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Post subject: Schaller P bass bridge
Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2012 11:21 am
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Hello Everyone, I have read several post about bass bridges and what they do and do not do. Do they change tone or sustain or will nothing change. Well I have been a guitarist for a very long time and I understand differences a bridge can make in a 6 string guitar, mass,metallurgy, mounting type , and string through all make differences. Yet on the bass forums many people say it makes no difference and some say it made a great difference. I bought a new 2011 fender Precision bass "special". I like the bass very much but I really didn't care much for the bridge. First thing I had to do to it was locktight the saddle height screws, no big deal. I know many of you like the stocker very much but I wanted a bit more precision so I read and studied different types of bridges. I've been told that brass deadens vibration , yet many bridges are made from brass. Aluminum wasn't a consideration because of it's porous nature and lack of density and I feel it would give a plunky sound like a hollow body. So that left the Badass and the Schaller. I have experience with Schallers string through fixed bridges and the Original Floyd rose bridges, both are of great quality and made in Germany (not taiwan).
Although I cannot compare all of the bass bridges I can let you know the results over the stocker.
I like a very low action and both bridges allowed for it without issue. However the precise adjustability of the Shaller and the roller saddles for spacing put it way ahead of the stocker.
The install was very easy on the Schaller and it also had two additional (optional) screw holes in the front and I used those to better secure it to the top of the bass for more contact.
The Shaller felt twice as heavy than the stocker.I did not need the added heigth baseplate that was included.The quality was very good as expected.The adjustability for saddles and intonation was very easy as was the stocker. When the strings are hit hard with a pick or with fingers the spacing never changes on the Shaller, not so much with the stocker.
Now for the big question, how does it change the tone........
Well the tone was to my ear almost identical but the way the strings reacted was very,very different. The notes would almost swell and were very articulate. It was a bit more punchy and of course it had more sustain, far more than would be needed. I like flatwounds so I was very happy with the added punch. I find roundwounds very rattly sounding when played fast and loud.But I also eq towards the treble end.
I feel it takes far less work to get the sound out of the bass and I feel it was the best $62.00 improvement you could make to a very good instrument. I like a clean non distorted sound the best but I have to occasionally use gain on the pre amp and a pick. I play mainly Metal from Iron Maiden to Avenged Sevenfold and I also like blues. This bridge worked very well for me and I just wanted to share my results with anyone that needed info.
Thanks to all the members who shared their findings as it is valued info.


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Post subject: Re: Schaller P bass bridge
Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2012 10:59 pm
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I don't understand about flat wound strings. Do they actually sound different on different bridges? Why is sustain associated with flat wound strings? I guess they must make flatwound strings that have alot of sustain? I haven't played on flatwound strings for a while. The last time I played flats they sounded like the first time I played flats. The last time was 2011. The first time was 1972. Of course I've thumped on flats a few times in between 1972 and 2011 and they have the same thing going on. The sound was just a dull kind of thud. I'd like to know which set of flatwound strings have a sound that resembles a round wound string? I'd try flats if they had a nice ringing sustained tone with lots of honk and growl. As far as bridges go- I say go with what you like. I also say the same thing about strings.


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Post subject: Re: Schaller P bass bridge
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2012 9:08 am
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Flatwounds aren't for everyone. A lot of it depends on how you eq. To me they have a much fuller tone. Where rounds just seem to rattle and buzz and seem very skinny. The trick is to eq so flats become punchy. Once that is acheived it is incredible. It also takes alot of picking hand technique (fingers or pick) to keep flats from sounding muddy.I use Roto 45's . I used rounds for years after I went with the flats I had to play with settings a bit and then BAM there was the sound I was searching for. I however very much dislike flats on my guitars. The sustain increase I wrote about was from the bridge not the strings.


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Post subject: Re: Schaller P bass bridge
Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 8:27 pm
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Location: Albemarle, NC
Schaller makes great stuff. Fender has contracted Schaller as an OEM supplier on hardware longer than most people have been playing! Some of the nicest basses Fender ever made had all Schaller hardware.

I've never used the exact bridge you reference but a similar Schaller made and "FENDER" branded roller bridge I had at one time was first rate. It was very, very similar. These roller bridges with the solid precision made machining are things of beauty. I'd prefer the Schaller roller bridge over any Leo Quan made one. I think you got a good deal on it as I can't buy one for that. I know for a fact I will never buy another Leo Quan.

The older I get the more I have become a fan of the Fender "Original Vintage Bass Bridge" with the threaded saddles. Part 099-0804-100. It eliminates lateral movement entirely and is flexible for use on a variety of string spacings. It is easy to setup with commonly available hand tools. Simple and effective.

