leo quan bad ass bridge
- Thread starter newking70
- Start date
The Golden Boy
Fleecy Sweaterologist
Re: leo quan bad ass bridge
I had one on my LP Special. I didn't like routing the strings from the pickup side- I opted for the Schaller 455 which is bigger, but the strings load from the top and around the back and over the top. Much easier to restring and a little more "hefty" than the Badass. But the Badass is a fine bridge.
I had one on my LP Special. I didn't like routing the strings from the pickup side- I opted for the Schaller 455 which is bigger, but the strings load from the top and around the back and over the top. Much easier to restring and a little more "hefty" than the Badass. But the Badass is a fine bridge.
H
H8Red442
Guest
Re: leo quan bad ass bridge
They are awful bridges. Go witha Pigtail or Tone Pros Wraparound. Even the one that Golden Boy listed is better.
The problem with the BadAss or Quad Matic bridges is that they are very very hard to intonat due to the lenght travel space they saddles are limited to by the design. They're not bad on basses because the bridge has a larger foot print but on a guitar there just isnt enough room for the saddle to move due to the fact that the overwound part of the string by the ball impedes the saddle from moving back far enough therefor limiting the travel of the saddle. Due to the size of the bass bridges there is sufficient room for the saddle to move around.
They compensate for this on guitars by providing two allen screws to move the entire bridge back therefor lengthening the string and limiting the lenght at which the saddle needs to move intonate the string.
The resulting problem is that when you move the bridge back with the allen screws your bridge tilts.
The wrap around bridges are much easier to intonate and if you get them with locking studs they're solid as a rock. I have them on two of my guitars and on a third that will be arriving soon.
They are awful bridges. Go witha Pigtail or Tone Pros Wraparound. Even the one that Golden Boy listed is better.
The problem with the BadAss or Quad Matic bridges is that they are very very hard to intonat due to the lenght travel space they saddles are limited to by the design. They're not bad on basses because the bridge has a larger foot print but on a guitar there just isnt enough room for the saddle to move due to the fact that the overwound part of the string by the ball impedes the saddle from moving back far enough therefor limiting the travel of the saddle. Due to the size of the bass bridges there is sufficient room for the saddle to move around.
They compensate for this on guitars by providing two allen screws to move the entire bridge back therefor lengthening the string and limiting the lenght at which the saddle needs to move intonate the string.
The resulting problem is that when you move the bridge back with the allen screws your bridge tilts.
The wrap around bridges are much easier to intonate and if you get them with locking studs they're solid as a rock. I have them on two of my guitars and on a third that will be arriving soon.
SonofaMitch
New member
Re: leo quan bad ass bridge
I LOVE my Badass Bridge...orig '80's brass with Fine tuner add-on...solid as a rock..heavy as hell
..and lots O' tone
~Mitch~
I LOVE my Badass Bridge...orig '80's brass with Fine tuner add-on...solid as a rock..heavy as hell
..and lots O' tone~Mitch~
Last edited:
The Golden Boy
Fleecy Sweaterologist
Re: leo quan bad ass bridge
That's the entire intonating feature of the original wraparound, as concieved by Gibson. Until the Badass, you were stuck with that. The Badass is a leap forward for wraparound bridges- all intonable wraparound bridges are variations of the Badass design.
That's the entire intonating feature of the original wraparound, as concieved by Gibson. Until the Badass, you were stuck with that. The Badass is a leap forward for wraparound bridges- all intonable wraparound bridges are variations of the Badass design.
H
H8Red442
Guest
Re: leo quan bad ass bridge
This I understand and yes it's much better than no intonation at all. But it's still pretty bad. It drove me nuts. I could never get the intonation right on either of my guitars that had it because the bridge was either too far back for a string or two or too far forward for the other four. I love the wraparound whoever made it.
The fine tuners on SpHj's guitar acutally alleviate the problem and is a great solution for this problem however less aesthetically pleasing to me.
This I understand and yes it's much better than no intonation at all. But it's still pretty bad. It drove me nuts. I could never get the intonation right on either of my guitars that had it because the bridge was either too far back for a string or two or too far forward for the other four. I love the wraparound whoever made it.
The fine tuners on SpHj's guitar acutally alleviate the problem and is a great solution for this problem however less aesthetically pleasing to me.
The Golden Boy
Fleecy Sweaterologist
Re: leo quan bad ass bridge
One could argue, that if the amount of traverse on a Badass isn't enough, the problem lies with the guitar, not the replacement bridge. In other words, where the studs are located, if the nut or the neck is "off" or something similar.
