Why a Gotoh 201 bridge over a standard Fender

[packhowitzer]

My own opinion is that the type of strings and the playing technique make MUCH more difference in the sound than the bridge does.

+1

 

[awilkie84]

I'm surprised by this. I have multiple Js with Gotohs. Seems to me the alignment problem is on P-basses, not Js. Measurements would seem to bear this out - my P-bass has wider than .75" spacing for the standard bridge. The attached picture shows a Gotoah 201 with Fender SCN pickups off a 2006 MIA Deluxe. I did not attach a picture of the neck pickup - any offset is the same.

The pick-up alignment issue only seems to be on a bridge pick-up with a P neck.

I recently had a J bass pick-up installed in the bridge position & it didn't line up, despite being in the precise location recommended.
The tech & I did some testing with a P/J they had in the shop (put the Gotoh on it) and it changed the alignment on that one, too.
We compensated by moving the pick-up down 2mm on my bass to allow for the strings to be between the poles.

 

[mtandrews]

will the 201 still fit under a bridge cover?

mine doesn't. not in the factory location anyway...

 

[BullHorn]

Found this recording on YouTube:



So perhaps the only difference is visual and weight.

 

[UK Philip]

I had a generic bent plate bridge on a gretsch electromatic. The saddles slid from side to side and it just felt kinda fragile.

Then i put a 201 on it and not only did the action improve notably, this bass just had more oomph. I know this is one of those "how long is a piece of string?" type things, but I swapped back and forth a few times just to be sure, but it did have a positive effect. The lows are lower and more full than before, and sustain longer.

 

[Kronos147]

Old thread, I know, but I like what a Gotoh bridged did to my MIM Jazz bass.

It makes it more like my 2014 American Standard with the high mass bridge (strung through the back of the bridge, not through the body).

 

[sissy kathy]

I tried a 201, but felt it didn't do anything, so i put back on the original bent plate bridge and sold the 201.

Good Luck!

Me too.

On a P-Bass, yes. On a Jazz I would expect it to, but I don't have a Jazz bridge cover in the shop at the moment to test with.

One thing to keep in mind is that any bridge (including Gotoh) with a .75" string-to-string spacing will not line up the strings to the pickup poles on a Fender Jazz Bass. You will need wider spacing if you are anal about these things.

The Jazz cover looks smaller than a P cover at the rear but that is because of the flair at the front. They are actually the same size.

 

[GIBrat51]

The bridge on my '78 P-Bass is the original one, with the single string saddle notches. In the 30 years I've owned it, it's never given me a single problem. The strings stay where they're supposed to. The saddles all touch each other, so that they can't move sideways - unless I tried so hard to move them, something would probably break. And, I doubt very seriously that anybody plays a bass that hard... As for the height adjustment screws poking me? Well, hasn't happened yet, and I doubt they ever will. And, since there's a foam mute in the bridge cover, my concern is with too much sustain, rather than not enough...

 

[PawleeP]

The Gotoh 203 has the grooves for the saddle screws and smaller saddles for those who don't like the larger ones on the 201.

Also has 2 extra screw holes at front of bridge if you want to use them...

Link Removed

Have a 201 and the neck is still a little divy-ish. Need to find some lightweight tuners to fit where the shiny&heavy modern-ish fender tuners are.

 

[Axstar]

The 201 was my early go-to bridge. However I bought a used P bass with one installed at one point, and the back of the bridge was pulling up slightly. The block of the bridge is actually largely hollow,which throws the whole 'high mass' thing into question. Ironically the cheaper 201 copies on Ebay have solid blocks, albeit the chroming on is a lot more goopy than on the Gotoh units.

 

[PawleeP]

The 201 was my early go-to bridge. However I bought a used P bass with one installed at one point, and the back of the bridge was pulling up slightly. The block of the bridge is actually largely hollow,which throws the whole 'high mass' thing into question. Ironically the cheaper 201 copies on Ebay have solid blocks, albeit the chroming on is a lot more goopy than on the Gotoh units.

