SG & EB Bass Club

[bobyoung53]

That must be a lot of fun, having those two basses And you play them through Ampeg stacks (looks like from your avatar photo)?

Funny how the EB-2 intonates well we'll with the stock bridge and the EB-3 didn't. The Curse of Jack Bruce maybe...

They are fun, I modded both of them just a bit, put in a new choke in the EB-3 to get more bottom with both pickups engaged (pos 3) and unhooked the choke entirely on the EB-2 which really opened it up and it was very simple to do. I still use SVT heads quite a bit haven't had the 810's out in a few years though but that will probably change next year, both of those basses sound really good through an old Ampeg Bassamp I own, it's a 1959, pre-B-15, 35 watts with one 15", it's got the bottom that you need, they sound good through SVT's too and also old Fenders, with any good warm tube amp they shine.

 

[bobyoung53]

My experience with older Gibson and Guild basses is that intonation depends to a large extent on how much the neck angle has moved over the past 50 years or so. Most of the ones that I've seen have intonation issues past 14th fret.

Mine was good up until the second octave then it was noticeable, I'd say yeah, about the 14th fret, didn't realize it had anything to do with the neck angle, I can get low action with either bridge, I prefer medium action on these though.

 

[dmt]

I think the whole reason I decided to make a little photo install guide for the SuperTone was that I kept getting so confused reading text-only descriptions. There's been a lot of different terminology being used for the same things, perhaps including by me now. I think I started calling the 3 metal parts that actually go into the wood "anchors" (because they each anchor a stud into the wood), but it seems I've ended up calling them "inserts" (because you first insert them into the wood so that you can, well, anchor your stud). Other people call them "bushings". A few on TB have called the "ferrules". I guess which term is used depends on one's background.

At least for our purposes, they're all referring to the same thing though: anchor=insert=bushing=ferrule

Pictures being worth a whole lot of words, below are two illustrative pics.

First, a generic illustration of [threaded] inserts for installing bolts into wood (the one on the far right shows a bolt in an insert, but in actual use, the insert would have already been inserted into the wood like on the bottom left):

Next, the 3 inserts on the SG bass (the front, or "nose", insert still having a stud [bolt] partially screwed into it):

 

[dmt]

They are fun, I modded both of them just a bit, put in a new choke in the EB-3 to get more bottom with both pickups engaged (pos 3) and unhooked the choke entirely on the EB-2 which really opened it up and it was very simple to do. I still use SVT heads quite a bit haven't had the 810's out in a few years though but that will probably change next year, both of those basses sound really good through an old Ampeg Bassamp I own, it's a 1959, pre-B-15, 35 watts with one 15", it's got the bottom that you need, they sound good through SVT's too and also old Fenders, with any good warm tube amp they shine.

Wow! I'm definitely jealous, though these days the 35 watter is probably all I could handle (having some ear problems)

 

[Bobhmcs]

It was requested that I provide a few pictures and a short review of the Hipshot Supertone Bridge I installed on my 2019 Gibson SG Standard Bass.

It took quite a bit of convincing for me to install this Hipshot Bridge.
First I do not like it aesthetically. It does not flow with the lines and curves of my Gibson SG Standard Bass. But it does provide functionality that the Stock 3 point bridge didn't.
The most important is individual string adjustment. For the limitations in my hands this is a must. I find it very difficult to set action and intonation using the stock bridge, especially string height. At this point I have the action and intonation dialed in for myself. Which makes me very happy. Next is string spacing which for my fingers is 19mm. This bridge allows me to do that. Another huge plus is silk windings. I have tried a number of brands and none stayed off the nut or saddles. I did learn about a product called the Mod-Bar which worked perfect but due construction forced me to change the strings all at once. So at string change I would remove them and watch as the bridge would slide off the posts over finish and onto the floor. 3 times this happened and it was just by pure luck that dents and scratches didn't occur on the finish or the bridge (welcome to the dept of reduncy dept). These improvements over shadowed the aesthetic issues completely.
The one other negative, is the lack of instructions and explanations included with this product. No mention of if the side to side adjustment screw is to be included when setting the string height, or what the third stud recess was for. I was unaware there was an issue with the insert (stud) for the bolt not being flush. I became quite confused until some members of this thread were kind enough to provide explanations.
So all in all the installation took about 5 minutes and solved a number of the issues I had with the original bridge.
Finally I am slowly coming around to the look of this bridge. I have included a few pictures for your perusal. For our Irish members I used a special stand in the first photo.
Bob

 

[dmt]

It was requested that I provide a few pictures and a short review of the Hipshot Supertone Bridge I installed on my 2019 Gibson SG Standard Bass.

Looking good!

First I do not like it aesthetically. It does not flow with the lines and curves of my Gibson SG Standard Bass.

Yeah, the front of the SuperTone curves outward in a gentle bow, whereas the front of the body of the SG has the two horns jutting forward. The way the original bridge comes to a single forward point seems to complement the SG body's lines better, suggesting a middle horn. But not only am I starting to get used to the look of the SuperTone, but, dare I say...even like it

But it does provide functionality that the Stock 3 point bridge didn't.

Understatement of the year

I did learn about a product called the Mod-Bar which worked perfect but due construction forced me to change the strings all at once. So at string change I would remove them and watch as the bridge would slide off the posts over finish and onto the floor.

A-ha! Now I understand that issue. With no mod-bar (and having had bridges fall off on me on other instruments in the past), I just naturally changed the strings one at a time and so hadn't run into the issue of the bridge falling off with the SG. Also, I've only changed the strings once on it, like 2 years ago now

Great review, thanks for posting it!

 

[Bobhmcs]

Looking good!

