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So, what does a Badass II really do for the bass?

#41
Makes you bass look more..... Bad Ass?
I have this bridge on several basses, and also a Smith, Schaller, Hipshot and a 2TEK. Except for the 2TEK sustain and Hipshot brighter tones, I don't hear significant improvements relative to the standard Fender steel stamped bridge. From these, the Hipshot is the most flexible relative to string spacing.
 
#45
Have one on my pbass since 1980, and not a dam thing that other bridges do is your answer. It was hyped back then, and it turned out to be a good way of separating bass player's money from their wallet.

The only positive aspect is I can use one of my wife's or daughter's hair band as a mute. This is due to the shape of the bridge where the saddles ride. Sounds good.
 
#46
The original Fender threaded saddle bridge is very adjustable and utilitarian.

Badass bridges, and all hi mass bridges, in theory add more sustain etc. I do think it CAN eliminate dead spots on a bass which is a complicated trial and error test of figuring out which end needs +/- mass.

Because Leo Quann was the first, many folks say its the best. I think Badass bridges are tough to get real low action on and a PITA to get set up out of the box. You know who doesn't have you carve string slots? Hipshot, Babicz, etc

Pretty much all of my Fenders have a hipshot bridge. My basses are currently sporting Hipshot Vintage style, A, and B. They all are designed so you don't need to run the whole string through the bridge to change strings and they are all immensely stable where other companies bridges have fallen apart on me. I'm personally a huge fan of the A style.
 
#50
The only times I think a bridge upgrade is worth doing is if the bridge can’t be intonate properly or you are upgrading to a bridge with easier string changes.

I prefer the bridges that don’t make you thread a string through a hole, especially when the hole is t big enough for a heavy B string.

if I am upgrading or installing an original bridge I will try to use Hipshot if possible. They make great stuff.
 
#52
Higher mass in the contact point transfers energy between string and body efficiently. But don’t get one if you don’t think you need it.
By this point in the thread you’ve seen some posts arguing physics and some countering the fixed wave mechanics and transfer of energy with posts about appearance. Good luck.

For what it’s worth, the first change Leo Fender made to bass guitar design at MusicMan was upgrading the bridge. And most new Fenders ship with high mass bridge. And if it wasn’t an improvement there wouldn’t be 100 available options.
 
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#53
Said it a hundred times, snake oil. Play the vintage scroll bridge on all my Fenders...tons of sustain and instant string adjustment, plus they look kinda mean lean and business like. You actually need the least amount of metal between string and body for sustain, not more metal.
 
#54
This is my favorite Fender bridge:

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It's supposed to be high mass, but that's not what I liked about it: It doesn't change the original aesthetic, has substantial adjustment screws (love the intonation screws being hex instead of phillips screws), has saddle grooves so that your strings don't shift if you play with a really heavy hand, allows for top-loading or thru-body stringing, and the threaded saddles allow for string separation adjustment without involving Yet Another Set Of Screws. The only thing missing is quick-release when stringing topside.
 
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#55
pepj said:
Its a more substantial piece of metal.
I found it more adjustable and my pet peeve on Fender type plates, is the grub screws and bridges are cheap rubbish metal which can strip or wear.
This has caused the grub screws to drop out and you bet you never noticed where.

So, as a legacy from cheap metal bridges, I alway want
More solid mass.
String slots so i can replace far quicker without having to thread through the bridge.
and sideways adjustment so i can tweak string spacing.

So, Hipshot for me as should have a model that drops straight in.
ABM also make very good bridges with the zbove specs but not sure they drop in without redrills...which I'd certainly want to avoid
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Yeah, Probably not very noticeable at first, kinda placebo effect. but you do get much better adjustability! I noticed more sustain & girthier Tone, but that could be wishful hearing! I did notice a girthier tone for sure with the hip shot replacement & better sustain & more vibration through the body with a FCH Babicz bridge! YMMV.
That said, I think I need to state. I really despise those cheap Fender OEM bent metal plate bridges on every bass I have owned! I always replace asap! They just look sooo Flimsy & CHeap. I gladly replace with anything more substantial! Usually whatever is New & "Improved at that time. I havent installed a Badass II in quite awhile, since Leo quan Passed & his bridges became so scarce! So I've Owed most "new" model out there, but not the very newest yet on my basses, but I have used many, Including, Hipshot,Babicz, Badass, Zon & KTS, etc. They all are great & look Light Years Better than those Cheap OEM bridges! I'm very curious about & eager to use the new Omega copies of the LQ Badass Bridges! like said YMMV, but they are worth it just to upgrade its looks! Especially on an old Fender with an Original Badass II I think would only be viewed as a true Upgrade!
 
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#56
jre5 said:
Hey guys, only been playing for a few years now, and about to snag my first fender, a jazz. Its used, but in great condition and besides the strings everything is stock. I was planning in the future on doing some upgrades if I ever come across a problem with everything being stock, and one of the most common upgrades I see time and time again is people putting on a Badass II bridge, which seems to be the holy grail of Hi-Mass fender bridges. The only thing is, other than looks, I don't know what I'd be paying 100 bucks for. I understand they increase your sustain but thats about it. Is the difference really that noticeable and am I really better off upgrading? What are some of the main differences one would notice between a MIM stock bridge and a badass ii? And lastly, what even is Hi-Mass? Is it just more bridge? Idk. Please help me out, I've been curious for a little while now. Thanks in advanced!
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It’s simply more metal. Buy it if you like the looks. It won’t change the tone of your bass.
 
#57
bassliner50 said:
I have a BA II on my Precision. lt adds cost and a bit of weight, no tonal difference that I can discern, but looks substantial.
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That has been my experience as well. These days I use Hipshot aluminum bridges (A & B syle) or generic bent plate. The saddles on all do as they should, up, down, back and forth.

Stewie said:
If you are going to go 70s-80s, be sure to add a brass nut and strip the finish off your bass too
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Made me laugh. The bass that I put a BA-ll on back in mid 70's has a brass nut (more genius marketing) though I didn't strip it to a natural finish.... I re-shaped it. :roflmao::roflmao:
 

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