The infamous Badass Bridge

[PilbaraBass]

I can't get any sound out of my BA bridge... I think it's a wiring problem...

any suggestions?

 

[gjbassist]

One thing to remember about the Badass is you must slot the saddles. It doesn't work well if you don't.

Not necessarily. You can buy a BA with the saddles already slotted.

I would also agree with those who have said to go with the Gotoh 201 instead. I think for one third the price it does just as good a job as the BA bridge and it isn't as heavy.

 

[Thunder_Fingers]

Because you can't make one and Leo Quan.

Fixed, huhuhu..

Anyway, I have had the Badass II bridge on all my Fender and Fender style basses, and not only becouse of its sound differences from the standard bridge, it also LOOKS Badass! So I am using them for an estethic fix too.

Let me tell you, an Fender Urge II bass looks alot cooler with a Black Badass III bridge, hehe.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

I put a Badass 1 on a Gibson EB-3 and it transformed the bass into a usable instrument, mostly because it tightened up the sound and made the E string audible. As far as Fender type basses go, I like strong mids which the Badass doesn't seem to be great at.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Not necessarily. You can buy a BA with the saddles already slotted.

I know that, and you know that, but you should see how many I have to slot for people who bought the unslotted BA II and didn't think they needed it slotted.

I prefer to slot them then use the preslotted, but then again I'd rather use a Hipshot aluminum bridge.

I would also agree with those who have said to go with the Gotoh 201 instead. I think for one third the price it does just as good a job as the BA bridge and it isn't as heavy.

That's a good bridge. They both sound a little different though. I don't use BA's anymore, but I used to back in the day.

 

[walterw]

my eternal complaint about the gotoh 201 is that it's too narrow for traditional jazz basses, not allowing the strings to line up between the pickup magnets like they should.

 

[Gus Borden]

Your first decision to make is if your tone is currently suffering. Then do the product comparison - Hipshot also makes a high mass bridge, I am sure others do also. Which ones are better at what they claim to do? I changed over to a Badass once - was it better? Yes. I personally felt it wasn't entirely dramatic.

I recently picked up a white Squier V.M. P. I decided I wanted to change all hardware over to gold and the pickguard to a red tort. When it came down to the bridge, I went with a Wilkinson bridge for under $20 and let the extra cash I saved go to replacing the jack and the pots. Honestly, the difference was night and day, truly. I found that the bridge? Not so big a deal, but changing out those stock pots made a helluva difference.
It will definitely come from your own experiences and preference though!

 

[Basshappi]

I have used BadAss bridges since the '70s I like them and still have a few. But in recent years I've been using Gotoh 201s as I think they are just as good of an upgrade for less than half the price.

 

[Burlington]

A few of my Fenders, including my parts jazz, have had BA 2 bridges. My Spector has an original Badass I love them.

 

[BassLife77]

instead of buying overpriced bridges I just replaced the saddles with brass ones. since its the only part of the bridge that touches the string. I like the sound of steel roundwounds on brass

 

[magnur1002]

wonder if the Badass would be as popular as it is if were called "fairy bridge?" I think its just a lot of hype and marketing with a catchy name.

True. The name gives it a sort of placebo effect.

Thank you all for great answers!
I think I will conclude with (based on your answers) that it is not NECESSARY, at least not if you bought a decent bass. Still it adds some sustain and attack, it is cool, sounds cool and will as a result slightly enhance your playing (experience) – it can even make a difference with its psychological effect.
I’ll have to wait for my new bass until I decide to buy or not. Until then my Peavey T(ank)-40 with unknown bridge will have to do the trick.
Thank you again for thorough answers

***edit*** shouldn't this be in the hardware forum?

I’m sorry about that, wasn’t sure of the category. Will do it right next time 

 

[mongo2]

my eternal complaint about the gotoh 201 is that it's too narrow for traditional jazz basses, not allowing the strings to line up between the pickup magnets like they should.

The mag field is contiguous where the strings intercept the mag field on bipole type pickups so precise string alignment between the poles isn't necessary for proper function. However, it can be an aesthetic issue for some.

