Speaking of Gotoh 201 bridges...

[dg27]

I didn't want to hijack qaiso's thread but it got me thinking.

I have a Gotoh 201 on three of my basses. I play my '76 P, my '87 Squier J, and my '14 Warmoth the most. The '76 P does not have a Gotoh; the other two do.

Years ago a swapped out the stock pickups on the P but kept them in case my "heirs" want to restore it. I would cut my left n*t off before I would sell it that bass (I've never sold any basses.)

Would it be criminal to put a Gotoh on the P (and keep the stock bridge for the same reason I kept the pickups)?

(Funny I didn't worry when I completely revamped my Rick, but the P has always held a special place in my heart.)

Yay or nay on this?

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Speaking of Gotoh 201 bridges...

First of all, I must admit I am a huge fan of the Gotoh 201. My current Warmoth J bass and my former Warmoth J bass both have them. I didn't think I would love the Gotoh 201 as much as I do. I thought I would for sure "upgrade" to a badass II later on down the road but it's been almost 8 years now on my current J bass and the other J bass I had (which I sold) and it's a great bridge.

That being said, I do not know if you would have to drill any new holes or not to put a 201 on your '76. If you care about keeping it as original as you can as far as modification drilling is concerned and you would have to drill new holes... then no. I wouldn't do it. If it's just a swap 'n' go fit though I would definitely do it.

 

[dg27]

Re: Speaking of Gotoh 201 bridges...

I do not know if you would have to drill any new holes or not to put a 201 on your '76. If you care about keeping it as original as you can as far as modification drilling is concerned and you would have to drill new holes... then no. I wouldn't do it. If it's just a swap 'n' go fit though I would definitely do it.

My understanding is it's a drop in (and that the holes line up). I know that when I overhauled my '84 Jazz bass Special and '87 MIJ Squier J
no holes were drilled.

The guy who has done all my work for many years (and built my Warmoth) is ultra-sensitive about chopping up anything remotely vintage. He flatly refused to do anything with my '69 Gibson EB-1 that involved any cutting (the pickup is truly mud, which is why it's a just a sentimental museum piece for me because it was my first bass).

I'm due for a setup on that '76 P anyway, which is why I'm considering it. I'm in India right now and whenever I get home I always want to do something with an instrument (I should have been a guitarist o).

Would be interested what Mr FFingers would say.

Thanks for weighing in.

 

[dg27]

Re: Speaking of Gotoh 201 bridges...

The Warmoth description says:

This is a top quality cast bridge with the standard 3/4" (19mm) string spacing. It features stock Fender mounting holes and is adjustable for string height and intonation. Comes with matching mounting screws and Allen wrench.

I don't think Fender ever changed their mounting hole configurations.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Speaking of Gotoh 201 bridges...

The Warmoth description says:

This is a top quality cast bridge with the standard 3/4" (19mm) string spacing. It features stock Fender mounting holes and is adjustable for string height and intonation. Comes with matching mounting screws and Allen wrench.

I don't think Fender ever changed their mounting hole configurations.

Then I would say do it! It's a nice bridge, so why not? That '76 would look bad as hell with a black Gotoh 201 IMO.

 

[dg27]

Re: Speaking of Gotoh 201 bridges...

I'm leaning toward doing it, but I like the chrome. I had all black hardware on my Jazz Bass Special and was never crazy about it (it's all gone now: Gotoh 201 and Schaller machines).

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Speaking of Gotoh 201 bridges...

The Gotoh 201 directly retrofits any Fender or Squier bass with the tradtional stamped steel, five screw, bridge. American, Japanese, Korean, Mexican, Indonesian, Chinese.

The Gotoh 201 does not retrofit the post-2012 Fender American Standard bass bridge. I cannot recall whether it directly retrofits the 1982/3/4 Elite series.

On some bass guitars, I have tried modern, machined bridges only to revert to the stock Fender item for the simple reason that it sounded better. (e.g. 1978/9 fretless P, Squier VM fretless J.)

As a rule, Yamaha budget-to-midprice bass guitars lurve the 201. Beyond mid-price, they come with 201-alike bridges anyway.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Speaking of Gotoh 201 bridges...

