your bass is of a lower quality and is giving you problems, sure.
An aftermarket bridge can get you:
Ability to change the string spacing a little (be careful)
More efficient string changing (if it has drop in vs. pulling the string through the hole-type loading)
More efficient string height changing (look at babicz, they have a good system for that).
I've heard that:
Brass bridges are warmer.
Aluminum & steel bridges have more sustain.
I've experienced that:
Individual rails (as opposed to a solid bridge) are supposed to eliminate string "cross-talk". That's been as subtle an improvement as the improved sustain. Although I will say, that one bass I own has a B string that would have been impossible to intonate with a one-piece bridge as it needed to be scooted backward to get enough travel for it to be set properly. Again, if it's to fix something, it's a move that would make sense...
Not sure if improved sustain is a goal for you not, but honestly investing in a good-brand of compression/limiter pedal will get you miles further.
I don't mind a good high mass bridge, but don't find it to be an imperative, must have ASAP add. If the bridge that's on any given bass is good and works, leave it be.
The bridge is there for the strings to have something to anchor to so that they can be tuned to pitch and also to raise or lower the strings to your personal preference and also to intonate the strings to true pitch, that’s all the bridge is for they have nothing to do with sound or tone...
Same here. My fender P has a badassII bridge. Looks good, can't say it made much if any difference. My LTD has a string-thru body, in think a different bridge would have even less effect. Best change would be pickups.
The bridge on my old Oak Chapman stick was best... we don't need no adjustability for intonation, just bend your note to fit
I have only even noticed tonal change based on what the saddle is made from. Wood vs metal = big difference. Different type of metal hasn't really shown me much other than brass doesn't seem to be as bright. My favorite bridge currently is a gotoh 201 for a more traditional look and a Hipshot Kickass for everything else with the brass saddle inserts. This is all while using NYXL 100-45 on a p bass with bartolini 8s pickup
You will get a lot of differing answers. In my experience:
- the bridge does affect tone, even if only a little
- it definitely affects sustain
- the type of metal used seems to have more affect than high mass vs. low mass - e.g. brass vs. aluminum have different tones
As a newbie, I would not worry too much about bridges except for the situations described previously. I think heavy bridges do sound different than light, bent-metal ones, but this does not mean it is better. As for sustain: How much sustain do you really want on a bass? If that is your goal, better off with a compressor.
That’s truly a new one for me.
Just out of curiosity, why did that happen? I’ve played a lot of Fender basses since 1968. And more than a few Squiers since around 2010. And I’ve never once had anything even close to that happen to me - or known (or even heard) of it happening to anyone else either. Was it damaged in a drop or by something else first?
I agree with several of the others who have posted -- and given experience with a LOT of basses -- essentially: It matters very little unless it is not working correctly. So I'd only "upgrade" a bridge if the existing bridge is somehow broken or not functioning properly.
People will argue about this, but that's why (like a lot of answers you'll get here) it's an opinion.
Play on!
People will argue about this, but that's why (like a lot of answers you'll get here) it's an opinion.
Play on!
It actually can change the sound quite a bit. Maybe not to a live audience, but that is a red herring anyway. People who can't tell the difference between sky blue and baby blue are wandering around art galleries as we speak, but the painter still chooses his colors carefully.
Where people start to go astray is in thinking that bigger, or "higher mass" bridges make your bass sound better. They don't. In many cases they will actually make it sound worse. Sometimes a new high mass bridge just happens to gel with all the rest of the bass's properties and the player will notice an improvement, but it's not a predictable upgrade. A good rule of thumb is that if you like the sound of your bass, changing the bridge will probably make you like it less.
Where people start to go astray is in thinking that bigger, or "higher mass" bridges make your bass sound better. They don't. In many cases they will actually make it sound worse. Sometimes a new high mass bridge just happens to gel with all the rest of the bass's properties and the player will notice an improvement, but it's not a predictable upgrade. A good rule of thumb is that if you like the sound of your bass, changing the bridge will probably make you like it less.
Keep in mind that most bridge changes also include new strings and a setup, possibly including a pickup height adjustment. All these factors also change the sound of the instrument.
As long as it's stable the bridge the bass came with should be fine. I've personally only ever replaced one bridge and that was because it had rust on the screws to adjust saddle height. But if you want to swap bridges go for it. Get something that's well made with good materials and you'll be fine.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
My experience as well... tried most of ‘em... haven’t noticed any ‘valuable’ difference.
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I don't remember specifics...just that when i removed one of the strings, the saddle and spring just fell off. Something had been broken and was held together by the downward string pressure, once removed things just fell apart.
