Would you replace the factory bride on your Fender Jazz Bass?

It's unreasonable for fender to expect us to just be happy with the factory bride they chose for us! I like to get to know a woman first! In all honesty the stock fender bridge is good enough. When people do mod fenders, they usually put badass II bridges on, they're good, but a little overpriced. Personally, i think a gotoh 201 is just as good, at half the price.

 

I'd rather have a factory groom. Do I need to go Custom Shop for that?

I just scored an MIA 75 Jazz Re-issue and bought a Badass II for the ride...we'll see how it works out. This will be the first time I've replaced a bridge on a bass.

 

Do I qualify Shelly????


The FIRST thing I do when ever I acquire a "Jazz" bass is ditch that little piece of bent metal and toss a BadAssII on it.

For those who can't hear/say there isn't a difference, well, they never recorded a track with the stock one, swapped it out and then recorded the same track.
There is a difference.

Now, weather you like what it does is up to you.
To me, it makes the bass feel more solid, more even, and I'm not sure if it tightens up the fundamental of the notes or something else, but they IMO sound tighter and more defined.

IMO/YMMV and all that stuff.......

 

Is this like a mail order bride? Would you want to replace her before you even got her?

 

No, the '08' model's bridge works perfectly. Why do I need to change it?

 

I detest high-mass bridges, don't care for the new '08 model on the MIAs and would point out that the bridges on the pricey vintage instruments are about on par with the thin MIM bridge.

So, in a word, "no."

 

depends on the model, the current MIA bridges are basically bad asses, so i probably wouldn't change those. If it has a standard bridge, i'd change it. There really is a difference. I'd even put one on a vintage bass, i'd just keep the factory bridge if i wanted to sell it. The only reason you dont see them on ebay pre CBS masturbation basses is because it would detract from the price.

 

note to self: try not to typo on thread topics.

 

I think its the BadAss V.

http://www.leoquan.com/html/bass5details.html

I like the stock bridges on Fenders. The cheap bridge is part of the tone IMO. I don't mind high mass bridges, but I tend to steer clear of everything except the original Badass, the Gotoh 201, or the new Fender HMV bridge.

If I were to replace the bridge on my Fender I'd probably get either a Naimish bridge or a hipshot replacement.

 

It's not mere opinion; it's fairly obvious physics.

 

I prefer the stock bridges.

 

Stock bridges because I can never set my action low enough with high mass bridges.

 

I leave the stock bridges on them....

 

Replaced the stock "bent metal" bridge on my old MIM with a Gotoh 201 - not a super high-mass like a BAII or a Hipshot A, but just enough extra mass to improve the tone noticeably. If I were to get a MIA with one of the newer High-Mass, I wouldn't bother.

 

Mass schmass - I just hate how the saddles skate all over the MIM Standard bridge plate.

c-

 

I have 3 Jazz basses with Bass Ass II bridges. No problems with intonation or the action being low enough..

G

 

i've had a bunch of fenders with standard threaded bridges, 70s bridges, badass IIs, etc... I like the badass but i do think you loose some of the rawness and fatness of the standard tone. it tightens things up though and makes things more even as mikebass said. I guess it depends on the sound and vibe you're going for. I've also tried the hipshot vintage bridge and i think it's great. still a bent plate but the saddles can't wander side to side and it has quick release if you're into that

 

I love these little bridges. Not high mass, but major improvement over stock Fender. Grooves keep the saddles from sliding, they look good, and fit with no modification. I have 3 squier 4 strings and 2 five strings and have these on every one of em.

Super inexpensive and worth way more than you will pay for it

http://www.basspartsdepot.com/4_String-4_String_Deluxe_Bass_Bridge.html