I'm leaning toward doing it, but I like the chrome. I had all black hardware on my Jazz Bass Special and was never crazy about it (it's all gone now: Gotoh 201 and Schaller machines).

Right on, right on

 

[dg27]

Re: Speaking of Gotoh 201 bridges...

Thanks for confirming the specs.

On some bass guitars, I have tried modern, machined bridges only to revert to the stock Fender item for the simple reason that it sounded better. (e.g. 1978/9 fretless P, Squier VM fretless J.)

Hmmm...that P is my ideal as it is--none of my others sound quite like it.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Speaking of Gotoh 201 bridges...

First of all, I must admit I am a huge fan of the Gotoh 201. My current Warmoth J bass and my former Warmoth J bass both have them. I didn't think I would love the Gotoh 201 as much as I do. I thought I would for sure "upgrade" to a badass II later on down the road but it's been almost 8 years now on my current J bass and the other J bass I had (which I sold) and it's a great bridge.

I've had basses with both bridges at the same time and honestly I wouldn't bother swapping as the Badass II really isn't a better bridge than the 201, just different.

 

[dg27]

Re: Speaking of Gotoh 201 bridges...

I've had basses with both bridges at the same time and honestly I wouldn't bother swapping as the Badass II really isn't a better bridge than the 201, just different.

I'm deciding between leaving the stock or going with the 201. (Badass II isn't in the equation.)

 

[Kais]

Re: Speaking of Gotoh 201 bridges...

personally, I'd leave any 70's bass stock as is without modification. kind of the mojo of the era, ect. but if your not selling it ever, you might as well do whatever you will

 

[dg27]

Re: Speaking of Gotoh 201 bridges...

Funkfingers comment kind of scared me off (bold red is mine):

On some bass guitars, I have tried modern, machined bridges only to revert to the stock Fender item for the simple reason that it sounded better.

I've had SD QP's in there since the mid-80s (but still have the stock pickups). I think the tone is truly great on that bass and I'm afraid of messing with it.

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Speaking of Gotoh 201 bridges...

If there's no drilling required than there's no harm! Like you said, stash the original bridge away for re-sale value later if the time ever comes.

 

[dg27]

Re: Speaking of Gotoh 201 bridges...

Thanks...still on the fence. I do love the 201.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Speaking of Gotoh 201 bridges...

The Gotoh 201 is, undeniably, a superior piece of engineering to Leo Fender's original design. In some situations, it may actually be too good.

As mentioned earlier, I have reverted to the stock bridges on a Squier VM Jazz, Squier Silver Series P and a 1978/8 Fender P. For whatever reasons, changing to a superior bridge detracted from the sound of each instrument.

In my opinion, the stock bridge on the recent Fender Am Std P and J basses is fine. The Badass-alike on the Dimension Bass, I am not so sure about. The one bass where I am happy with a Badass II is my Fender AVRI '75 Jazz Bass. Here, it is "period correct", contributing to the Marcus/Geddy vibe.

 

[Kais]

Re: Speaking of Gotoh 201 bridges...

look at all the positive reviews,

http://www.warmoth.com/Gotoh-201-4-String-Bass-Bridge-Chrome-P138.aspx#tabs

can't wait to install this on my bass

 

[dg27]

Re: Speaking of Gotoh 201 bridges...

Thanks for your input.

The Gotoh 201 is, undeniably, a superior piece of engineering to Leo Fender's original design. In some situations, it may actually be too good.

Not clear what "too good" means.

In my opinion, the stock bridge on the recent Fender Am Std P and J basses is fine. The Badass-alike on the Dimension Bass, I am not so sure about. The one bass where I am happy with a Badass II is my Fender AVRI '75 Jazz Bass. Here, it is "period correct", contributing to the Marcus/Geddy vibe.

I realize you're talking about the BAII and not the Gotoh.

My '76 P is very warm and bottomey, but with clear definition. It's absolutely great for reggae: It's my go-to bass for that sound. I would hate to make a change that would diminish that: the Marcus/Geddy comment made me me think of it. Definitely do not want anything like that from this bass.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Speaking of Gotoh 201 bridges...

I'd just leave it as is. If it ain't broke...

 

[dg27]

Re: Speaking of Gotoh 201 bridges...

That's what I'm going to do. Thanks to all for weighing in.