New Bass Bridge, How many...

[Gazz]

Need any reviews, or recommend a new bridge for Fender Jazz bass. 

I've looked at both the Babics Z and the Halon, any advice? Thanks Gaz 

[neepheid]

I'll be "that guy" - what are you wanting to achieve by changing the bridge?

[Lozz196]

If a US Fender I’d look at the bridge that currently comes on the Professional series. If Mexican then the Fender Hi-Mass or Gotoh 201B-4  are both decent, and reasonably priced.

[BassAdder60]

I changed my PBass bridge to the Gotoh 201B-4 and it’s a step up in quality 

 

The Mexican Fender Player II has a very low quality standard bridge, in fact the new standard range PBass from Indonesia has a decent bridge so I left it stock 

I’ve had HiMass and they are too bulky and the Gotoh is a perfect upgrade and swop. Better saddles, screws and no sideways movement which was a reason to change too 

Edited Monday at 15:09 by BassAdder60

[DGBass]

It's a reasonably pricy option but I've used Fender's deluxe USA stubby bridge to good effect on an older American Fender bass. Has the grooves to limit saddle slip and the saddles are multi grooved to help with string spacing/alignment. Plus it looks original on a Fender without changing the basic aesthetic. Does top load and string through as well.  It's a three screw fixing. It's a very neat lo-bling style bridge. I might add it didn't really sound any different from the original Fender style bridge. Feels more solid if anything.  

 

[BassAdder60]

6 hours ago, DGBass said:

It's a reasonably pricy option but I've used Fender's deluxe USA stubby bridge to good effect on an older American Fender bass. Has the grooves to limit saddle slip and the saddles are multi grooved to help with string spacing/alignment. Plus it looks original on a Fender without changing the basic aesthetic. Does top load and string through as well.  It's a three screw fixing. It's a very neat lo-bling style bridge. I might add it didn't really sound any different from the original Fender style bridge. Feels more solid if anything.  

 

Looks good and nearer to the original

 

I think I paid £40 for the Gotoh 

[Beedster]

9 hours ago, DGBass said:

It's a reasonably pricy option but I've used Fender's deluxe USA stubby bridge to good effect on an older American Fender bass. Has the grooves to limit saddle slip and the saddles are multi grooved to help with string spacing/alignment. Plus it looks original on a Fender without changing the basic aesthetic. Does top load and string through as well.  It's a three screw fixing. It's a very neat lo-bling style bridge. I might add it didn't really sound any different from the original Fender style bridge. Feels more solid if anything.  

 

Where did you buy yours @DGBass?

[DGBass]

2 hours ago, Beedster said:

Where did you buy yours @DGBass?

From the Thomann web site. These were I believe first introduced for 2009/2010 model American Deluxe Fenders. 

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

I'm a big fan of the Fender Hi-Mass bridge — Currently only £35 from Amazon

 

I have these on (at least) six basses.

 

The Brass saddles seem to keep the notes punchy.

 

 

 

[bloke_zero]

I found the babicz disapointing - it felt like it was transmitting too much energy into the body and was sucking the life out. Personally I like the high mass bridges like the badass II or the Fnder other people in the thread are talking about. The standard BBOT has a charm as well

[LawrenceH]

22 hours ago, DGBass said:

It's a reasonably pricy option but I've used Fender's deluxe USA stubby bridge to good effect on an older American Fender bass. Has the grooves to limit saddle slip and the saddles are multi grooved to help with string spacing/alignment. Plus it looks original on a Fender without changing the basic aesthetic. Does top load and string through as well.  It's a three screw fixing. It's a very neat lo-bling style bridge. I might add it didn't really sound any different from the original Fender style bridge. Feels more solid if anything.  

 

I have this on a Jap 75RI and it's a good bridge - the grooves, unobtrusive size and string-through option make it versatile, ergonomic and solid. I did feel it tightened up the sound a little, sort of halfway to the real effect a high mass bridge has without the high mass.

 

One thing that might be helpful:

this deluxe bridge weighs 106g including screws. By comparison, the Fender hi-mass bridge I have on another bass, while also a good design, weighs close to 250g (238 without screws). Of course heavy is good in some scenarios (neck dive) and not in others (boat anchor), but maybe worth knowing!

Edited Tuesday at 20:38 by LawrenceH

[BassAdder60]

Just a warning if anyone fits a hi mass bridge then decides to remove it and fit the smaller BBT style you will have indents in the bass body finish 

Happened to me on two Player Series basses 

 

[Gazz]

On 19/01/2026 at 14:02, neepheid said:

I'll be "that guy" - what are you wanting to achieve by changing the bridge?

Just needs an upgrade, coz the one that's on is shite.. 

[BassAdder60]

Yep my reason to change the BBT style is the crap saddles / screws that seem to be used today 

 

The Gotoh and others are far superior build quality and it’s such a simple low cost upgrade why wouldn’t you ? 

[Silky999]

+1 for the Gotoh. It’s now the bridge of choice for my builds. Excellent quality at a reasonable price. I have also used some of the Guyker and Wilkinson bridges if you wanted to go more budget friendly. 

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

The reason I like the Fender HiMass is that the saddles cannot wander laterally unlike a BBoT. Also I like how they look.

[BassAdder60]

7 hours ago, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

The reason I like the Fender HiMass is that the saddles cannot wander laterally unlike a BBoT. Also I like how they look.

I like the HiMass too except I found it’s extra length not ideal and harder to get very low action due to the base thickness. No such issues with the Gotoh 

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

If the thickness of the base impedes setting a low action, a card shim at the back of the neck pocket should help. Assuming a bolt-on neck of course!

[Gazz]

Well guys, after much consideration I've opted for the Halon, I'll let you know when I receive it. Looks like a really good bridge, we will see... 

[Gazz]

On 20/01/2026 at 16:43, bloke_zero said:

I found the babicz disapointing - it felt like it was transmitting too much energy into the body and was sucking the life out. Personally I like the high mass bridges like the badass II or the Fnder other people in the thread are talking about. The standard BBOT has a charm as well

The Halon, looks the part... 

[Gazz]

Well it's arrived, the, build quality is fantastic, I'm very impressed, what do you think? 

[BassAdder60]

No channels to prevent side movements? That’s partly why I use Gotoh 

[BigRedX]

59 minutes ago, Gazz said:

Well it's arrived, the, build quality is fantastic, I'm very impressed, what do you think? 

 

How is this different from the standard Fender BBOT?

[Beedster]

9 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

 

How is this different from the standard Fender BBOT?

 

Crikey, also 500% the cost, in fact Badass territory.

 

Not sure I can see any basis for it being much of an improvement on the BBOT either. I'm sure it's beautifully engineered, but at that price I'd want some of the functionality/versatility of a Badass or Fender Elite version (the latter also surprisingly expensive to my mind)