Bridge for my P/J

[dNA]

Don't know much about bass bridges. I'm going for warmth, clarity, sustain - I guess a vintage kind of sound. It'll be an alder body and a maple/rosewood (or maybe canary/rose) neck w/ Nordstrand pups.
I'm not sure what factors I really need to look for, or if whatever I get at the higher price range (like 80+) is more or less all good with a different look. Any suggestions? I've read a bit on TalkBass and such, but want to see what some board members think too. I don't know how many people on that forum are talking out of their ass.

 

[BassmanAK]

Can't go wrong with Hipshot....
I myself am a fan of the 'A' type, but they also make a more traditional model as
well.... http://store.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php?m=product_list&c=15
Just make sure you don't buy it from them directly.... The dealers have MUCH
better prices.... :icon_biggrin:
And besides... None of us is talking out our asses... :laughing8:
We actually have to INSTALL the stuff!!!!

 

[dNA]

Thanks man.
So what I'm not really understanding is what are the pros/cons of the vintage style ones vs the modern or high-mass bridges?

 

[whyachi]

Badass. II or III, depending on if you want to string through the body or top load. Either way the BA III will free up more real estate on the body of your bass. They claim that their uncut saddles give you a warmer tone, but I haven't A/B'd them. I had one of each but not at the same time and on different basses.

Vintage style ones do the job just as well - holding the strings to the body, adjusting intonation, whatever - but "modern" ones tend to just be heavier or out of different materials than bent steel to give different tones.

 

[dNA]

thanks. From what i'm understanding so far, I'm probably going to go w/ a vintage style bridge because they're cheaper and will do pretty much what I want. I'm probably getting made-to-order neck and body so it's gonna run me quite a bit more than what I was eyeballin in the showcase originally.

I still have yet to hear/see anyone describe how exactly the heavier bridges make the tone different. All i've seen anyone say is that it "changes" or "improves" tone without any clear descriptors.

 

[whyachi]

Same way that the more dense a wood is, the longer it sustains.. heavier bridges add mass.

If you want to split the middle from "vintage" and "modern," check out the Gotoh 201. Never used it, but W sells it and I've never heard anything bad about it.
http://www.warmoth.com/Gotoh-201-4-String-C718.aspx

 

[dNA]

I did read mostly good things about the 201, except that the saddles were very large and that it was impossible to get relatively low action with that bridge.

 

[Wyliee]

I did read mostly good things about the 201, except that the saddles were very large and that it was impossible to get relatively low action with that bridge.

I'd disagree with that statement.  I've had no problems getting low action with the 201 bridges.  If you want a vintage look and don't want to spend a lot of dough, the 201 works fine.  If you want a more modern look and don't mind spending more, the Hipshot A bridges are nice.

 

[dNA]

Thanks guys for the input. It sounds like whatever I do, it'd be hard for me to go wrong with what's readily available. Maybe after I've been playing bass more heavily for a while I can make a more informed decision about what I really need. Appreciate it!