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Survey: Best bridge for blues/Motown

J

jeffbos

Jun 9, 2011
9
0
Huntsville, AL
#1
I do a lot of customizing and as with a lot of things, a simple little idea for a build has started to take a life of it's own. Anyway, to make a long story, longer, I've decided to make a bass for primarily blues/Motown type sound. I've got a Jazz with single coils, flat wounds, and brass nut. It has the original Fender bridge. I was thinking of swapping the bridge out to go with a different color and then thought "maybe go with a whole different bridge."

So, trying to decide to go with aluminum, brass, high mass, etc. I've checked out Hipshot A, Badass II, Babicz

So your thoughts on material type and manufacturer would be greatly appreciated.
 
#3
IMHO, it would stand to reason that using the same equipment that Motown players used would get you closest to the Motown sound. ie., Precision bass with bent steel bridge and threaded saddles, LaBella flats, and an Ampeg B15.
 
#5
belle-isle-bridge1.jpg
 
#6
OK, so some other posters want to have a little fun with you. This is because this topic has come up SO many times it's gotten a bit tedious. The only difference in your post is that you don't want 'the best bridge for metal.'
Honestly, there is little or no tonal difference between any of the bridges out there. Heavy ones are a little brighter, and I mean a little.The effect is more pronounced on lighter instruments. The main reasons to change a bridge are asthetics, and perhaps mechanical integrity/design, if you are really fussy.
 
#7
my experience is, it can change the low end. IMO it has more to do with the string saddle
design than anything else.

i went from a vintage jazz bridge, to a baddassII. found the low end opened up, became more pliable & deeper. not neccessarily good for a 'vintage' tone though i liked it
 
#8
dmusic148 said:
Honestly, there is little or no tonal difference between any of the bridges out there. Heavy ones are a little brighter, and I mean a little.The effect is more pronounced on lighter instruments. The main reasons to change a bridge are asthetics, and perhaps mechanical integrity/design, if you are really fussy.
Click to expand...

I have to disagree here. I replaced the heavy zinc and brass Gotoh bridges on my hand made basses, and my Ibanez with aluminum Hipshot Type A bridges, and the tone was like night and day.

Brass bridges have a lot of low end, and I find them to be on the muddy side. I've never liked the tone of brass bridges.. I put a Starz brass bridge on a Les Paul once back in the 70s, and it ruined the nice snappy tone of that guitar. I still have that bridge sitting in my parts box!

Zinc isn't too bad, but the much lighter aluminum bridges opened up the top end and have brightened up one of my very mellow sounding basses (cherry body, zebrawood top, and maple/purpleheart neck). Now it's nice and snappy.

Aluminum has about the same modulus as wood, and shared a similar acoustic quality. Even unplugged the basses sound much different, louder and very lively.

Some bridges now have steel saddles, which will also give a bright edge to the tone. This is because of the hardness more than the weight.
 

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