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why don't aftermarket companies offer these?

I dislike loading strings through the bridge and quick release models cost significantly more money. This seems like an elegant and inexpensive solution. Anyone know where I can find something like this for a 5 string?

pic from ebay:
$(KGrHqN,!jUE5,zJsokrBO,kD3mgJw~~60_59.jpg
 
Because theres no reason to. That looks like a modified traditional bridge with the string thru holes where someone has cut out top part so it can be used easy load fashion. If you want top load, get a top load bridge. So what if it costs a little more. It should last a lifetime. No reason for a mfg to make a bridge that offers fast load top and traditional thru hole top loading. Makes no sense.
 
Leronious said:
I dislike loading strings through the bridge and quick release models cost significantly more money. This seems like an elegant and inexpensive solution. Anyone know where I can find something like this for a 5 string?

pic from ebay:

Isn't that a standard quick loading bridge? The other holes are for the intonation screws.

Anyway, I don't see how quick loading bridges are more expensive - it may be that the better and more expensive hardware companies out there are producing the quickloaders.
 
Other than the potential of nicking your finish pushing/pulling strings through the bridge what is the attraction to a QC bridge other than satisfying some gadget fanatic urge for something out of the ordinary?

my US J plus came stock with a QC machined bridge and it's cool and all, but I've had several occasions when changing strings where I'm winding like crazy, only to discover the ball had slipped out of the QC top load slot, and it's got high zoot cone-like cuts made from the rear of the bridge that actually capture the ball rather than just stop it like the bridge shown by the OP.

Maybe if I changed my strings more often I might favor a QC bridge, but changing strings once or (rarely) twice a year, the few seconds it would save me is not something I'm going to worry about.

Like any other gadget fanatic, I get the appeal of the idea of a QC bridge, but it's like color when I'm trying out potential new basses, not a deciding factor at all.
 
My guess is that if you spent the time you'll invest in sourcing this part into putting strings through the holes instead of through the slots, you'll come out with more time in the long run. Just saying. ;)

LOL'd. TOO TRUE! Besides that obviously cheap bridge from some Soviet era or whatever bass doesn't look like it would offer much over the saddle break unless the saddles were huge or you shimmed the hezzll outta the neck.

Anyway, help is on the way! Hipshot has it! Lookit this baby: http://store.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=209 You pass the ball through the center and over to it's saddle. Purdy too.
 
I have a few used sets of strings in a drawer (some nickel rounds, flats, rotos, high c, low b, etc) and I like to switch between them often. With a quick release, I can swap and tune up in about 2 minutes without damaging the strings.

If I have more than one bass, first in line gets new strings and number two usually gets the old strings off number one.

Is the string change in 2 minutes something you need as part of your act, or is it something you'd like to be able to do if you had the choice?

I've got an old L plate fender bridge laying around and I've thought on more than one occasion about taking my side cutters and some files/sandpaper and making it a QC bridge.

It lacks the extra little shelf, but I don't think that would be such a big deal to work around.