I'm a fan of threaded steel three-piece saddle bridges on telecasters, and I think the crispness I think I hear in my steel saddled teles is showing up on your bass examples with the steel saddled bridge. I like it! Very interested in the upcoming split P style pickup mod!
I recently modified a Squire Precision mini with the Fender High Mast bridge and was pleased with the results. I was looking for a beefier sound, so it was right for me. I really do enjoy the series you have been doing lately on modifications. Very informative - Thank you!
On the Sonic series bronco, string spacing was not an issue when I put in the P. The older broncos (affinity) have a narrower spacing at the bridge. Stay tuned! I won’t give it away yet!
@@jonathanwong458music I remember that from when I had an affinity bronco, I originally wanted to use a '51 single coil, but the spacing was way off, installed 2 lipstick tubes instead, with the second one as close to the neck heel as possible for more girth...didn't feel like the sonic bronco needed a second pickup though
BASS player here, I always had a high mass bridge, can't wait to hear the change when I get my Bronco. Thanks to you, now I know that Hi mass bridge remove some mids..... I love my mids ;)
Thanks for watching! I have found different bridges to have slightly different effects on different basses, but in this case of the sonic bronco, the heavy fender bridge took away some mids and clarity.
I have no choice but to watch your videos about the Bronco bass, you are a wealth of information.I'll get to the other videos.....@@jonathanwong458music
Thanks Jonathan I can't really hear a difference. I'm about to put the fender HM on my player2 mustang bass mainly for aesthetics and also hopefully to improve intonation stability. I've owned 3 short scale basses and find each time I play I have to retune considerably. My old US Jazz bass hardly ever needed tuning adjustment right out of the case at gigs, always amazing me. I wonder if it is a short scale thing to need tuning so much? It isn't just the tuning but also the intonation which seems to wander a bit. Maybe the himass will help. Thanks for your videos - always informative.
Thank you for watching! The tonal difference with these bridges is subtle. Yes, intonation is a little more difficult to get really precise on a short scale. I think it’s just the physics of it. Tuning stability, on the other hand, may have more to do with proper contact points. My main shorty basses stay in tune without issue. Friction at the nut and saddles can contribute. Slipping tuners also possible. I colour in my nut slots with pencil to keep things smooth. Good luck with your new bridge!
Make sure you post the video when you put those geezers in. I want to see that I’m curious as to how they would sound with that bridge. I think they would sound really good with that fender high mass bridge
Thanks for watching! Here is the link for Ep.8, where I installed the Geezers. Stock bridge though, as I only wanted to change one thing at a time to limit the variables: ua-cam.com/video/dvF3-hqi3z0/v-deo.html Spoiler, those EMGs transform the Bronco bass!
Right on! Have a hipshot on the F bass, and have had A and B bridges. Haven’t tried their badass style but heavy bridges have ceased to be my thing. In the end, it’s a tool to help achieve a certain outcome. And everybody likes slightly different sounds!
I think all bridges may be viable to a specific player-perhaps stating the obvious! The Badass II adds even more "ping" to the high end than the Fender (judging from samples in another bass by another gentleman-not my own test.) The scoop is quite noticeable in that particular bridge. The Babicz Z Series on my Sonic Bronco was amazing soundwise-lots of mids and true sustain (I am not a fan of "sustain" as a selling point, but there was a difference). But the mids is what mattered most to me, making the bass clearer and harmonically richer-however, the stock bridge sounded good, with perhaps a better super top end (believe it or not), but not as clear mids. The very bottom of bass frequenciea may have been deeper as well, though that ma6 be an illusion due to the better mids. In a mix, these differences are rather minuscule, but every bit we like and enjoy playing any bass more is a plus to me, and since I could hear the difference right away, the Babicz Z stays, and I've come to really love it (without mentioning how easy and stable adjustments become with the Babicz.) Hoping you like the Bronco as a shortie P when you make the change.
Yeah! Thanks for watching! It’s all a matter of personal preference as what I like may not be what someone else likes. It’s a good time for options. That’s one of the reasons I’m taking this bass apart piece by piece.
Just as you say, the high mass bridges aren't for everyone. Some people don't want that sustain if they do alot of Jamerson-style muting with fast attack/fast decay. I have a couple basses with high mass bridges from the factory and I wouldn't change them, but I don't feel compelled to put a high mass bridge on anything else
I'm thinking about adding this into my pj player series mustang, will it affect the string tension or my choices of strings for this 30" instrument? Thks for your videos, learned about which strings to use thks to you 😊
Thanks so much for watching and commenting! Measured string tension, for the same scale length, string gauge and pitch/note would be the same regardless of the bridge. ‘Perceived’ string tension is a different thing and hard to describe or measure. It’s like how some players find string-through bridges feel tighter. For me, I did not think the high mass bridge changed the perceived string tension, in comparison to the stock bridge. As the scale length will not change and that this Fender high mass bridge is not string-through, it will not affect string choice per se (in terms of string wound length). What you do need to consider, however, is how much silk and thick it is on the ball end. What I have found is that some bridges have either a smaller hole or a more acute angle where some strings with thick silk at the ball end may end up getting stuck and not seat properly. Hard to predict unless you try. What strings were you planning on using? I love my PJ mustang! I went the other direction with mine: I went with vintage style threaded saddles. Thanks!
