It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 4:21 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 34 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next
Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Badass Bass Bridge-Worth It?
Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 6:08 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Mon May 17, 2010 9:43 am
Posts: 23
Location: Modesto CA
I'm a frequent lurker, but don't post very much. I've got a newer active Jazz Bass with the stock Fender bridge. I noted a common upgrade is to replace it with a Badass bridge. It this worthwhile? What are the benefits? Any drawbacks? Thanks for the help.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 8:58 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2009 6:23 am
Posts: 833
Nothing wrong with the stock bridge on a Fender. Whether or not replacing it with a Badass will improve anything is debatable. Some who have one think it makes a difference, some don't. I've even read comments from some who said it made things worse, and they had to change back to the original bridge.
Unless the stock bridge has some sort of obvious problems, I would leave it alone.

_________________
'08 Fender Am. Std. Jazz bass, maple fretboard, charcoal frost metallic finish
'10 Squier VM Jazz bass, maple fretboard, natural finish
Ampeg BA115
'09 MIM standard Strat, maple fretboard, sunburst finish
Fender Super Champ XD


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 10:25 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 11:26 pm
Posts: 2849
Location: Green Bay, WI
I have them on my basses. Like Bat said, it's debatable - but, as shallow people we like nicer looking things. I can't comment weather mine sounds or have better sustain (we play bass not guitar) or my ears are that sensitive that I can tell the difference in db levels, but I can say they do look nicer than the plain stock bridge.

_________________
Rez(# 30916)
'89 Power Jazz Bass Special-BadAssIII, EMG P/J
Project PBass-EMG PX, Schaller BM Light Tuner
'05 Aerodyne JBass
'06 Spector Legend Custom Neck Through
VT Bass
Hartke TA5000 w/XL Cabs(210, 410, 115)


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 2:38 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2009 3:11 pm
Posts: 2330
Location: location, location.
I'm sure there's a reason for them all being on all the artist models.

_________________
Rated "M" for meaty.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 2:58 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur

Joined: Sun Aug 01, 2010 9:47 pm
Posts: 187
The lows sustain more. The highs also sustain more. The notes across the board are suddenly much more even in volume. The bridge allows you to slap harder. Keeps the wood from vibrating like mad.

Try to get one with the slots already filed. Have a pro do it otherwise.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 4:36 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2009 6:23 am
Posts: 833
Tochai wrote:
I'm sure there's a reason for them all being on all the artist models.

Because they're popular and they sell, not necessarily because they work.

_________________
'08 Fender Am. Std. Jazz bass, maple fretboard, charcoal frost metallic finish
'10 Squier VM Jazz bass, maple fretboard, natural finish
Ampeg BA115
'09 MIM standard Strat, maple fretboard, sunburst finish
Fender Super Champ XD


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 4:38 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2009 6:23 am
Posts: 833
I've yet to see any objective A/B testing to prove that. For every story I've seen that says a Badass works, I've seen one that says it doesn't, which is why I say it's debatable.

_________________
'08 Fender Am. Std. Jazz bass, maple fretboard, charcoal frost metallic finish
'10 Squier VM Jazz bass, maple fretboard, natural finish
Ampeg BA115
'09 MIM standard Strat, maple fretboard, sunburst finish
Fender Super Champ XD


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 6:50 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2007 12:52 pm
Posts: 2588
Location: Out there on the road
It is worth it alone for the BAD $@! stamped on it.

ymmv


Top
Profile
Post subject: imho
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 8:56 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 5:24 pm
Posts: 175
Here's my opinion based kindasorta on experience. The Badass is a good alternative/upgrade on lower price basses that have a lower density body wood than ash or alder. I played a Highway 1 just today which struck me as being very light but nevertheless sounded very full and punchy due to the Badass bridge. I also used to have a low end 6-string which had a very heavy bridge akin to the Badass and I think it made a difference in the sound for the same reason: more mass equals more resonance and sustain.

Just be aware that adding a heavier bridge will not compensate for all the shortcomings of the instrument. Cheap will still sound and play like cheap - just with more sustain.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2010 10:45 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 11:26 pm
Posts: 2849
Location: Green Bay, WI
zod wrote:
It is worth it alone for the BAD $@! stamped on it.

ymmv


hehehehe, I like the way it looks, my ears will never can tell the minute differences between the stock or badass.

_________________
Rez(# 30916)
'89 Power Jazz Bass Special-BadAssIII, EMG P/J
Project PBass-EMG PX, Schaller BM Light Tuner
'05 Aerodyne JBass
'06 Spector Legend Custom Neck Through
VT Bass
Hartke TA5000 w/XL Cabs(210, 410, 115)


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2010 8:59 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 10:54 am
Posts: 438
Location: Alabama, Michigan, Florida, Wisconsin, Mississippi and Tennessee seasonally
Definitely agree with the longer sustain on the B-A II. The Mike Dirnt P-Bass that I used for several years had it as a custom shop feature and while it was a bit more difficult to adjust initially, it held it's settings without needing any more attention later on.

_________________
PaducahLuke

Fender Power Jazz Bass Special
Fender Standard Jazz Bass
Fender Standard Precision Bass
Schecter Diamond Series Stiletto Elite 5
Ibanez SR600
Ibanez GSR200
Bassman 250-210
Peavy MAX115
Peavy MAX115 (II)


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2010 10:37 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 25, 2007 4:16 pm
Posts: 28
Totally worth it, it adds some serious sustain IMO. Like somebody previously mentioned, I think it's due to the weight of it, it weighs almost as much as a bass body. What sold me was Jeff Berlin swearing by it so I figured I'd try one on my P. Now I am getting for my J. It probably does make a big difference with who installs it, I got a fresh unslotted one and had my lutheir install it along with a new Graph tech nut. On a side note if your planning on getting one do it soon, to my knowledge Leo Quan stopped production so supply is low and cost is high


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2010 5:13 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2009 6:50 pm
Posts: 33
How does it compare to the new am. std. high mass bridges?


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2010 6:16 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur

Joined: Sun Aug 01, 2010 9:47 pm
Posts: 187
jd101 wrote:
How does it compare to the new am. std. high mass bridges?


The B.A. is solid, un-plated metal. I don't know the details of the new high mass yet.

I love the huge bridge on my "new" Fender Jazz Plus.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2010 6:23 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 11:26 pm
Posts: 2849
Location: Green Bay, WI
DantheBassist wrote:
jd101 wrote:
How does it compare to the new am. std. high mass bridges?


The B.A. is solid, un-plated metal. I don't know the details of the new high mass yet.

I love the huge bridge on my "new" Fender Jazz Plus.


What do you mean by un plated?

_________________
Rez(# 30916)
'89 Power Jazz Bass Special-BadAssIII, EMG P/J
Project PBass-EMG PX, Schaller BM Light Tuner
'05 Aerodyne JBass
'06 Spector Legend Custom Neck Through
VT Bass
Hartke TA5000 w/XL Cabs(210, 410, 115)


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 34 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next
Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: