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

[Dave TB Killer]

I replaced two BA2's and two Kickasses with the Fender hi mass. The one that uses a hex wrench to adjust intonation. The former seem to be more for low action. I had shims under them to keep the set screws from popping out the bottom of the saddle. A BA screw shot out the bottom once and it was a real task finding it.

 

[Mr Wilson]

As you can see its a Hot topic in the Bass world right now . "Leo got it right " says everyone who has an original vintage or a 10 thousand dollar custom shop fender .Telling kids ,who have just started ,that are playing Squires and Lower end Mexican Fenders "no no your bridge is fine ,leave it in there " . If your bass is Asian or Mexican ,no Leo didnt get it right, becuase His bridges aren't on your bass ! Yes Dont go back wards . Dont replace "Amercian G&L bridges " they are one of the best . But the Tribute series hardware on G&L(and yes I have one ) are cheap knock offs . No blanket statements . Have an expierence player look at your bass and tell if it is upgrading worth upgrading .

 

[bikeplate]

Hipshot makes direct replacement bridges for Fender which are also string thru for easy string changes. A much better choice

 

[fhm555]

On my J basses I’ve got a Schaller locking bridge, a couple BA II bridges, a Babicz, and a few Fender Pure Vintage bridges.
The Schaller and BA bridges came on their basses from Fender and the vintage bridges and Babicz were replacements for OE bent plate single string slot MIM bridges.
TBH, I can’t tell if any of these bridges make any difference in tone, but playability is different for each bridge. The Babicz by far offeres the most improvement over the bent plate, followed by the Schaller. The BA II bridges don’t work any better than the threaded saddle vintage bridges, but they are not worse, but the threaded saddle wins because it allows (limited) string spacing adjustment.
While they are all J basses they have different pickups, control setups, even an active bass in the mix so my take would would be a completely subjective personal opinion on tone/sustain characteristics associated with the different bridges.

 

[cataract]

Mass = TONE
Just got a black Badass II & have a chrome Hipshot Kickass on the way.
Can’t wait to replace the bridges on my P’s this weekend

 

[Turnaround]

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.

It should be noted that, whereas the Fender bent plate bridge uses a steel plate and either steel or brass saddles, the BadAss bridge is zinc alloy (i.e. "pot metal").

 

[MrClassicMetal]

BadAss bridge is zinc alloy (i.e. "pot metal").

So that bridge is recommended for those who are heavily into stoner rock?