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Post subject: Jazz bass bridge question
Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 3:14 pm
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I am the proud owner of a 94/95 Am Std Jazz. I guess like everyone at one time or another have thought about upgradeing the bridge. I have been looking at the Badass and noticed all the bridges are 4 or 5 screw and my bridge only has 3 screws. After looking at numerous other basses, none from 94/95 however, I havent noticed any with 3 screws. Is this the way these year models came? I bought this bass new from an authorized dealer if that means anything.

Thanks for your help! :o


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Post subject: Re: Jazz bass bridge question
Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 5:46 pm
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I used to think I had to upgrade the bridges on my Fender basses untill I realized that maybe the bridge is not the place to start the modding process. Plus I personally think that in most cases a badass bridge may only give you a little more sustain at best. I also think if the bass lacks the honk and great tone one expects from a Fender bass , a badass bridge isn't going to do much for you. So if it's not broke- don't fix it. I have in the past replaced pickups in dull sounding Fender basses. That did more than any kind of badass bridge does for the basses I did it to. You will have people who swear by bridge replacement and that's okay if you are into that. I used to be like that. I spent tons on bridges too. I don't anymore. When I mod a P or J I usually put Dimarzio model P or model J pickups in it. I play more than 50 gigs a year and the Dims really beef up my tone and they have good definition. That's what makes my bass sound so " honkin" thru our big PA. Anyway you can decide what you are into. I just built a Jazz bass and used a regular bridge on it and it sings and has tons of sustain. Same thing with my P basses with Dimarzios in them. Dimarzios are not the beat all and end all for everyone. There are alot of good pickups out there. First and most important with any bass is to get it set up and tweaked and intonated as good as possible then decide about replacing parts. A set of new or different strings may be all you need. A good set up and tweek can bring out good/better tone and sustain and HONK!!!! :D Have a great day man!!!!!!!


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Post subject: Re: Jazz bass bridge question
Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 9:03 pm
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First, +1 on what Stoker Vance said regarding bridge "upgrades."

Fender uses 3 screw bridges mostly on basses designed for body through stringing. Is yours a body through setup? If so, then the aftermarket bridge for your bass is the Badass III. If it doesn't have body through stringing then you want the ORIGINAL Badass.

So long as it intonates well, the very last thing I'd upgrade is the bridge. If a bridge ain't broke, don't fix it. Upgrading to a 90 dollar bridge is not cost efficient as you don't get $90 worth of improvement in tone. What you get is the same tone for a little longer. If the tone is crappy in the first place then a longer crappy tone is not an improvement.

Copper shielding to ground can be done for under $15 in parts and almost always makes way more difference in a Jazz, especially one without noiseless pickups, than any bridge upgrade. Also having the right tone capacitor for you can make a real difference. Figure $5 or less for the right capacitor for you. Those are the FIRST upgrades I do on any passive bass. Shielding a bass or soldering in a better tone cap will not make your bass LOOK cool or hip or with it, but the look isn't what it is about with me.

If you are playing fusion or flashy slap stuff using steel rounds then a high mass bridge might be in order. But the majority of people who dropped $90 on a flashy high mass bridge would have gotten way more benefit from a shielding job to kill buzz and the correct tone cap to tailor their tone and kept about $70 in their pocket.


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Post subject: Re: Jazz bass bridge question
Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 10:56 pm
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Ditto on Stroker Vance & Brother Dave's advice .......a good set up & a fresh set of strings is a good place to start.....& with regard to BadAss bridges (I'm a fan..have 'em on 3 basses) but I gotta say I'm liking the new HMV bridges that fender's putting on some of their basses ( my AM DLX Jazz has one.)

As for pickups (should you need to change 'em) Dimarzio, Seymour Duncan & Fender Custom shop 60's Jazz Bass Pickups are few brands worth checking out.. :)


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Post subject: Re: Jazz bass bridge question
Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 11:58 pm
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James I agree that BA bridges are quality bridges, but I just don't think they make all that much difference UNLESS you need the bit of added sustain or you need the extended saddle travel which they afford to intonate your instrument correctly. No doubt they are a quality item. I'm just old school.


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Post subject: Re: Jazz bass bridge question
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 5:31 am
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I kind of look at it the old school way too. Fender has been putting the bridges they put on basses for 60 years.