Feel like you can hear more single coil hum with the high mass bridge, not sure uf that makes any sense but i think it's very noticeable and definitely a bad pairing in that case.
Using oscilloscope and signal generator it is easy to show that high mass bridges don't accomplish anything sonicly except a bit more sustain which most people don't want anyways. . High mass bridges became popular with people trying to solve neck dive cause by heavy Fender tuning machines. Asians were smarter and used compact tuners= no neck dive.. They are good at that. Putting H mass on a bronco is just a waste of time. A better pickup and good strings is the best way to improve these basses.
Cool idea of using an oscilloscope. I do agree that high mass bridges are well marketed. I’ve never liked them on my instruments and have generally preferred vintage style threaded saddles. Pickups and strings will have the biggest influence on making an electric instrument sound different. Whether the difference is better or worth it becomes very subjective! Thanks for watching and commenting!
I build full cutom broncos.I just machine the stock bronco bridges on the older ones to accept 4 saddles. Btw affinity bronco bridges are actually brass under copper and chrome layers. @@jonathanwong458music
I did not perceive any significant difference with my headphone ; the pickup change had more impact. Can't wait for Ep.8. Thanks for the series
Thanks for watching!
To my ears, the high mass bridge definitely sounds fuller. Thanks Jonathan, cheers from Utah.
Indeed! The high mass bridge is noticeably heftier/weightier in tone. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I'm a fan of threaded steel three-piece saddle bridges on telecasters, and I think the crispness I think I hear in my steel saddled teles is showing up on your bass examples with the steel saddled bridge. I like it! Very interested in the upcoming split P style pickup mod!
Right on! Thanks for watching! So many different combinations to arrive at the one’s tonal preference!
Loving the series, thanks Jonathan. Cheers from New Zealand
Wow! Across the world! Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
I recently modified a Squire Precision mini with the Fender High Mast bridge and was pleased with the results. I was looking for a beefier sound, so it was right for me. I really do enjoy the series you have been doing lately on modifications. Very informative - Thank you!
Thanks so much for watching! Modding a mini P is the next series. Have an assortment of pickups to put in it!
@@jonathanwong458musicYou should have alot more options to choose from with a p-bass format, not having to worry about string spacing
On the Sonic series bronco, string spacing was not an issue when I put in the P. The older broncos (affinity) have a narrower spacing at the bridge. Stay tuned! I won’t give it away yet!
@@jonathanwong458music I remember that from when I had an affinity bronco, I originally wanted to use a '51 single coil, but the spacing was way off, installed 2 lipstick tubes instead, with the second one as close to the neck heel as possible for more girth...didn't feel like the sonic bronco needed a second pickup though
Modified mine with a Duncan Seymour quarter pounder pick-up. Hope its in the lineup
BASS player here, I always had a high mass bridge, can't wait to hear the change when I get my Bronco.
Thanks to you, now I know that Hi mass bridge remove some mids..... I love my mids ;)
Thanks for watching! I have found different bridges to have slightly different effects on different basses, but in this case of the sonic bronco, the heavy fender bridge took away some mids and clarity.
I have no choice but to watch your videos about the Bronco bass, you are a wealth of information.I'll get to the other videos.....@@jonathanwong458music
Thanks for the encouragement!
YOU ARE GOOD, ACCEPT IT, I never did ;)@@jonathanwong458music
You are good, accept it ;)@@jonathanwong458music
天啊～好有實驗精神啊，太厲害了～～～～～實在忍不住從第一集看到最後！
I used google translate! Thanks so much for watching and for the encouragement! More to come!
Thanks Jonathan I can't really hear a difference. I'm about to put the fender HM on my player2 mustang bass mainly for aesthetics and also hopefully to improve intonation stability. I've owned 3 short scale basses and find each time I play I have to retune considerably. My old US Jazz bass hardly ever needed tuning adjustment right out of the case at gigs, always amazing me. I wonder if it is a short scale thing to need tuning so much? It isn't just the tuning but also the intonation which seems to wander a bit. Maybe the himass will help. Thanks for your videos - always informative.
Thank you for watching!
The tonal difference with these bridges is subtle.
Yes, intonation is a little more difficult to get really precise on a short scale. I think it’s just the physics of it.
Tuning stability, on the other hand, may have more to do with proper contact points. My main shorty basses stay in tune without issue. Friction at the nut and saddles can contribute. Slipping tuners also possible. I colour in my nut slots with pencil to keep things smooth.
