Dood

Nice to see a full HT for the preamp valve, rather than starved plate types. I’m intrigued by this one, I don’t think I ever played through a Marshall Bass State before despite having used plenty of the guitar Valvestate gear in my six stringin’ years. I still want a DBS 7400… 

Here ya go! https://el34world.com/charts/Schematics/files/Marshall/Marshall_b150.pdf

28 minutes ago, NancyJohnson said:

 

I'm latching onto the zinc alloy element of your post. 

 

You know that there's probably a few people here that will now be investigating zinc alloy for its tonal/sustain properties over steel/aluminium/lard.

 

What have you started?  I hope you're happy.

😂

"Tone Metals!! Do they even matter?"

I remember watching a review somewhere demonstrating what cheap die-casting looked like. When the bridge was bent it just seemed to crumble. Pretty much any bridge under £20 new is probably made from that, or at least, very cheap materials I am sure. 

2 hours ago, LeftyJ said:

 

I'm pretty sure on the Schaller 3D the base and saddles are made of a zinc alloy, and only the rollers themselves are brass.

 

The Power Jazz Bass Special had model number 27-9000 if that helps. There's a PDF scan of the original user manual on Fender's website that pops up as one of the first results when you Google search for "fender 27-9000", but none of the spec sheets mention the bridge type. 

Ahhh ha ha! yes. yes of course! I didn't even think to check the user manual! (Some did have a list of part numbers in, so I like your thinking there!) I did download it a while back, so thank you for the reminder and for searching the bass part number for me too. 

As for the Schaller, I had my suspicions! They mentioned the brass rollers but nothing else. That's not to say that I don't rate Schaller! The hardware is very well made. 

1 hour ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Yes some of those Amazon ones look very cheaply made (that one looked better on my phone, now it's huge on my PC...)

 

I'm sure I've seen your 'original' bridge somewhere before in the mists of time...

They definitely found their way on to the Power Jazz Basses as stock,(E9 serials I think)  but not every year. (Hence wanting to get one or two for my E7 serial PJ’s without them). So, maybe as a Japanese OEM, they are, or rather were out in the wilds! They are really solid bridges and, as I mentioned above, have a tidy quick release; a key-hole method rather than slots in the rear section. 

Thank you Stub! I’d had a look through the examples on Amazon. There’s actually a few on there that are manufactured by Sung-Il who make bridges for quite a few “quality bridge” manufacturers (Babicz) and its possible to grab some with steel base plates (though it seems the steel is a bit soft according to reviews). I’m also side-steppping anything that is die-cast. Bridge adverts that don’t specify what they are made of usually means they are and although pretty on the outside  are poor under the chrome plating. One of the issues I have with adverts for “high mass” bridges - they look chunky but are made of factory floor sweepings ha ha!! 

I’m not sure what Ibanez made their bridges out of. I’d expect that the mid-range models at least are zinc. Hmm! Looks wise, we’re on track and, if the saddles went low enough (they don’t) the ABM bridges look superb.

Thank you, I’m hoping that if the price of these is a guidance, the base and. Saddles are also made from brass, or steel, but that information seems to have been omitted from the website. I’ve communicated with Dr Lars himself in the past, I’ll send a message when I’ve narrowed the options down.

Cheers!

Just now, iBudd said:

regular sunday best.

Thank you for sharing the track, sooo good!

I’m sure there are others like me who anguish over pretty much every purchase ever and go in to waaaaay to much detail to study all related alternatives before the wallet even gets to twitch.

So, I don’t think there’s any piece of music gear I have ever regretted buying. Maybe some items I had to get in order to make do. I built my first ‘big’ bass amp and cabinet as well as a distortion “preamp” because they simply weren’t reachable for me financially at the time. Maybe that says a bit about the kinda buyer I am? I dunno! (Obsessional, massive nerd, hashtag bass4lyfe ya had yahda)

If there was ever a bass that I didn’t think I’d keep falling in love with though and that was actually the first page I tore out of Bass Player Magazine and stuck on my wall  in a Wayne’s World “She will be mine” moment. Took me years to finally get round to buying one and I use it pretty much every day!

