Hipshot bridge

teeder · Post by **teeder** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 2:29 am

Wow, you must have had some heavy F****rs!
My JB is a feather compared to the V63's.

I didn't get any pictures last night. I'll try to take some this weekend.

heinpete · Post by **heinpete** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 3:42 am

...only the early '70ies 4001 had some considerably "lighter" series, the rest of the 4001/3 is quite a bit heavier than the 4004 series.

geddeeee · Post by **geddeeee** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 7:24 am

A lot of people think the Rick is a heavy bass. I disagree entirely. Not only does it feel light, but it plays like a dream. It's the only bass that I've owned that doesn't give me arm ache.
The secret is a good wide leather strap. It spreads the load nicely.
J and P basses ARE heavy. The old ones, not the puny newer versions

Lost Coyotes · Post by **Lost Coyotes** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 7:52 am

You know what's fun...play a 70's boat anchor J bass then strap on a 4004 for the last set or 2.
You feel like your holding a feather.

gothbin · Post by **gothbin** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 10:37 am

I have the hipshot bridge and I like it very much, better then the stock one. The looks of the original was better though, but you can't have it all. Intonation and sustain is better now.

teeder · Post by **teeder** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 3:45 am

"J and P basses ARE heavy. The old ones, not the puny newer versions"

I don't know about that. My JB is pretty old and the only 4001-4003 I've felt that was lighter was the '72 I had for a while.

geddeeee · Post by **geddeeee** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 3:55 am

My 2004 Monty 4003 is very light. I've no complaints. Since getting it my playing has got better and better.
All the J and P's I've owned have been 'hefty' to say the least. Great tone from the Precision. Probably cos of all that wood. Disappointed with J basses. Great growl, no real definition. Pretty generic IMO.
Again YMMV with a lot of these points....

jps · Post by **jps** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 5:02 am

Are we talking alder or ash Fenders? That will make a difference, plus the older basses tend to be lighter, perhaps due to the moisture content of the wood to some extent.

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 5:13 am

I had a Japanese P (1991?) that was quite light, the '71 Tele bass I had was light, but the mid '70's ash P I played once weighed at least 12 lbs.!

My '77 4001 is pretty heavy, but my '76 4000 is ultra light.

Lost Coyotes · Post by **Lost Coyotes** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 5:15 am

I've had J basses well into 11+ pounds, the most recent was a Geddy bass.
The one I held onto, though, is around 9 pounds, which still seems heavier than my 4003- 4001.
The 4004 is a blessing compared with anything else I have.

geddeeee · Post by **geddeeee** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 11:51 am

I would say my Rick is about 10 pounds with the Hipshot bridge on.
I still consider it to be light. Maybe it's just because it's such a joy to play. Having the wider strap certainly helps.
I played with my band for about 8 hours straight when we were practicing for a crucial gig. After all that I still felt as fresh as a daisy. My arms , hands and wrists felt great. Whenever I played my J bass for longer than an hour, I had to sit down. My right shoulder ached forever. And that's just my picking arm.
Thankfully those days are behind me, as I play exclusively my Monty 4003. I won't ever change to another make. I've tried most of 'em.
Finally I've come home!!!

jps · Post by **jps** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 3:03 pm

...I still felt as fresh as a daisy.

Did someone say Daisy?

jps · Post by **jps** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 3:04 pm

The 4004 is a blessing compared with anything else I have.

Try a '60s 4005WB sometime, makes a 4004 feel heavy.

bob_atherton · Post by **bob_atherton** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 3:41 pm

I found my '73 4000 was a bit too light with a touch of neck dive. I've fixed this by packing some lead in the control cavity! It now feels perfect.

heinpete · Post by **heinpete** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 8:35 pm

...isn't the 4005 a neck diver too?