Instead of Loc-Tite you can just use clear nail polish on the elevation screws. It breaks free much easier than Loc-Tite.

I also like the Gotoh 201 bridge as an economical stable bridge, but really prefer the Original Fender to the Gotoh.

You know you are getting better at bass when you start finding out what things you like and what things you don't like much at all. I am pretty set in my ways and the things I like you may not like at all and vice verse. But the Schaller roller bridge is a real nice one preferable to most aftermarket ones and I'd use one again.

Enjoy that well made bridge!


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Post subject: Re: Schaller P bass bridge
Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 9:15 pm
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stroker vance wrote:
I'd try flats if they had a nice ringing sustained tone with lots of honk and growl. As far as bridges go- I say go with what you like. I also say the same thing about strings.

Hey Stroker Vance have you ever tried RotoSound Jazz 77 Flats?........ I like 'em but don't use them often as they're $45.00 plus 12% tax in my neck of the woods... I've been using Fender 9050M Flats on my Fretless (they're $20.00 at set plus 12% tax ) they sound great when Freshly strung but dull somewhat quickly ( after 3 weeks)...........from what I've heard (I've never used them) & I think Dave will agree..... Thomastilk makes good fretless strings..


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Post subject: Re: Schaller P bass bridge
Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 11:15 pm
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Rotosound makes the Steve Harris Flats which, though Heavy (50, 75, 95, 110), are cheaper than the Jazz Flats they're based on (10 or 12 dollars American). They've good lifetime too.

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-Candy Apple Red Precision Bass (Maple fingerboard) carrying Rotosound Steve Harris Strings
-1980-something Bentley Series 10
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Last edited by thebassopotomous on Thu Dec 20, 2012 4:27 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Schaller P bass bridge
Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 3:01 am
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Yes the Thomastik-Infeld JF344 Jazz Flats are AMAZING flats. But they don't sound much like traditional flats. They last FOREVER compared to about anything else. The only things to point out is the very low tension they have which takes some getting used to especially for finger style players, and of course the steep retail which keeps them out of reach for many players. Some people won't play anything else. I like them OK, but not sure they are worth today's $70 street price and positive that the $130 retail is insane.

Another good cheap flat option other than the Rotos previously mentioned is the GHS Precision Flat in sets 3050M and the fatter 3050 (Regular). The 3050 Regular is close to the traditional sound of the Labella 760 we all know for way less money. I also use the GHS 3025 Light Precision set. All the GHS Precision sets seem to be every bit as long lived as the Labella and Thomastik-Infeld flats, so they are an extra good buy.

Currently, and for about the past two years, I have kept the following sets on various basses at all times. GHS 3050 (Regular), GHS 3050M, GHS 3025, Thomastik-Infeld JF344 Jazz Flats and the Thomastik-Infeld EB344 Power Bass. One Fender P-Bass I have I bought just because someone had just set it up with EB344's! (I think they saw me coming.)

The EB344 Power Bass is the ONLY round wound set I'm using right now and I have Power Bass strings on three basses at present, but I sometimes I like to load Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 2832's on an active bass for a real modern type tone. For me the 2832's are a great cheap funk/fusion string but the new zing goes quickly away on the Ernie Ball's. By quickly I mean weeks and they are done.

With the Thomastik-Infeld and the GHS Precisions you get YEARS of use per set, not weeks or months but seriously you actually get years of use with just basic care like wiping them down after playing them. The Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats are positively ridiculous in cost now and I'm probably switching the active bass that is loaded with them to something else when I run out of the new sets I have on hand. I stocked up about 10 years ago. I still have about another 10 years worth of them left though.

However, I'll pay ANY PRICE it costs to get the Thomastik-Infeld's EB344 Power Bass set. I highly prefer the EB344's, but would NEVER use them on a fretless. The JF344's would work, but on a fretless I'd probably go with NYLONS. I looked at a fretless Jazz a few years ago and it hit me that it was practically screaming to have nylons on it.


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Post subject: Re: Schaller P bass bridge
Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 8:10 am
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thebassopotomous wrote:
Rotosound makes the Steve Harris Flats which, though Heavy (50, 75, 95, 110), are cheaper than the Jazz Flats they're based on (10 or 12 dollars American). They've good live too.


Yes I know these strings well, I've recently started using them again on my Steve Harris P-Bass ,...they're basically Heavy gauge Rotosound Jazz 77's with Blue silk's,...Steve was using Jazz 77's before he got his signature set from Rotosound
I bought my set from www.juststrings.com for $33.00 (they cost $49.00 plus tax in my area)


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