My LP Special is a Frankenstein piece- it's had a fair share of work done to it over the years. As a result a standard wraparound doesn't come even close to intonating. When I got it, it came with a Badass, it didn't quite intonate perfectly and then I found the Schaller piece, but the bridge is angled oddly, because of the hell the guitar has been through. When I got my 58 Special, I replaced the wraparound with a Schaller, and I was shocked at how "much" I lost. In replacing the wraparound, it was so alive and vibrant, and it was 'close enough for government work' in intonation- that's why I still have that Schaller sitting in the box. In looking at the saddles on my 65 Epi, I'm thinking about trying to find an old "lightning bar" bridge- the saddles look like they'd be close to intonated on a compensated wraparound bar.
Check out the position and location of the bridge and the saddles:
Check out the position on this guitar:
One could argue, that if the amount of traverse on a Badass isn't enough, the problem lies with the guitar, not the replacement bridge. In other words, where the studs are located, if the nut or the neck is "off" or something similar.
My LP Special is a Frankenstein piece- it's had a fair share of work done to it over the years. As a result a standard wraparound doesn't come even close to intonating. When I got it, it came with a Badass, it didn't quite intonate perfectly and then I found the Schaller piece, but the bridge is angled oddly, because of the hell the guitar has been through. When I got my 58 Special, I replaced the wraparound with a Schaller, and I was shocked at how "much" I lost. In replacing the wraparound, it was so alive and vibrant, and it was 'close enough for government work' in intonation- that's why I still have that Schaller sitting in the box. In looking at the saddles on my 65 Epi, I'm thinking about trying to find an old "lightning bar" bridge- the saddles look like they'd be close to intonated on a compensated wraparound bar.
Check out the position and location of the bridge and the saddles:
Check out the position on this guitar:
H
H8Red442
Guest
Re: leo quan bad ass bridge
Golden Boy you are just wrong. I don't mean to get in a pissing contest with you but the amount of traverse available to the saddle has absolutely ZERO to do with the guitar. If there needs to be more room for adjustment yeah it could be the placement of the posts and the resulting bridge placement itself.
The fact remains that the amount of traverse is obscrured by the amount of the string by the ball that comes through the bridge and over the saddles. The design of that bridge and the place of that amount of string is what restricts the saddle from moving any further back. If that section of string didnt keep the saddle from moving any further you could intonate it. The amount of traverse for the saddle is not limited by the design of the guitar. This design flaw does not exist in many other models including he TOM bridges.
I realize the alternative back in the day was less desirable but we no longer have that need.
The two examples you showed above are the exact problem with that bridge.
The TonePros/Pigtail Wraparound is a much more desirable design
Golden Boy you are just wrong. I don't mean to get in a pissing contest with you but the amount of traverse available to the saddle has absolutely ZERO to do with the guitar. If there needs to be more room for adjustment yeah it could be the placement of the posts and the resulting bridge placement itself.
The fact remains that the amount of traverse is obscrured by the amount of the string by the ball that comes through the bridge and over the saddles. The design of that bridge and the place of that amount of string is what restricts the saddle from moving any further back. If that section of string didnt keep the saddle from moving any further you could intonate it. The amount of traverse for the saddle is not limited by the design of the guitar. This design flaw does not exist in many other models including he TOM bridges.
I realize the alternative back in the day was less desirable but we no longer have that need.
The two examples you showed above are the exact problem with that bridge.
The TonePros/Pigtail Wraparound is a much more desirable design
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: leo quan bad ass bridge
I had a 1975 Gibson '55 Special Les Paul. Adding a Leo Quan Badass Bridge made a huge and positive difference in that guitar. It simply would not intonate until I put that bridge on. Gibson hasn't always been real precise where they put those studs.
I really only have two complaints and they involve string changing. Since the strings are fed through tiny holes on the pickup side of the bridge--it's a little tight space-wise. And if you are not careful, the string end can gouge the top of your guitar and mar the finish.
But for tone and intonation, the Badass worked for me. I know there are other designs available now, so you should check those out, too.
Good luck.
Bill
I had a 1975 Gibson '55 Special Les Paul. Adding a Leo Quan Badass Bridge made a huge and positive difference in that guitar. It simply would not intonate until I put that bridge on. Gibson hasn't always been real precise where they put those studs.
I really only have two complaints and they involve string changing. Since the strings are fed through tiny holes on the pickup side of the bridge--it's a little tight space-wise. And if you are not careful, the string end can gouge the top of your guitar and mar the finish.
But for tone and intonation, the Badass worked for me. I know there are other designs available now, so you should check those out, too.
Good luck.
Bill
