thebrig Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 Just thought this might of interest to some. I have put together quite a few custom basses over the past few years, mostly precisions and jazzes, and I've nearly always favoured Gotoh 201 bridges which I think are excellent, but just recently I bought a Squier VM precision off eBay for a giveaway price and thought I would upgrade the bridge, but I didn't want to spend £50 on a Gotoh 201 which would be half of what I paid for the bass, so I hunted around for something cheaper and found this at Northwest Guitar Parts. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110956107287?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&var=410139779169&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT"]http://www.ebay.co.u...K%3AMEBIDX%3AIT[/url] I studied the pics and thought that it looked very similar to a Gotoh, and at £13.95 and free P&P, it had to be worth a punt. A couple of days later it arrived, and it is virtually identical, but with the advantage of being string-through as well, it's very well made, (apparently in the Wilkinson factory) and an absolute bargain IMO, I will be definitely be using these from now on. Here's a picture comparison, I have both in my possession, and there really is hardly any difference between the two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman Steve Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 I have always favoured the 203 but that's because I have an aversion to accessories with names on (Seymour Duncan Basslines etc). No logic to it I accept but that's what makes me so loveable. ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrig Posted March 6, 2015 Author Share Posted March 6, 2015 [quote name='Bassman Steve' timestamp='1425636545' post='2709211'] I have always favoured the 203 but that's because I have an aversion to accessories with names on (Seymour Duncan Basslines etc). No logic to it I accept but that's what makes me so loveable. ;-) [/quote]Fair enough, but £50 with a name stamped on it, or £13.95 + free P&P no name, but with string-through option? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-bbb Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 (edited) i have the one on the left (the chunkier one) on a fretless squiervmJ - the extra thickness of the base plate and the saddles meant that it couldnt be lowered sufficiently on the grub screws to a satisfactory reasonable action height without shimming so instead i channeled out a shallow pocket to drop the base plate so the surface of the base plate sits flush with the surface of the body - that was with a fretless neck but even allowing the hight of frets on a fretted neck the saddles would be all the way down to their minimum height with grub screws protruding unless of course you fitted shorter grub screws hope this helps im usually averse to brand naming too but the gotoh on the chunky bridge isnt really all that readable/visible unless you have a punter in the audience with a telescope in which case you could just move about it to stop him/her focussing for any length of time which might be adequate to scrutinise your hardware choices Edited March 6, 2015 by steve-bbb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrig Posted March 6, 2015 Author Share Posted March 6, 2015 (edited) [quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1425638853' post='2709245'] i have the one on the left (the chunkier one) on a fretless squiervmJ - the extra thickness of the base plate and the saddles meant that it couldnt be lowered sufficiently on the grub screws to a satisfactory reasonable action height without shimming so instead i channeled out a shallow pocket to drop the base plate so the surface of the base plate sits flush with the surface of the body - that was with a fretless neck but even allowing the hight of frets on a fretted neck the saddles would be all the way down to their minimum height with grub screws protruding unless of course you fitted shorter grub screws hope this helps im usually averse to brand naming too but the gotoh on the chunky bridge isnt really all that readable/visible unless you have a punter in the audience with a telescope in which case you could just move about it to stop him/her focussing for any length of time which might be adequate to scrutinise your hardware choices [/quote]I have both, and I placed them side by side, the Gotoh is not chunkier, they are both the same, I think the pics makes the Gotoh look chunkier, but believe me, they are not. I've used at least five Gotoh's in the past, and never had a problem with the base plate being too thick. Edited March 6, 2015 by thebrig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 BBOT never bettered does the job and is hassle free Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Number6 Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 I've just fitted a Hipshot Vintage and i'm very impressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman Steve Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 Agreed, £13.95 is a far better price. I use them - replacing the bbot - because I like the fact that the grub screws sit in tracks - that is inherently more stable when I am 'digging in'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 Thanks for posting. The Gotoh 201 has been my choice on a couple of occasions, I prefer it over the Badass. Will be trying one of these, next time I do a build or upgrade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 I've had the five-string version of this bridge on my bass for several years and it's been fine. My only minor grumble is that the through-bridge string holes are too small for most B-strings and needed to be drilled out a little larger. Is the chrome on the Gotoh slightly nicer looking, or do they just have better photography? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 [quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1425640654' post='2709263'] BBOT never bettered does the job and is hassle free [/quote] Nasty troll, get back under your bridge! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 [quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1425640654' post='2709263'] BBOT never bettered does the job and is hassle free [/quote] Does it for me too Paul, the new hi-mass bridge on post 2008 US Fenders is nice, but the old BBOT does the job fine, never had a problem with one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrig Posted March 6, 2015 Author Share Posted March 6, 2015 [quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1425641838' post='2709277'] I've had the five-string version of this bridge on my bass for several years and it's been fine. My only minor grumble is that the through-bridge string holes are too small for most B-strings and needed to be drilled out a little larger. Is the chrome on the Gotoh slightly nicer looking, or do they just have better photography? [/quote]Just placed them side by side, absolutely no difference in the finish at all. On double checking, the cheaper one is probably a gnat's whatsit narrower at the end where the strings go through, but it really is only very slightly narrower, and wouldn't make any difference to sound and performance IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman Sam Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 Thanks for the link. I'm going to give one of these a go on my p bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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