I never realized that the SB 300/400 pups and control section ...

[Dave W]

....

When the old man rants like this, it always hurts me deeply.

"PumpkinGlo" 


Seriously, on a long scale bass with respective long scale string pull, the hallowed (in some heathen quarters) two-point bridge is an even more cursed device than usual. You might just as well glue the ends of the strings there.

Never had a problem with my EB-0L.

Those pics I've seen with the bridge body distorted into an arc must be photoshop jobs you commissioned. 

[uwe]

All my long scales are a two-point free zone I am happy to say!

[Dave W]

Now get working on replacing all your three pointers with one of the alternatives that adjusts easily and doesn't look hideous.

[uwe]

I've only replaced one three point ever, on my Blackbird, just to see what it's like (ok, but not mandatory). No intention to repeat the exercise ever again - it might be down to having adjusted so many, but the three point is the bridge I feel most at home with, setting it up is totally undaunting for me. And I do like its look (no other bass has it) plus it's a comfortable hand rest for a pick player.

[Granny Gremlin]

Still a better design than the original Telecaster bridge (guit or bass).

Never had a problem adjusting a 3 point either.

[shadowcastaz]

But  my SB400 is in black not chrome!

[Dave W]

Still a better design than the original Telecaster bridge (guit or bass).

Never had a problem adjusting a 3 point either.

Never had a problem with the original Tele bridge.  It's strongly preferred by most Tele players. You and Uwe are the lonely cheering section for the three-pointer.

[Granny Gremlin]

There are better bridges, sure, but one thing that cannot be denied is that the 3 point is probably the best bridge for use on an archtop bass (because the bridge is, unlike a guitar, on the slope, vs the crest of the arch) especially ones with a larger neck join angles (LP etc).  It's charms are much less on a flat top, but it is still infinitely more stable than a 2 point and no less adjustable.  The saddles only being held on by string pressure is silly, but hardly a real issue.

Tele bridges are even less adjustable than a 3 point, and I know they have their fans anyway, but it is far from unanimous appreciation - look at how many replacement bridges are on the market (as well as Fender themselves changing the design over the years).  Frankly, until the Badbird II, I thought the available 3 point drop in replacements were even worse, but I am in the minority on that I know.

[Dave W]

Most of the aftermarket Tele replacement bridges are also 3-saddle.

[Granny Gremlin]

Not so sure about "most," but yeah there are some (many even).  But at least they're sturdier/heavier - 3/2 (guit/bass) saddles was only 1 issue, not the whole story. 

Seriously, this is pathetic:



And yet some masochists still love them.

[Dave W]

The overwhelming majority are 3-saddle. Easy to adjust close enough for a tempered instrument. I find the original style easier to adjust than the ones with compensated saddles. Never had a problem with the 2-saddle on my old Tele Bass II either.

Two strings pressing down on one saddle produces a tone different enough that most players can hear the difference. YMMV.

[uwe]

Never had a problem with the original Tele bridge.  It's strongly preferred by most Tele players. You and Uwe are the lonely cheering section for the three-pointer.

Lies! There's the model trainer with the knee high boots too so we're already an Unholy Trinity! Besides, historic interpretation demands it, it sez in that one document of that One Nation under Canada:

A well-intonating and simple bridge being necessary
for the original state of a Gibson bass,
the right of the people to keep and bear three points
shall not be infringed.

Death to false bridges!

[Granny Gremlin]

I don't know a single Tele player who prefers the old style bridge.  I know these people exist, due to the product offerings.  As such I must dispute your wonton use of the word 'most.'  The rules of rhetoric dictate that use of this word requires that you have actually studied the issue (beyond personal experience; a representative sample your acquaintances are not)  or that you be citing such a study; strictly speaking the most you can get away with here is 'many,' and with such a statement as that, I would not argue.

Further, as we all know, popularity has absolutely no causal relationship with quality or more specifically in this case, functional perfection. 

The fact is that even Fender decided improvement was warranted (never mind all the third parties), and it certainly didn't save them any money to add complexity to the part. ... Just like Gibson realised the 2 point was going to tilt, in some cases, under string pressure and added a 3rd post to stop that.  The bit that perplexes me is how they weren't able to anticipate this and didn't, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, just use a separate tailpiece; a cheap part that hey already had in stock for TBirds.

[Basvarken]

For those who insist on using the two saddle bridge, there is a nice solution on the market:

[Dave W]

I don't know a single Tele player who prefers the old style bridge.  I know these people exist, due to the product offerings.  As such I must dispute your wonton use of the word 'most.'  The rules of rhetoric dictate that use of this word requires that you have actually studied the issue (beyond personal experience; a representative sample your acquaintances are not)  or that you be citing such a study; strictly speaking the most you can get away with here is 'many,' and with such a statement as that, I would not argue.

Further, as we all know, popularity has absolutely no causal relationship with quality or more specifically in this case, functional perfection. 

The fact is that even Fender decided improvement was warranted (never mind all the third parties), and it certainly didn't save them any money to add complexity to the part. ... Just like Gibson realised the 2 point was going to tilt, in some cases, under string pressure and added a 3rd post to stop that.  The bit that perplexes me is how they weren't able to anticipate this and didn't, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, just use a separate tailpiece; a cheap part that hey already had in stock for TBirds.

Good lord, Jake. I'm not just talking about a few people I know.

Spend a few months at TDPRI. In the main section subforums where you can see what people buy and post pictures of. You'll see a lot more 3-saddle bridges than 6-saddle. And over time you'll also see 5-10 times as many threads asking what vintage-style 3-saddle bridge will replace the 6-saddle American Standard and Deluxe as you will threads asking what 6-saddle bridge is a drop in replacement for a vintage style. Look in the DIY section and see how many 3-saddle bridges are used in builds compared to 6-saddle. Look in the section where people post their own music and see what they use. Look where people post videos of well-known Tele players and see what they use.

There's a reason Fender has gone back to the 3-saddle in many lines, not just in the vintage reissues, but also in everything from the American Specials to the Squier Classic Vibes: most Tele players prefer it.

We're getting too far off topic here, so that's all I'll have to say about this.