Yeah, the front of the SuperTone curves outward in a gentle bow, whereas the front of the body of the SG has the two horns jutting forward. The way the original bridge comes to a single forward point seems to complement the SG body's lines better, suggesting a middle horn. But not only am I starting to get used to the look of the SuperTone, but, dare I say...even like it

Understatement of the year

A-ha! Now I understand that issue. With no mod-bar (and having had bridges fall off on me on other instruments in the past), I just naturally changed the strings one at a time and so hadn't run into the issue of the bridge falling off with the SG. Also, I've only changed the strings once on it, like 2 years ago now

Great review, thanks for posting it!

No I insist Thank You!
Bob

 

[scottm]

Not sure if this was mentioned more recently, but as of today I only see two bass models listed for Gibson.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

-ScottM

 

[Bobhmcs]

Not sure if this was mentioned more recently, but as of today I only see two bass models listed for Gibson.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

-ScottM

Since I purchased mine in December I started receiving notifications from Gibson for 2019. On of them announced that they were dropping the 2 upper end SG Basses and only providing the SG Standard Bass to go with the Thunderbird. They were the only models they referred to. I cannot remember what the 2 SG models were they were dropping. Sorry for my bad memory. Unfortunately those notifications were on my previous phone and didn't transfer to this one. So it's kinda a he said she said.
I know this doesn't help a whole lot.
Bob

 

[Rock Salad]

My 65 EB-3 played flat as you went up the neck, I put a Supertone on it and it's perfect, doesn't look anywhere near as good as the original but love the ability to move the strings from side to side and also the ability to intonate it properly. My 66 EB-2 intonates perfectly with the stock bridge. Those two basses have the old style two point bridge.

View attachment 3624097

So wait. I can put a Supertone on a two point? I was wondering about that since the saddles on the two and three point bridges have different spacing relative to the posts.

 

[Bobhmcs]

So wait. I can put a Supertone on a two point? I was wondering about that since the saddles on the two and three point bridges have different spacing relative to the posts.
View attachment 3624709

This is the closest I can answer that. Hipshot told me that I would have to use the 2 point Supertone on my '69 Gibson EB3 since it had a period 2 point bridge. I decide to return the EB3 to original '69 condition.
Bob

 

[Bobhmcs]

This is the closest I can answer that. Hipshot told me that I would have to use the 2 point Supertone on my '69 Gibson EB3 since it had a period 2 point bridge. I decide to return the EB3 to original '69 condition.
Bob

I apologize I thought you had asked me that question. Didn't mean to step on your toes Bobbyoung53.
I will now return to where I can't get into anymore trouble.
Bob

 

[ctmullins]

There are two versions of the Hipshot Supertone available; one for two-point and one for three-point.

Two-point dimensions

Three-point dimensions

 

[bobyoung53]

So wait. I can put a Supertone on a two point? I was wondering about that since the saddles on the two and three point bridges have different spacing relative to the posts.
View attachment 3624709

I bought it a while ago and don't remember if it was made specifically for the older EB-3's or not, it fits with absolutely no problems though. The only reason I put it on though was because of intonation problems, I really like the looks of the original bridge.

 

[bobyoung53]

Wow! I'm definitely jealous, though these days the 35 watter is probably all I could handle (having some ear problems)

I've been lucky I guess, I've been in some loud bands too and never wore ear plugs. I do stay away from loud drummers or loud guitars if I can help it. I did play with a drummer once who hit the snare so hard it went right through me and caused pain in my right ear, so anytime I played with him I stuffed wet paper in my right ear, worked like a charm.

 

[bobyoung53]

It was requested that I provide a few pictures and a short review of the Hipshot Supertone Bridge I installed on my 2019 Gibson SG Standard Bass.

It took quite a bit of convincing for me to install this Hipshot Bridge.
First I do not like it aesthetically. It does not flow with the lines and curves of my Gibson SG Standard Bass.

Yeah I really don't like the looks of it either but I also don't like playing flat high notes. So I guess it's function over form for this bass.

 

[dmt]

So wait. I can put a Supertone on a two point? I was wondering about that since the saddles on the two and three point bridges have different spacing relative to the posts.
View attachment 3624709

Hipshot has a separate SuperTone replacement bridge for basses that came with the 2-point Gibson design.

SuperTone Gibson® Bass Replacement Bridge

Because it seems to face "backwards" compared to the 3-point, it imo eliminates the aesthetics issue of the 3-point SuperTone that we've been talking about, so...bonus!

Beautiful pair of basses there, btw

 

[dmt]

………and caused pain in my right ear...

That's the problem

stuffed wet paper in my right ear, worked like a charm.

Funny!
I'm using foam earplugs, and they help, but I bumped my earplug and jammed it a bit into my ear the other day

 

[Bobhmcs]

That's the problem

Funny!
I'm using foam earplugs, and they help, but I bumped my earplug and jammed it a bit into my ear the other day

Try going through 3 armed conflicts 20 years with the Marines target practice (no ear protection at the time) two WestPacs, 14 Johnny Winter concerts, 2 Who concerts, and a partridge in a pear tree, then try intonating. Puts a damper on fine tuning.
;[)
Bob

 

[Bobhmcs]

Yeah I really don't like the looks of it either but I also don't like playing flat high notes. So I guess it's function over form for this bass.

I am a function over form kinda guy. My Dad was a Civil Engineer and he was very much in function. Guess I got that from him. On the other side I get jealous as heck of those that can combine the two. I guess they are called Artists.
;[)
Bob
But,,,, Hipshot could have worked slightly harder on the form. No slam just an observation. Doesn't take away that it is a fine piece of equipment.