Badass ii bridge

[dialectic]

I am soon going to be upgrading my current bass guitar bridge for a Badass II but I have a few queries that I am hoping you good folk here can help me out with.

From what I understand this bridge is available with the saddle notches pre-cut ('grooved') and also without. I appreciate that by filing in your own notches in the saddles it will allow you to customize the bridge specifically to the bass guitar and your preferred string gauges etc but would you really be losing out that much by purchasing the pre-cut 'grooved' version?

I have also read various reports of some players preferring the original 'un-notched' version but instead of filing in their own notches,and against the manufactures recommendation, leave them as-is and let the strings settlle in naturally. Some even claim that this improves the tone and harmonics of the instrument.

So, fellow slutz and Badass players, what do you suggest....

1. Get the 'Grooved' pre notched bridge and be done with it.
2. Get the original 'Un-grooved' type and file in the notches myself.
3. Get the original 'Un-grooved' type and leave as-is and un-notched.

Many thanks in advance.

[Jeff Scott]

1 or 2, depending on your comfort level with filing the notches.

[dialectic]

Originally Posted by Jeff Scott

1 or 2, depending on your comfort level with filing the notches.

So any significant advantage to filing your own notches as opposed to getting the 'grooved' variety?

[candidate]

You have successfully removed burrs and filed down saddles on previous occasions with other guitars and saddles?

[trippy]

Originally Posted by dialectic

So, fellow slutz and Badass players, what do you suggest....

1. Get the 'Grooved' pre notched bridge and be done with it.
2. Get the original 'Un-grooved' type and file in the notches myself.
3. Get the original 'Un-grooved' type and leave as-is and un-notched.

Many thanks in advance.

4. take it to a competent tech and have him/her notch the bridge and set it up for you

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by dialectic

So any significant advantage to filing your own notches as opposed to getting the 'grooved' variety?

Not necessarily, but the pre-cut notches in the notched bridge may or may not place the string just where you want it to be. There is quite a bit of distance between each notch, IMO.

Filing and de-burring the saddles are easy enough to do if you want.

If you don't need a direct drop in bridge (ie., for a Fender bass) I highly recommend the Hipshot A style bridge. I have been putting them on basses for many years as replacements; they have adjustable string spacing, and can be gotten in various string spacings to suit the bass' needs.

[dialectic]

Originally Posted by trippy

4. take it to a competent tech and have him/her notch the bridge and set it up for you

A good point. If I felt that i was not confident enough to undertake the job myself I had intended to have a tech undertake the job for me.

Originally Posted by Jeff Scott

Not necessarily, but the pre-cut notches in the notched bridge may or may not place the string just where you want it to be. There is quite a bit of distance between each notch, IMO.
Filing and de-burring the saddles are easy enough to do if you want.

If you don't need a direct drop in bridge (ie., for a Fender bass) I highly recommend the Hipshot A style bridge. I have been putting them on basses for many years as replacements; they have adjustable string spacing, and can be gotten in various string spacings to suit the bass' needs.

Ideally I would like a 'drop in' replacement for a Fender.


So what's with the various reports that I have read of players installing and using the un-grooved version un-notched? My immediate reaction to these reports were that surely this is not a good idea but it seems to be quite common. Are all these people that choose to install the bridge this way simply lazy and/or misinformed or can this offer some benefit in certain circumstances?

[Jeff Scott]

Ungrooved works okay if you play with a light enough touch to keep the strings from moving around. Since you are looking for a drop-in, the BA II is the way to go.

[RockOnJones]

Originally Posted by Jeff Scott

Ungrooved works okay if you play with a light enough touch to keep the strings from moving around. Since you are looking for a drop-in, the BA II is the way to go.

+1!! I've been using the BA II's for over 30 years on basses with no complaints, and they're a drop-in! Good deal!!