Hipshot Replacement bridge redux

jps · Post by **jps** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 12:10 pm

I can do .02 Noogies! As Noogie is a proper technical term it should be capitalized.

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 12:27 pm

If your neck is not flat or very close to it, the saddles are too high to get the action as low as a stock bridge will go. Mine has a slight bit of relief & I can just get the action to the point of fret buzz, but this neck isn't an ideal example. While it seems strong enough, I just can't get it completely flat & there is a bit of twist involved. If your stock bridge is adjusted near the bottom of it's travel, then the Hipshot probably won't be of any use to you.

I also had to shorten the D & G string intonation screws by about 1/4" to get proper intonation. About another 1/8" would really be better, but I figured I'd err on the cautious side rather than cut 'em too short.
It's funny, some people had no trouble with the screw lengths & some did.

I also find that the saddles tend to jump & clack into the saddle next to it while playing aggressively, but maybe that's because they're adjusted so low, or it could be low tension strings. NOTE: this isn't audible through the amp!
I'm using Fender stainless rounds. My saddles are almost sitting flat on the deck of the tailpiece. There's a shallow groove for one height adjustment screw to run in.

The piece is a great addition to a bass that could use some brightening up sound wise, & it combats neck dive very well. This thing is MASSIVE! Lots of extra mids & great sustain.

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 12:42 pm

I'll post a further update as soon as I get to play out with it again after installing the Sergio rewound original neck pup & the Sergio Special bridge pup!
P.S. I raised the action a little bit & the lateral movement of the saddles causing the clacking went away, so it's definitely a factor of string tension.
Again, this piece is heavy, so if your shoulder hurts after playing you bass now, you'll need a much wider strap at the very least. The bass is noticeably heavier now.
It's also dead simple to install. The screw holes line up perfectly, & I just added a short length of small spring to one screw to hold the ground wire to the bottom of the tailpiece (I hate soldering). It couldn't be any easier to install.

Sorry for rambling on, but I wanted to be thorough.

jps · Post by **jps** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 3:10 pm

Interesting that you must have the saddles all the way down to the plate, as the Hipshot on my 4003FL has at least 3/16" of room and much more than that on most of the saddles.

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 3:34 pm

Yeah, the neck's not perfect, but neither is the rest of the bass. It's something I have no worries with experimenting with (within reason) since it's nowhere near original condition.

zoomduck · Post by **zoomduck** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 10:18 pm

Hipshot will send shorter screws for intonation on request , for free.

ricosound · Post by **ricosound** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 5:30 am

I just got mine. Way H-E-A-V-Y! I have other Hipshot bridges on Fenders made of aluminum which for something this large would make sense. We'll see how it works out. Maybe they could offer and Ultralight version of aluminum to go with their other product lines?

drathbun · Post by **drathbun** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:15 am

Doesn't the weight of the bridge (brass) have a direct affect on the sound of the bass? I would think a lighter aluminum bridge wouldn't have the tone of a brass one?

ricosound · Post by **ricosound** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 10:58 am

I ought to have tone a plenty then.

jps · Post by **jps** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 11:51 am

"I ought to have tone a plenty then."

You will!

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 4:50 am

The density & weight of the brass has a huge effect on the sound. Loads of nice clear mids. My 4001 used to be muddy, now it cuts through nicely.