THE LAST NOTE
Part Two of our dive into bass bridges: should you upgrade?
Got a burning tech question related to bass? Dan Veall answers it here.
Leaning against a colossal amp stack, there’s a battered and bruised Fender Precision bass, road-worn after years of blood, sweat and tears spilled on tour, on planes, and on stages around the world. For me, this is an iconic image that comes to mind when I think of some of my favourite basses and bands. For a P-Bass, a favoured upgrade that you’ll see often is a new bridge. Lovingly known as the ‘bent bit of tin’, the standard and original Fender bridge was a seemingly utilitarian offering that was designed to spend its life hiding under the fitted cover. We can do better...
So, we’re upgrading bridges? Yep! Last month we talked about bridge features – their hardware, their functionality and of course, their perceived improvement in tone. The market for customising instruments, in general, is massive. Electronics, hardware, woodwork – everything can be replaced, either because it’s worn out, or just for the sheer joy of personalising your go-to axe. For those who want to upgrade their bass so that it’s more in keeping with the sumptuous curves of their favourite instrument, the bridge is often an easy upgrade.
Have you swapped out bridges before, Veall?
Many times! I had a rather nice Dingwall Combustion bass for a while. It had a stunning white finish, and I decided I liked the two-tone look and replaced the chrome hardware with some high-end equivalents in black.
Very good. How do we do it? In the case of Fender-style bridges, there’s often a five-hole screw mount, and for the most part, you should be able to pop the old bridge off and drop the new one right on. A quick tip before doing so: measure and line up the saddles for action and intonation before swapping over, so you’ll only need to make small adjustments when the new bridge goes on.
What else should I look for? Bass bridges have lots of moving parts that can vibrate loose. On modern high-mass types, you will often find grub screws that help lock parts in place. The idea is that not only will they help to stop pieces falling out when you change strings, but they’ll also help improve your tone, as string energy isn’t being wasted in vibrating parts.
Who makes new bridges? Hipshot, ABM, Gotoh, Babicz and Schaller, to name just a few. All offer aftermarket upgrades, but even Fender have their own parts outlet, too. The Leo Quan Badass bridge immediately springs to mind as the favourite of many a rock star gracing the pages of BP. Even Fender’s signature models often have a bridge on them that is a nod to this heavy-duty monster. Most bridges from reputable outlets should come with new screws and tools such as an Allen key to enable the necessary adjustments for action and intonation.
Does the bridge’s construction make a real difference?
Yes. Materials such as brass, aluminium and steel seem to be a much better choice than poor-quality die-cast bridges made of unidentified ‘metal’ covered in shiny paint. A better-made bridge is also less likely to fall to bits, negating the very point of upgrading in the first place. Stick to the well-known brands if your budget allows.
The big question: does changing the bridge on your bass improve its sound?
It depends on what you define as ‘improve’. I’ve certainly replaced bridges and enjoyed stronger fundamental tones, brighter top end and betterbalanced mids – but don’t expect a night-and-day difference. It’s way more subtle than, say, changing pickup types. With certain setups, you probably won’t discern any difference in sound.
So what’s the point?
You know what? If a new bridge makes your instrument more personal, if it helps you connect more with playing, or even if you just like the sight of your bass hanging on the wall looking beautiful, do it. The great thing about bridges is that you can usually just unscrew the new one and stick the old one back on if you want. Furthermore, if a new bridge makes it easier to set up your instrument, and if your bass feels better for you when you play it, those are genuine improvements, too.