23 minutes ago, iBudd said:

they do make some amazing looking stuff - getting it from Canada ain't cheap but I just had to pick up the T2 as I've wanted a Maestro Rhythm and Sound ever since hearing Melvin Jackson's Funky Skull LP. At the risk of derailing my own thread...

 

I’d listened to the track and I now I have an insatiable urge to strut through town… 😊

Wow, I’ve just been checking out the website and the other pedals on offer. They offer some really interesting products, I’d love to hear those 4 compressors!

I’ve just been recording a review of the EBS Runsten. It has isolated outputs that can be configured for 9, 12, 18 or 24V as well as being able to deliver enough current to power a Neural DSP Quad Cortex alongside other pedals. 

Worth a look!  https://ebssweden.com/content2/accessories/ebs-runsten-multi-dc-power-supply/

Hey helllooo ‘chatters!

I’ve been searching the internet to see if I can find an old bass bridge replacement that came as standard on my Fender Power Jazz Bass Special. It looks very similar to the Gotoh 404,  https://g-gotoh.com/product/404bo-4/?lang=en so this could be a modern alternative, but I wondered if anyone has seen this style floating around anywhere? 

On the subject of Gotoh, I wouldn’t be surprised if they OEM’d parts - actually fairly sure they did as the FB30 tuners they have available are a like for like replacement for the tuning keys on all of my Japanese Fenders. 

I’m after two of these bridges in black.

If you have suggestions for alternatives, I need low profile types and, like these bridges, quick release versions. I’ve been through the usual contenders from hip shot, babicz, the Quan clones and the like, I’d love to find something that has a steel base plate and brass saddles. I think I’m asking too much!

Funnily, I was just looking at cheap replacement bridges and noted a comment on one of the budget brands that despite having an all steel base plate, a customer found that several they bought all evenutally bent too easily, so maybe worth buying in to a decent branded example. 

1 minute ago, dave_bass5 said:

I use the H4e now. Love the fact that it doesn’t need setting up compared previous recorders I’ve used. 

The H4 has a greater headroom too, which would be good for noisy bands. 

I've also just shot a full deep dive video review for Bass Gear magazine about this incredible product too:- 

https://asiaudio.com

I recorded this video ages ago but have since upgraded my solution. When I get a moment to finish it, I'll get a video up online as it's really rather good! My system and the 3DME below offers huge advantages over having microphones on either side of the stage and I love using them both.

I think quite a few bassists here play drums too. I used to but the kit had to make way for children. I’d love a little fusion kit again one day. 
 

This post can happily live in “Other Instruments”! Nice kit

5 hours ago, Steve Browning said:

Yup. Done the same thing. Sold a pair of PB70-US basses and kick myself daily for doing so. Especially the ash bodied one.

An Ash bodied model came up for sale in a UK shop (that shall remain nameless) and, I had such a hard time getting any information about the bass and was told the action was an issue that I left it well alone. It was almost as if they didn’t want to sell anything!
 The PB70US-ASH is “the daddy”, I have room in my heart for one of those ☺️

Lovely Sire bass off to a new home!

Thank you Neil! What a pleasant hang out  

I can confirm that yea the bass has now been collected, money has changed hands!

Thank you for all the interest, just had an enjoyable hang out with a fellow chatter!

Thank You Neil! 

Some Dood from a while back rattling out a jam or two on a Cort: I think they’re cracking basses!

And who could forget the wonderful Ishibashi! https://intl.ishibashi.co.jp/search?q=Fender&options[prefix]=last&filter.p.tag=electricbasses&sort_by=relevance 

I sourced my PB70US from them directly many a year ago. Another silly moment where I decided to sell it.. DOH!!!! 

On 02/04/2025 at 00:19, Jonesy said:

 

This one doesn't have details on all of the MIJ models (though I could have sworn it had most models at some point), but it does have specs for the reissue series P's and a few J's:

 

https://japanfender.wordpress.com/

I think that is the one yes, but I agree, I feel sure that it had more details too. I also had downlaods of all the MIJ catalogues, but I fear they may have been lost at some point  - Yes, I am that much of a nerd, I had piles of catalogues! Trace Elliot, Marshall, Ibanez, Rotosound, Yamaha, all sorts from the 80's onwards! 

https://japanfender.wordpress.com/products/about/precision/