Bass Bridge Musings

[Rickgrxbass]

Ok, so my fretless bass project took another detour last week when I happened across a gorgeous chambered J body on the 'bay. The good news (to me) is that I've got the pickups sorted out (99.5% sure I'm going with Kent Armstrong Lipsticks) but now I'm second guessing the bridge. It's drilled for the standard 5-hole Fender (non-string-thru) bridge and I'd like to not drill any more holes (it's bad enough someone mounted a pickguard on it and I have to decide to live with a pickguard or live with the holes left over).

For $40, the Gotoh seems like it's hard to beat, but then I got to thinking, why not go with aluminum (or, better yet, aluminium) instead of brass? From what I gather, my two standout choices then become the Hipshot A-style or the Babicz Full-Contact. Both are at least twice as expensive as the Gotoh, and both (well, the Babicz at least) seem a bit gimmicky. Has anyone used either of these bridges, or can anyone think of another option?

(And don't get me started on piezos. I want this to be an all-passive bass, but then I got a little gremlin saying, "Fretless basses need piezos")

 

[Rickgrxbass]

Nevermind, I just ordered the Hipshot (as well as the rest of the non-pickup hardware) from BestBassGear.

I think I tend to overthink the small stuff like this...

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Love the Hipshot A style in brass.  I have 3.  I ordered some Hipshot stuff over a month ago from BestBassGear.  Knobs, string retainer, and a bridge.  I got a confirmation email immediately after ordering, then began the wait.  After 3 1/2 weeks with nothing, no tracking email, no package, no your stuff is backordered, nothing, I called during business hours only to get a machine.  They emailed back saying lead times from Hipshot were shotty.  Having dealt with Hipshot directly in the past, this is believable.  They make the best bass hardware, but get their stuff from somewhere else than directly from Hipshot.  Anywho, 3 days after my phone call, my stuff arrives.  Could be coincidence, but I think my phone call alerted them to my lost order.  When it did arrive, the stuff was bubble wrapped in a bag with styrofoam peanuts, not a box.  The screws were in an envelope folded over on itself several times.  I've ordered from BestBassGear in the past, but this time was weird.

 

[Rickgrxbass]

Huh, That is a little weird. I got most of my stuff from them for my last bass, we'll see how it goes this time, their site said everything was in stock, if that's worth anything.