My Js with Gotoh 201s worked fine.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

The mag field is contiguous where the strings intercept the mag field on bipole type pickups so precise string alignment between the poles isn't necessary for proper function. However, it can be an aesthetic issue for some.

My Js with Gotoh 201s worked fine.

That's true, but the design of the Jazz pickup was to place the string between the magnets, not over either one. This was to soften the attack because the speakers at the time couldn't handle it.

That's not an issue anymore.

The Gotoh 201 actually comes on some Fenders. I have a few of them in my parts box from people who replaced them with Badasses.

On a historical note, the Badass was probably the very first replacement bridge on the market. The first model was a wrap around style tailpiece for Gibsons that originally didn't have adjustable saddles. The next model was the Badass I bass bridge was an update for Gibson basses. The Badass II was made for Fender basses.

I used to use the BAII on my Ricks back in the 70's. It was a huge improvement. You can see the influence of the Badass design on bridges used by Ken Smith and others.

Another thing to consider is what the bridge is made from. Brass bridges will give you more low end, while a lighter aluminum bridge will open up the top end. Zinc bridges like the Badass and Schallers fall somewhere in the middle. I think the Gotoh 201 is brass.

 

[Kipaste]

...reaaaaalllllyyyyyy.......

Yes. These basses came with BA bridges and IMO even if the change is small, BA can be a bit "zingy" sounding. The difference is really small, but IMO I get a bit more balanced sound out of a gotoh setup. Which is funny because I still consider myself to be in the "bridge doesn't make any big difference tonally" camp. But I've proved my opinion wrong twice. For better measure, I'm waiting to get my hands on a really dark and mellow sounding bass to see if the BA makes a difference. I'm thinking no, but I've been wrong before.

 

[mongo2]

That's true, but the design of the Jazz pickup was to place the string between the magnets, not over either one. This was to soften the attack because the speakers at the time couldn't handle it.

I know. It softened the attack by widening the magnetic field. There was never any necessity for the string to be aligned between the poles for that to work.

 

[Mulebagger]

I have had a few BadAss bridges on different basses. I currently have one on my Modulus VJ and I really like it. My 75 Jazz had one and it made a nice difference. Ironically, my 75 Jazz ( and all my other basses) have Hip Shot A bridges which I really like for their adjustability and smoothed edges. I don't think the bass would sound much different if I had a BA bridge on it. I think both are tonal and sustain upgrades from a bridge with less mass.

Of course I could be wrong. Just what my ears tell me.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

I know. It softened the attack by widening the magnetic field. There was never any necessity for the string to be aligned between the poles for that to work.

No, it softened the attack by not having the string directly over the pole piece.

If you move the two poles together to make one wider pole, it will have a greater attack, but the field will be the same width.

My original pickup design had two round poles touching each other under the string.

Blades have a wide field but they don't have a softer attack either.

 

[dubstylee]

I put a BAII on my bass a couple years back b/c of all the hype I had read about them, it soon came off. My Fender didn't sound vintange anymore, it didn't sound like a Fender to me anymore. The BAII definately compresses your tone, we did many recordings with it on my bass, and then with the standard vintage bridge, I totally love the sound of a P-Bass in it's OEM format strung with flats. If your going for that zingy compressed tone, get a BAII, just not the tone for me. I felt it wasn't as fat and pillowy anymore.

 

[mongo2]

No, it softened the attack by not having the string directly over the pole piece.

Actually, it softend the attack by widening the magnetic field using the spaced poles thereby preventing the string from exiting and re-entering the magnetic field during the inital attack as it can on a single narrow pole per string design, thereby alleiviating the attendent spike when the E field collapsed and was re-established as the result of the string moving to the edges or out and back into the mag field when played hard or with a strong attack.

Blades have a wide field but they don't have a softer attack either.

I find blade or other continuous field pickups have a softer attack than my OEM SCPB pickups.

 

[metalmariachi]

...reaaaaalllllyyyyyy.......

I also have BA II lying around (it’s in the case) I pulled off a used Jazz.

I never cared for them.

I’m still debating whether to go with a Hipshot A or Kahler whammy on it.

MM