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Post subject: Re: Jazz bass bridge question
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 6:34 am
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Thanks for the info, I was really just thinking about it and just looking around, I have Seymoure Duncans loaded and the sound and sustain are awesome. The main problem is the saddle screw from the g string keeps comming loose and about fell out during the first set the other night. My bass DOES NOT have string thru and only has 3 screws in the bridge where as all others I have seen have 4 or 5. Did Fender use these bridges on some basses for some reason? I have looked everywhere and have not seen another with a 3 screw bridge. Is there a good fix for mine, I guess installing a new screw and or saddle would work, Thanks again for all you help. :mrgreen:


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Post subject: Re: Jazz bass bridge question
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 8:54 am
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jaycaffee wrote:
Thanks for the info, I was really just thinking about it and just looking around, I have Seymoure Duncans loaded and the sound and sustain are awesome. The main problem is the saddle screw from the g string keeps comming loose and about fell out during the first set the other night. My bass DOES NOT have string thru and only has 3 screws in the bridge where as all others I have seen have 4 or 5. Did Fender use these bridges on some basses for some reason? I have looked everywhere and have not seen another with a 3 screw bridge. Is there a good fix for mine, I guess installing a new screw and or saddle would work, Thanks again for all you help. :mrgreen:


Buy some loc-tite and spray that screw into place. It will be removable but won't move on its own. Pretty cool if you are change strings and you don't want you settings changed. Fender went from a 5 to a 3 screw type bridge sometime ago, I think the 1980's.


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Post subject: Re: Jazz bass bridge question
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 10:07 am
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Thanks for all the info and I will try the loctite. I just found out what I have is "The Longhorn" made from 89 to 94 and all had the 3 screw bridge which I plan on leaving. I've always wondered why other Jazz's looked weird to me, now I know..lol. Anybody got a line on a Sunburst longhorn???? :twisted:

http://www.reverbnation/hellsbellsga :twisted:


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Post subject: Re: Jazz bass bridge question
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 2:46 pm
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I use damar varnish for the screws. I put some on a pin (small drop)and touch it to the thread right at the saddle. It works on all the screws. It wont make them so you can't ever turn the screw again if you need to. Just put more on (small drop).

There is nothing wrong at all with having 3 screws in a bridge. Screws just hold the bridge to the body. 3 is enough to do the job. New Fender string thrus have 3 screws I'm pretty sure.

your bass is what we call a "boner" bass.


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Post subject: Re: Jazz bass bridge question
Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 2:05 pm
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Clear fingernail polish works also. It snaps right off in one chunk when you move the screws on purpose. A little dab will do ya. (Apologies to Brylcreem!)


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Post subject: Re: Jazz bass bridge question
Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 12:10 pm
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I think I want my rumble in the wood. The badass does change the sound a bit. AND not for much better and for the worse in some cases (because you just spent 60 and it didn't do squat for the bass). I didn't want to say that because people just love those bridges and I don't want to sound like a hater. I think it's years of hype and those bridges make bucks for the music store owners.. so of course they are going to get pushed hard and they get sold. Now people have a hard time finding them and they are jonesing for one. I've had 15 of those bridges and ended up with none. But that's me once again. Geddy put a badass on his bass and BOOM !!!!!!!!!!!!!


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Post subject: Re: Jazz bass bridge question
Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 8:49 am
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I have BADASS II bridges on three of my basses ( they came stock on 3 Fender artist models) I have to say I do like 'em but that being said I also like the old school bridge thats on my Jaco bass.

I do agree with Stroker Vance that ever since (my Hero) Geddy Lee & a few others started using them ...BOOM!!! every one has to have one.
I can't remember the thread where we were having this BADASS conversation last month but Brother Dave had a good post regarding Leo Quan & BADASS,.....they don't have very friendly customer service (pretty much non existant as they don't answer your emails.......I've been waiting months & others longer)
Their bridges are getting harder to find (especially black ones.) I think they're dealing exclusively with Fender but I may be wrong.......as I said Brother Dave's post is worth reading.

There are other brands out there that are worth checking out & they don't have inflated price tag attached to them.........check out Hipshot bridges & the Gotoh 201B-4 bridge
I'm considering the Gotoh as a replacement for a 1986 Jazz Special I've got my eye on. :)


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Post subject: Re: Jazz bass bridge question
Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 9:12 am
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BA bridges have been a topic here since I joined. Overall the good responses outweigh the bad. That's just as I see it,,, but that to me does not mean BA bridges are the answer to hunger.


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Post subject: Re: Jazz bass bridge question
Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 9:45 am
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I agree...there are several other equally good after market replacement bridges out there.


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