New Bass Bridge, How many...

[Beedster]

Frankly it does look rather beautiful 👍

[PaulThePlug]

I think there may be some confusion as to saddle groves for the string and base plate groves for the saddle height adjust screws to rest in...

 

I likes the Fender High Mass, Sleek 'n Meaty

 

[Beedster]

1 minute ago, Beedster said:

 

Mate, it’s a bass forum, you never have to defend a bass purchase, we’re just nosy 👍

….and second to tonewoods, the characteristics of various bridges animates most of us way more than should be the case with otherwise sane humans 👍

[tauzero]

22 minutes ago, PaulThePlug said:

I think there may be some confusion as to saddle groves for the string and base plate groves for the saddle height adjust screws to rest in...

 

I suspect that too.

[Lozz196]

41 minutes ago, Gazz said:

Will do, later when I can be arsed to take em... I'll post on here.  What am I defending my choice of bass bridge?, it's only, a bloody bridge for god sake... 

Exactly Gazz, the main thing with what anyone purchases is if they are pleased with it.

[fretmeister]

If this thread demonstrates anything, it is that there are too many bridges that require the strings to be threaded through rather than just be top loading.

Threading strings through can damage coated / nylon tape strings and even scratch up others. It also takes longer.

 

The only time I change a bridge is to get a top load / quick load option that avoids that threading nonsense. Hipshot do some vintage looking ones that have a top load system as well as more modern options. I swap strings for different genres so being able to put on and take off without damage or twisting is a big plus for me.

[Gazz]

7 hours ago, Beedster said:

 

Mate, it’s a bass forum, you never have to defend a bass purchase, we’re just nosy 👍

Here ya go yer nosey bugger... See what yaking on about... 🙂😁

[Gazz]

6 hours ago, Lozz196 said:

Exactly Gazz, the main thing with what anyone purchases is if they are pleased with it.

Thank you Lozz196, I'm pleased with it, and that's all that counts.... 😎

[Beedster]

2 minutes ago, Gazz said:

Here ya go yer nosey bugger... See what yaking on about... 🙂😁

Ah, I think we were referring to the grooves the height screws sit in to reduce lateral play, hence the confusion. Very nice bit of metalwork that either way 👍

[tauzero]

1 hour ago, Gazz said:

Here ya go yer nosey bugger... See what yaking on about... 🙂😁

 

Except that that isn't what we've been on about. Have a look at the bridge below and see if you can spot the grooves on the base plate.

 

[Bassassin]

10 hours ago, Beedster said:

Frankly it does look rather beautiful 👍

 

Agreed. It's the classiest BBOT I've ever seen.

[tauzero]

4 hours ago, Gazz said:

Thank you Lozz196, I'm pleased with it, and that's all that counts.... 😎

 

Regardless of the grooviness of it, it is jolly pretty. Now all you need are brushed stainless steel knobs and tuners to match...

[Stub Mandrel]

Hmm. Seeing as metalworking has been a serious hobby for me for over 25 years, I wonder if I ought to make a bass bridge?

[MichaelDean]

22 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

I dig in hard, and I mever suffer with bridge saddles sliding.

 

I have four or five basses with high mass bridges... have never noticed any difference. 

 

Funnily enough my first two basses (mid 80s) would qualify as high mass ... so perhaps I've 'devolved'.

You're not trying hard enough 😝

 

Seriously though, I've only ever had it happen when playing with a pick and really going for it. But it puts the whole instrument out of tune and sounds terrible. Really not good.

 

Enjoy your new bridge Gazz! It's a looker!

[Gazz]

15 hours ago, tauzero said:

 

Regardless of the grooviness of it, it is jolly pretty. Now all you need are brushed stainless steel knobs and tuners to match...

I'm working on it, I'm trying a brushed control panel, with Tele flat top knobs,... 

[Gazz]

18 hours ago, tauzero said:

 

Except that that isn't what we've been on about. Have a look at the bridge below and see if you can spot the grooves on the base plate.

 

Yes, I knew what you meant, I see the grooves, I do get what you, mean, but saddle drift has never been an issue on any of my Bass's, saying that only 2 out of 6 have BBOT bridges, so...... and One of them has a Babicz (new version) on. 

[Gazz]

16 hours ago, tauzero said:

 

Regardless of the grooviness of it, it is jolly pretty. Now all you need are brushed stainless steel knobs and tuners to match...

Any find any brushed tuners, do you have any in mind? 

[BigRedX]

On 24/01/2026 at 14:09, fretmeister said:

If this thread demonstrates anything, it is that there are too many bridges that require the strings to be threaded through rather than just be top loading.

Threading strings through can damage coated / nylon tape strings and even scratch up others. It also takes longer.

 

The only time I change a bridge is to get a top load / quick load option that avoids that threading nonsense. Hipshot do some vintage looking ones that have a top load system as well as more modern options. I swap strings for different genres so being able to put on and take off without damage or twisting is a big plus for me.

 

I find with a slot loading bridge it's more difficult keeping the strings in the slots while getting up to a suitable tension that they will stay there by themselves. This is never more obvious when trying to replace a string under pressure like at a gig.

[tauzero]

24 minutes ago, Gazz said:

Any find any brushed tuners, do you have any in mind? 

 

Maybe https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/236470537199 (or https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/287042201258 for the compete tuner). Not actually brushed stainless but the finish matches quite well. This is what they look like on one of my basses.

 

[tauzero]

4 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

I find with a slot loading bridge it's more difficult keeping the strings in the slots while getting up to a suitable tension that they will stay there by themselves. This is never more obvious when trying to replace a string under pressure like at a gig.

 

Someone on here gave a good tip on that - use a capo to hold the string in place.

[DGBass]

17 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

 

I find with a slot loading bridge it's more difficult keeping the strings in the slots while getting up to a suitable tension that they will stay there by themselves. This is never more obvious when trying to replace a string under pressure like at a gig.

Sadowsky's Quick Release designed bridge is a good option to help with this issue and generally quicker string changes. There isn't any need to thread an entire string through and the ball-end clicks into place securely until the string is tensioned. Not sure how available they are to buy as a part, I think they may have had a version on Thomann for around £50-£60 recently. 

[Gazz]

23 minutes ago, tauzero said:

 

Maybe https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/236470537199 (or https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/287042201258 for the compete tuner). Not actually brushed stainless but the finish matches quite well. This is what they look like on one of my basses.

 

Thanks for that, I may invest....