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Bridge

Thunderbird

By Thunderbird,
in Repairs and Technical

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Thunderbird Mentor

Thunderbird

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[size=4]Hi all I was wondering if this bridge would go straight onto a Squire vintage modified jazz bass [/size]

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gotoh-Japan-203-Bass-Bridge-Chrome-203B-4-/271251444228?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item3f27d89204"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gotoh-Japan-203-Bass-Bridge-Chrome-203B-4-/271251444228?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item3f27d89204[/url]

If not can anyone suggest any other bridges that will fit straight on and make a good upgrade please? and also when the new bridge is fitted do you have to tweak anything on the bass or do you just fit the bridge and restring it?

Thanks in advance guys :)

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KiOgon Veteran

KiOgon

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It will fit - but you would have to drill 2 new holes for the extra screws at the 'front' of the bridge. Plenty others fit with the original 5 screws, the Gotohs are good but personally I would look for a standard 5 hole fitting.

After fitting any new bridge your bass will need a complete setup, intonation & action particularly.

Cheerz, John

Edited by KiOgon
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Thunderbird Mentor

Thunderbird

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[quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1375597286' post='2163193']
It will fit - but you would have to drill 2 new holes for the extra screws at the 'front' of the bridge. Plenty others fit with the original 5 screws, the Gotohs are good but personally I would look for a standard 5 hole fitting.

Cheerz, John
[/quote] Why thankyou kind sir :)

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leonshelley01 Enthusiast

leonshelley01

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The Gotoh 201 bridge uses the same holes as the bridge you are replacing and is a bit more substantial. I've used them on some of my basses and found the only other adjustment you need to make is a neck shim. There is a really good thread on how to do that here: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/49897-how-to-shim-a-neck/page__st__60__p__1846625__hl__neck%20shim__fromsearch__1#entry1846625"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/49897-how-to-shim-a-neck/page__st__60__p__1846625__hl__neck%20shim__fromsearch__1#entry1846625[/url]

Cheers

Leon

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gary mac Veteran

gary mac

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[quote name='leonshelley01' timestamp='1375600229' post='2163201']
The Gotoh 201 bridge uses the same holes as the bridge you are replacing and is a bit more substantial. I've used them on some of my basses and found the only other adjustment you need to make is a neck shim. There is a really good thread on how to do that here: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/49897-how-to-shim-a-neck/page__st__60__p__1846625__hl__neck%20shim__fromsearch__1#entry1846625"]http://basschat.co.u..._1#entry1846625[/url]

Cheers

Leon
[/quote]

I've used the Gotoh 201 on my P bass thats for sale on here. Really good bridge and I feel, much more pleasing to look at than the Badass and a lot cheaper.

They come up on Ebay fairly regularly, normally go for between £20-£30.


So, how are getting on with the Jazz?

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Thunderbird Mentor

Thunderbird

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[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1375604116' post='2163233']
I've used the Gotoh 201 on my P bass thats for sale on here. Really good bridge and I feel, much more pleasing to look at than the Badass and a lot cheaper.

They come up on Ebay fairly regularly, normally go for between £20-£30.


So, how are getting on with the Jazz?
[/quote] Thanks for the help guys :) I am getting on with the jazz OK thanks Gary I have only played it for 5 minutes here and there and it feels good but will take a bit of getting used to as I have always been a P bass man but yeah I like it thanks :) and as you can tell from this thread I am thinking of "pimping it up" to my personal taste but there's not really much to do I am surprised how good the Squire bass is I think all I will change is the bridge the strings and the pups at some time in the future. or I might save my penny's and get a Geddy Lee jazz bass lol but we shall see what happens.

Edited by Thunderbird
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Paul S Grand Master

Paul S

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I have fitted a Gotoh 201-a-like cheapo, Gotoh 201, Badass and also a Hipshot A style onto various Fender basses. For me the best quality without doubt is the Hipshot A style. It is also the most expensive! The best value for money is the cheapo Gotoh 201-a-like which cost around £13 on eBay. It does much the same as the Gotoh 201 but is slightly less well engineered, unsurprisingly. But it works.

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Thunderbird Mentor

Thunderbird

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Hi Guys can anyone tell me if this will fit onto a Squire VMJ without any drilling etc

[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stellah-BB-02-Guitar-Fixed-Bridge/dp/B008JFTL6W"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stellah-BB-02-Guitar-Fixed-Bridge/dp/B008JFTL6W[/url]

Looked at this as it gets good reviews and is cheap thanks in advance

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neepheid Grand Master

neepheid

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[quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1375954185' post='2167760']
Hi Guys can anyone tell me if this will fit onto a Squire VMJ without any drilling etc

[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stellah-BB-02-Guitar-Fixed-Bridge/dp/B008JFTL6W"]http://www.amazon.co...e/dp/B008JFTL6W[/url]

Looked at this as it gets good reviews and is cheap thanks in advance
[/quote]

Again, you've got the extra screws at the front of the bridge plate. Will therefore need drilling.

