Badass (guitar bridges) explained

Badass
Type:	Private
Founder:	Leo Quan
Area Served:	Worldwide
Products:	bridges

Badass was first trademarked by Leo Quan, a manufacturer of bridges for guitars and basses. Badass bridges (used on the Martin EB18 electric bass and a replacement bridge on the Fender Precision Bass) feature individually adjustable saddles, which allows for "extremely accurate intonation adjustments."^[1] The Badass came on the market in the 1970s,^[2] and was made by entrepreneur and guitar repairman Glen Quan, of Marin County music store Bananas At Large and Leo Malliaris of Oakland's Leo's Music (hence Leo Quan).^[3] The first Badass bridges were built from diecast zinc and were considered somewhat rough;^[4] later models were made from a high-density zinc alloy and more finely milled.^[5] Badass is currently owned and distributed by Allparts Music, a subsidiary of Morse Group. In late 2022 and early 2023 Allparts Music relaunched the entire Badass bridge line including the Badass II bass bridge, Badass III bass bridge, Badass V bass bridge, Badass Wraparound Guitar Bridge, and Badass Fine Tuner Guitar Tailpiece.

Notable users and models

• Frank Bello (Anthrax) on his Fender signature bass.^[6]
• Mike Dirnt (Green Day), Badass II on a Fender Precision Bass made in the Fender Custom Shop,^[7] the source of the signature Mike Dirnt Precision Bass.^[8]
• Steve Harris (Iron Maiden), Badass II bridge on his Fender Precision Bass.
• Kirk Hammett (Metallica, formerly Exodus), on his 1974 Gibson Flying V.
• Geddy Lee (Rush); the 1998 "Geddy Lee Limited Edition" Fender Jazz Bass is equipped with a Badass II,^{[9] [10]} also his Jetglo Rickenbacker 4001 with a Badass I.
• Marcus Miller, on a Fender Jazz Bass.^[11]
• Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), on his Danelectro.^[12]
• Malcolm Young (AC/DC); the Gretsch "Malcolm Young Series" was equipped with a Badass bridge, based on Young's customized early 1960s Gretsch Jet Firebird.^[13]
• Jerry Only (Misfits); on his "devastator" bass.
• Juan Alderete (The Mars Volta, Racer X), on his Fender Precision Bass.
• David Ellefson (Megadeth); David's Jackson signature bass model has a Badass II bridge.
• Sting (The Police) on his Spector NS-2 bass.
• Nate Mendel (Foo Fighters) uses a Badass II on his signature Fender Precision Bass model.
• Dan Andriano (Alkaline Trio, The Damned Things) uses Badass II bridges on many of his Fender Precision and Jazz Basses.
• Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) used a Badass II on his Modulus Basses.
• C.J. Ramone on his Fender Dee Dee Ramone Precision Basses.
• Les Claypool (Primus) on his Carl Thompson's Maple Piccolo Bass.
• Ben Shepherd (Soundgarden) on his primary Fender Precision and Jazz Basses.

Notes and References

1. Book: Hunter , Dave . The Electric Guitar Sourcebook: How to Find the Sounds You Like . Hal Leonard . 2006 . 21 . 978-0-87930-886-5.
2. Book: Burrluck , Dave . The player's guide to guitar maintenance: a practical manual to get the most from your electric guitar . Hal Leonard . 1998 . 39 . 978-0-87930-549-9.
3. Web site: Bananas At Large History . Bananas At Large . 2009-12-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090803155731/http://www.bananasmusic.com/articledetail.asp/articleid_25 . 2009-08-03 .
4. Book: Erlewine , Dan . Guitar Player Repair Guide: How to Set Up, Maintain and Repair Electrics and Acoustics . Hal Leonard . 2007 . 87 . 978-0-87930-921-3.
5. Book: Ashton , Adrian . The bass handbook . Hal Leonard . 2006 . 23 . 978-0-87930-872-8.
6. Bass Player November 2011, cover picture
7. Web site: New Fender Gear Kicks Mike Dirnt's A#@$! . Fender Australia . 2009-12-14 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101115042343/http://www.fender.com.au/feature/mikedirnt/ . 2010-11-15 .
8. Web site: Artist Signature Series: Mike Dirnt Precision Bass . Fender Australia . 2009-12-14 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090213174324/http://fender.com.au/electricbasses/pbass/artistsignature/mike_dirnt_pbass.php . 2009-02-13 .
9. Book: Gruhn , George . Walter Carter . Gruhn's guide to vintage guitars: an identification guide for American fretted instruments . Hal Leonard . 1999 . 103 . 978-0-87930-422-5.
10. Book: Fjestad , S.P. . Blue Book of Electric Guitars . Alfred Publishing . 2008 . 385 . 978-1-886768-73-4.
11. Ashton 29.
12. Book: Tulloch , Doug . Neptune Bound: The Ultimate Danelectro Guitar Guide . Music Dispatch . 2008 . 117–19 . 978-1-57424-240-9.
13. Fjestad 527.