So this makes me want to pull my 201 off my one mim p, just to see the hollow! by the way does anyone have spare 201 e string saddle? Mine needs a replacement. thanx. pp

 

[sissy kathy]

So this makes me want to pull my 201 off my one mim p, just to see the hollow! by the way does anyone have spare 201 e string saddle? Mine needs a replacement. thanx. pp

JaParts has them, scroll down about 2/3 of the page.
JAPARTS : Gotoh Accessories - Saddle Sets

 

[PawleeP]

JaParts has them, scroll down about 2/3 of the page.
JAPARTS : Gotoh Accessories - Saddle Sets

Appreciate it.
All they seem to list is a set of 6 for the GTC201. I s That the right saddle for a 201?
Correction, I think I found them. Wonder what cosmo black means? satin, flat, mmm

 

[roswell1965]

First of all the bridge cover will NOT fit over the 201 and line up with the existing screw holes. The cover WILL fit over the bridge, but you'll need to add new holes.

THANK YOU (8 1/2 years later lol) for a definitive answer to this question! Since I'm doing a Warmoth build there will be no existing screw holes to concern me..

 

[WillyW]

I think they look better, but I then I put a cover over the one I have.

 

[packhowitzer]

THANK YOU (8 1/2 years later lol) for a definitive answer to this question! Since I'm doing a Warmoth build there will be no existing screw holes to concern me..

You know what I wound up doing? I drilled a second set of holes in the bridge cover itself. So no additional holes in the bass body, and two insignificant holes in the ashtray. This puts the cover about 1/4" farther back to give clearance to the back of the bridge. I rarely use either one of the ashtrays, but it's nice to know I can use both of them. Every so often I have a formal gig where I wear a suit or something and I'll add the ashtrays for a touch of class... and then grumble to myself all night about how I can't reach the strings the way I'm used to lol. But it sounds like for you, you'll be able to add the holes to the body as you see fit. So good luck!

Also, I've really enjoyed the 201B over these last 8 years. It feels great under my hand and is easy to adjust if need be. Personally I'm in the camp that thinks that the bridge makes only a marginal difference in noticable sound (especially in a live setting), but I absolutely appreciate a well-made and functional piece of hardware - whether it's a babicz, a badass, or gotoh, hipshot etc...

I ended up adding a 201B to an SX parts bass I assembled and it's had great results too.

One potential negative. Due to the slotted nature of the saddles and the grooves the saddles rest in, there is not really any lateral adjustment available to the string position. This doesn't bother me, but once it was pointed out to me, I have to concede that it's a valid observation. The 201B will still be my go-to vintage style bridge upgrade due to price, quality, function, looks, etc... But the lateral adjustment is certainly worth mentioning if you have bass where the pole pieces are not exactly in the expected spots or something similar.

rock on!

 

[Bob_Ross]

Any other benefits are really a matter of personal opinion.

Captain Pedantic would like to point out that if there are other benefits it's entirely possible that they are objective, demonstrable and measurable...i.e., far more than merely subjective "personal opinion" ...but the likelihood of being presented with objective, demonstrable and measurable differences in an internet forum such as this one is vanishingly small.

 

[packhowitzer]

Captain Pedantic would like to point out that if there are other benefits it's entirely possible that they are objective, demonstrable and measurable...i.e., far more than merely subjective "personal opinion" ...but the likelihood of being presented with objective, demonstrable and measurable differences in an internet forum such as this one is vanishingly small.

Bob,
Thanks for reminding me why Captain Pedantic doesn't have any friends.

 

[Pilgrim]

Captain Pedantic would like to point out that if there are other benefits it's entirely possible that they are objective, demonstrable and measurable...i.e., far more than merely subjective "personal opinion" ...but the likelihood of being presented with objective, demonstrable and measurable differences in an internet forum such as this one is vanishingly small.

Bob, I love your response - and even more, the response of @packhowitzer.

I would also point out that I enjoy objective and measurable results, but my tired old ears (equivalent to those of Tom Lehrer's famous mess sergeant, whose "tastebuds had been shot off in the war"...) have never been sufficient to reveal such results. And I don't have the equipment to measure it.

Therefore I open a beer and proclaim opinions (to quote Jubal Harshaw) ex cathedra from my bellybutton. Those opinions are worth what they cost you.

 

[MisterUbu]

it's a good bridge but be warned the saddles are bigger in diameter than standard fenders, otherwise a smooth feeling bridge that's a nice alternative to the standard bent plate