Replacement Bridge for a Fender Jazz Bass

[erokit]

Purchased a used JB basic model. No string through. Looking at a replacement bridge. Found the Hipshot A style.

Any recommendations for a drop-in 5-hole compatible bridge assembly?

 

[TNCreature]

I used the hipshot as well and was really happy with it. It improved my sustain over the stock bridge (MIM).

 

[Clark Westfield]

Can't go wrong with a Badass II groved.

 

[erokit]

Check this out. Found this wading through AllParts.

Babicz Full Contact bridge. Uses a cam for the saddle and string heighth adjustment. Instead of contact from two screws, the entire saddle assembly makes contact with the bridge assembly.

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[mmbongo]

Stick with the Hipshot, you'll love the quick load feature after the first time you have to scrape your strings through that little hole in the back of those other bridge designs.

 

[iJazz]

I have a gold Babicz I'll be using on my romance Jazz project. I really am taken by the eccentric cam design. I figure that string changes just aren't all that frequent so threading the bridge just isn't that much of a pain.

I do wish the name wasn't quite so loud on the assembly, however. I understand it's about branding, but it is a frustration for me just the same. Still, overall it's a great design.

iJazz - Hopefully soon with "full-contact" accuracy.

 

[ClassicJazz]

I've had them all....hands down the Gotoh 201 is the best.

Keeps the vintage vibe, just with more mass. Here it is installed on my Jazz Fretless.

Drop in replacement

 

[bassman10096]

AS fascinating as the Babicz is to look at and think about, it's not as clean looking as the Hipshot A (neither's the Badass to my eyes). I've used A's on 4 or 5 basses over the years and found them to sound great and be very simple to adjust and intonate. Also, the Hipshot A comes in a higher-mass, solid brass version (available in chrome, gold and black like the regular, aircraft aluminum version).

 

[Slackerprince]

Babicz. Just got one and love it.
Couple of threads here:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f18/babicz-full-contact-hardware-bridge-review-852564/

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f18/babicz-bridge-624522/

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f18/badass-babicz-bridge-809239/

Should be plenty of reading for you there.

S

 

[indigosounds]

I recently picked up a used Fender Jaco Pastorius Fretless Jazz Bass and was thinking about replacing the bridge on it.

I have been reading the reviews and doing a lot of research and I really like the idea behind the Babicz 4-string chrome Fender replacement bridges.

Has anyone on here replaced their Fender bridge on their Fender Jazz Bass with a Babicz Bridge and if so, was it worth it?

The cheapest price I can find at the moment for a Babicz bridge is about $95 including shipping.

Thanks in advance for any input and thoughts on the subject.

 

[walterw]

the jaco has the vintage-style threaded-rod bridge?

keep it, all these others are sideways moves at best. a lot of them don't even line the strings up between the pickup magnets right.

 

[indigosounds]

Well, I appreciate your comment.

The thing that I love about the Babicz bridge is the ability to lock it all down to prevent any movement in the saddles after the action and intonation has been set up.

I know of no other bridge that has this ability that is as effective as the Babicz.

I have never been a fan of any bridge where the string rests on the saddle and is supported by two tiny allen screws that can move around due to vibration.

I will most likely be buying and installing a Babicz on my Fender Jaco Bass.

 

[unclebass]

I have a blacktop jazz with the original high mass bridge on it, and a squier standard jazz with the original bent plate bridge. You need to watch the height adjustments of the bridge you get. If I were to switch the bridges on these two basses, the blacktop jazz bridge would be way to thick for the squier, and I would not be able to get the action low enough without shimming the neck, and the squier bridge would have to be turned up so high that the set screws would likely fall out of the saddles. My point is that you really need to look at how high you need to set the saddles on your current bridge, then check the range of height adjustments on the bridge you are interested in. It is better not to have to shim the neck to achieve proper action, just make sure what you are getting will not cause more problems than you think you have now.

 

[darkstorm]

Gotoh 201 for nice very low price upgrade bridge. The hipshot for bit nicer and with easy top load conviance.

 

[Hopkins]

I've had them all....hands down the Gotoh 201 is the best.

Keeps the vintage vibe, just with more mass. Here it is installed on my Jazz Fretless.

Drop in replacement

+1

The Gotoh is simple, and works great. It also doesn't look ridiculous, like some of the other bridges out that.

The Squire CV bridges are also a pretty good option.
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