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What's great about the 'Badass' bridge?
- Thread starter aasti3000
- Start date
I removed my BAII (on my warmoth pbass, harvested from my old Marcus Miller) and installed a 30 dollar fender plate. The fender is lighter and sounds, obviously subjectively, better. The fender had a mid presence on my pbass that suited the pickup, woods, and strings.
If you're in the search of a tone that your bass just isn't hitting, a new bridge is a not so expensive thing to try. Plus, they are easy to find used and resale for about what ya paid for em.
If you're in the search of a tone that your bass just isn't hitting, a new bridge is a not so expensive thing to try. Plus, they are easy to find used and resale for about what ya paid for em.
I never heard anyone praise the badass for being a tone improver, However it did increase the sustain on my j bass which was why i loved it.
I've owned a few BAs on several different basses. I'm not a fan of them for several reasons, but I do like high quality bridges over those old Fender flimsy things. There is definitely a difference that can be had depending on the bass and the bridge condition especially. A more solid bridge with a higher mass will change the feel and tone of the bass ever so slightly if the original bridge is flimsy. Tighter saddles and such can also be an upgrade in tone, but it's all personal preference if it's really better or not to the individual player.
There are many replacement bridges out there that I think are much better than the BA's IMHO, which aren't quite as large and bulky, but still offer some increased mass and much more rigidity. The stock Fender bridges I've had on a couple of Deluxe model basses though were just fine, unlike some of those old vintage bridges from the 60's.
There are many replacement bridges out there that I think are much better than the BA's IMHO, which aren't quite as large and bulky, but still offer some increased mass and much more rigidity. The stock Fender bridges I've had on a couple of Deluxe model basses though were just fine, unlike some of those old vintage bridges from the 60's.
Leo's design, and I believe he thought they were an improvement. I wouldn't call them a gimmick at all. They're very stable. I've owned 3 G&L's. The 2nd one I purchased came in missing the screw that adjusts the saddle some how, yet the locking mechanism held it perfectly in place until G&L sent me a replacement. So, the mechanism does help increase rigidity and sturdiness. Never could have done without that screw on most any other bridge I can think of.
Many people install BAII bridges themselves and botch the job by either screwing up the grooves in the saddles or just not putting grooves in. I've found on my MIM basses that BAII E string saddles bottom out before I get them as low as I would like. I personally didn't notice any change in tone or sustain on my MIMs. I took a BAII off of my newly acquired 76 P and replaced it with a '75 reissue bridge and the tone and sustain IMPROVED dramatically. Not sure why. I like BAII bridges because they're big and blingy. I also like them over the MIM bridges because when I play with a pick I rest the heel of my hand on the bridge and the screws in the MIM bridge saddles are kind of sharp. The BAII is more comfortable to play. The current "high mass" bridges on USA Fenders do their job well and do not need improving, IMHO.
Another +1 I never will forget when I got my first Fender about 10 years ago and went to not one but two shops in my area to get a BA installed by them. Both shops had them and installed them. The shop owners both talked me out of the BA and possible profits for them due to their beliefs that they added nothing to a Fender bass and in fact took allot away.
I must of played a half a dozen Fenders soon after they told me that and they were 100% right. They both saved me money for the mod that IMO is worthless.
It doesn't move... And it sounds a little more hi-fi. That's it. It's just a more solid hunk of metal to put the strings through.
I noticed a difference. Not through my amp as much as through the sound coming back to the stage from the FOH.
I was in a house band, in a larger room, using the same system night after night. I went through the typical parts swaps most people make. My 70's Jazz became a test bed. I can say, with certainty, the BadAssII produced a tighter, slightly more mid focused sound. The stock fender bridge produced more low end.
Same bass. Same room. Same rig. Same PA. Same volume. Same strings. Everything in the same place. There was a difference.
Don't like the BAII? Don't use 'em. But don't call 'em hogwash. I have Two Jazz Basses, now. One with the BAII one without. I like both.
I was in a house band, in a larger room, using the same system night after night. I went through the typical parts swaps most people make. My 70's Jazz became a test bed. I can say, with certainty, the BadAssII produced a tighter, slightly more mid focused sound. The stock fender bridge produced more low end.
Same bass. Same room. Same rig. Same PA. Same volume. Same strings. Everything in the same place. There was a difference.
Don't like the BAII? Don't use 'em. But don't call 'em hogwash. I have Two Jazz Basses, now. One with the BAII one without. I like both.
listen to James Jamerson on the motown stuff,Thats a stock fender no baddass no dick,thats the sound right there,stock fender thats the way to go especially if its vintage...