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andydye Mentor

andydye

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[quote name='leonshelley01' timestamp='1375600229' post='2163201']
...the only other adjustment you need to make is a neck shim.[/quote]

presumably you could also have the bridge inset slightly into the body instead? A whole pile more tricky to do but a much more solid result if done well??

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neepheid Grand Master

neepheid

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[quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1375960066' post='2167862']
I did think that but if you look at the technical drawing it just shows 5 screwholes at the back?
[/quote]

If it's like the techy drawing then it will hopefully be fine. But which one is the actual bridge that you would receive?...

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Thunderbird Mentor

Thunderbird

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[quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1375976577' post='2168201']
I know could be a bit of a gamble I may see if I can contact the seller and ask
[/quote] I spoke to the seller and it is like the one in the technical drawing so I am going to order one and try it will let you know if it fits when I get it

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Thunderbird Mentor

Thunderbird

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Hi this might sound a bit silly but I have my new bridge on the way :) thing is I have never fitted one before would any of you guys be able to point me in the way of an idiots guide for installing a new bridge please? I have had a look round the net but did not really find anything of much use I know how to take the bridge off and put the new one on but it is the setting up of the bridge etc that worries me as I don't want to put the new bridge on and mess up my bass thanks in advance guys :) BTW I ordered the Stellah bridge in the end as I checked with the seller and it was the same as the tech drawings so should retrofit my bass without and trouble (famous last words eh?) thanks in advance

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gary mac Veteran

gary mac

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Don't think there is anything you could mess up. Just take it slowly. It's important to use the right tools, for example: the wrong sized screw driver can easily burr up the screws or even slip and damage the paintwork.

You could protect the body around the bridge with some low tack tape or use a tea towel with a bridge sized hole cut out.

Happy to do the job for you. Is it on the Jazz you had off me?

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Thunderbird Mentor

Thunderbird

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Thanks for the reply's all yes Gary it is on the Jazz I got from you I am really liking the Jazz I just thought I would do a few personal tweaks on it to get it just how I like it if you know what I mean I think it will be my main player for a while :) as I seem to be getting on OK with it but I am only playing for about ten minutes at a time> I am not worried about installing the bridge to the guitar I just don't know how to set the [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]intonation I guess I did not word my question to well in the first place lol :) Cheers mates[/font][/color]

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Thunderbird Mentor

Thunderbird

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[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1376472400' post='2174282']
Glad you are enjoying the Jazz :) .

Sorry my earlier reply was a bit basic given that you know how to change a bridge. The intonation is easy enough to set but can be a bit time consuming..
[/quote] Hi Gary your reply was cool mate I did not put my question very well in the 1st place, So do you have any pointers for me on how to set the intonation please? thanks in advance :)

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gary mac Veteran

gary mac

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Arm yourself with a decent tuner and a screw driver.

Check the open string tuning and also at the twelve fret and the 12th harmonic.

If you get a flat reading at the 12th fret compared to the 12th harmonic, slacken the string, then turn your adjusting screw anti clockwise.

Sometime you also have to gently ease the saddle back/forward by hand as well as turning the screw.

Take up the slack retune.

Repeat for all strings. :)

If you have had to make big adjustments then it may be that the action will need another tweak.

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Thunderbird Mentor

Thunderbird

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[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1376482939' post='2174525']
Arm yourself with a decent tuner and a screw driver.

Check the open string tuning and also at the twelve fret and the 12th harmonic.

If you get a flat reading at the 12th fret compared to the 12th harmonic, slacken the string, then turn your adjusting screw anti clockwise.

Sometime you also have to gently ease the saddle back/forward by hand as well as turning the screw.

Take up the slack retune.

Repeat for all strings. :)

If you have had to make big adjustments then it may be that the action will need another tweak.
[/quote] Thanks for that Gary I feel good about doing it now but be prepared for your message inbox to fill up incase I f##k it up lol. :)

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  • 2 weeks later...
Thunderbird Mentor

Thunderbird

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Bit of a bump here anyone know of a replacement bridge like the Gotoh 201 I know there's the Hipshot or the Badass 2 but the money people want for 2nd hand ones is a bit of a p--s take and to be honest I fancied the Gotoh as it was the cheapest and is highly regarded. I never got around to trying the bridge I ordered as it got "lost" in the post

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Thunderbird Mentor

Thunderbird

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Hi Mates just wanted to let you all know incase anyone wants one of these in the future [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stellah-BB-02-Guitar-Fixed-Bridge/dp/B008JFTL6W"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stellah-BB-02-Guitar-Fixed-Bridge/dp/B008JFTL6W[/url]
they fit straight onto a squire VMJ all the screw holes line up perfectly its just a case of screw it on and all is good to go now apparently the bridge is made in the same factory as the Gotoh 201 I don't know if thats true but it is top quality and sounds great :) I am just tweaking (intonation etc) it now its taking me ages as I have not done it before but I am really pleased with it and the sound difference it makes is amazing to a standard bridge so if anyone is doing a bridge change on a budget this is a very good buy and hell of lot cheaper than the alternatives out there I hope this thread helps someone else out :) and cheers for the help guys :)

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