Good luck with your new bridge!
Make sure you post the video when you put those geezers in. I want to see that I’m curious as to how they would sound with that bridge. I think they would sound really good with that fender high mass bridge
Thanks for watching!
Here is the link for Ep.8, where I installed the Geezers. Stock bridge though, as I only wanted to change one thing at a time to limit the variables:
ua-cam.com/video/dvF3-hqi3z0/v-deo.html
Spoiler, those EMGs transform the Bronco bass!
I always mod the bridges on my basses. Personally, I like the Mids scooped . . . my bridge preference is Hipshot
Right on! Have a hipshot on the F bass, and have had A and B bridges. Haven’t tried their badass style but heavy bridges have ceased to be my thing.
In the end, it’s a tool to help achieve a certain outcome. And everybody likes slightly different sounds!
I’m having bridge buzz issues with the stock bridge. I’m thinking about going with Hipshot’s version of the “vintage bridge. Thanks! ✌️🎻🙂😎
Right on! Hipshots are solid.
Good luck! Thanks for watching!
I think all bridges may be viable to a specific player-perhaps stating the obvious! The Badass II adds even more "ping" to the high end than the Fender (judging from samples in another bass by another gentleman-not my own test.) The scoop is quite noticeable in that particular bridge.
The Babicz Z Series on my Sonic Bronco was amazing soundwise-lots of mids and true sustain (I am not a fan of "sustain" as a selling point, but there was a difference). But the mids is what mattered most to me, making the bass clearer and harmonically richer-however, the stock bridge sounded good, with perhaps a better super top end (believe it or not), but not as clear mids. The very bottom of bass frequenciea may have been deeper as well, though that ma6 be an illusion due to the better mids.
In a mix, these differences are rather minuscule, but every bit we like and enjoy playing any bass more is a plus to me, and since I could hear the difference right away, the Babicz Z stays, and I've come to really love it (without mentioning how easy and stable adjustments become with the Babicz.)
Hoping you like the Bronco as a shortie P when you make the change.
Yeah! Thanks for watching! It’s all a matter of personal preference as what I like may not be what someone else likes. It’s a good time for options. That’s one of the reasons I’m taking this bass apart piece by piece.
Just as you say, the high mass bridges aren't for everyone. Some people don't want that sustain if they do alot of Jamerson-style muting with fast attack/fast decay. I have a couple basses with high mass bridges from the factory and I wouldn't change them, but I don't feel compelled to put a high mass bridge on anything else
I'm thinking about adding this into my pj player series mustang, will it affect the string tension or my choices of strings for this 30" instrument?
Thks for your videos, learned about which strings to use thks to you 😊
Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
Measured string tension, for the same scale length, string gauge and pitch/note would be the same regardless of the bridge. ‘Perceived’ string tension is a different thing and hard to describe or measure. It’s like how some players find string-through bridges feel tighter.
For me, I did not think the high mass bridge changed the perceived string tension, in comparison to the stock bridge.
As the scale length will not change and that this Fender high mass bridge is not string-through, it will not affect string choice per se (in terms of string wound length). What you do need to consider, however, is how much silk and thick it is on the ball end. What I have found is that some bridges have either a smaller hole or a more acute angle where some strings with thick silk at the ball end may end up getting stuck and not seat properly. Hard to predict unless you try. What strings were you planning on using?
I love my PJ mustang! I went the other direction with mine: I went with vintage style threaded saddles.
Thanks!
Feel like you can hear more single coil hum with the high mass bridge, not sure uf that makes any sense but i think it's very noticeable and definitely a bad pairing in that case.
Interesting observation! Maybe due to the bridge accentuating lows and highs and less so the mids?
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Using oscilloscope and signal generator it is easy to show that high mass bridges don't accomplish anything sonicly except a bit more sustain which most people don't want anyways. . High mass bridges became popular with people trying to solve neck dive cause by heavy Fender tuning machines. Asians were smarter and used compact tuners= no neck dive.. They are good at that. Putting H mass on a bronco is just a waste of time. A better pickup and good strings is the best way to improve these basses.
Cool idea of using an oscilloscope. I do agree that high mass bridges are well marketed. I’ve never liked them on my instruments and have generally preferred vintage style threaded saddles. Pickups and strings will have the biggest influence on making an electric instrument sound different. Whether the difference is better or worth it becomes very subjective!
Thanks for watching and commenting!
I build full cutom broncos.I just machine the stock bronco bridges on the older ones to accept 4 saddles. Btw affinity bronco bridges are actually brass under copper and chrome layers. @@jonathanwong458music
That’s so cool! Thx for sharing!
Stock is fine
I think so too! Thanks for watching!
that bass sounds awful, sounds like it came from Temu
Thanks for the feedback