Flea Bridge?

[bolombo]

I understand the concept behind along with the workings of the early 90's Flea bridge. Can any SR4 flea bridge owners, past or present comment on the what they like, or dislike about this style bridge. Is there any improved sustain, tone, ect? or is it just to keep you from ripping the strings off the bass when your doing your flea impersonations? -Thanks

 

[PocketGroove82]

flea bridge?

 

[RitchieDarling]

flea bridge?

It's very very very very very very small..........

R

 

[Caca de Kick]

What the heck is a Flea bridge?????

You either got an older bridge with adjustable mutes, or you got a later model with no mutes.

 

[midopa]

From Gav's website:

Circa 1992 to circa 1994 ("Flea" Bridge)

Same as for Circa 2nd half of 1988 (or early 1989) to circa 1992 but:

1) Although the saddles remain solid, the string grooves on the saddles are now offset to the left of centre resulting in the strings moving to the left of the mute thumb screws. Accordingly, the acute string from the bridge tail to the saddles ceases to exist.

2) Saddle grooves cease to be uniform and are cut for string gauge.

"This bridge arrangement was originally designed specifically for "Flea", for the purpose of ensuring straight string pull across the bridge saddle, rather than the "bend" that is present on the earlier models. Also the groove in the saddles is sized for each individual string, and is deeper, to make sure the string could not be pulled out with his aggressive style of playing." (Per EB).

 

[PocketGroove82]

well I'll be jiggered.

BP, can we call the next bridge the Pocket bridge?

 

[EBMM7181]

I would assume the '' new '' bridges are better than the '' Flea '' bridges.

 

[EBMM7181]

It seems Flea likes the '' new '' bridges just fine, here is a picture of Flea playing a '' newer '' StingRay with the new bridge ( no mutes )

I honestly believe Flea's favorite bass is StingRay, not Modulus

 

[bdgotoh]

I don't really like the Flea bridge because the strings are off-center compared to the mute screw heads. It's not a big deal but it makes it hard to use the mutes. I prefer the earlier and later bridges myself.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

What the heck is a Flea bridge?????

You either got an older bridge with adjustable mutes, or you got a later model with no mutes.

Oils aint oils

A bridge can pin the vintage of a Bass without the need of a serial number

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

I would assume the '' new '' bridges are better than the '' Flea '' bridges.

Don't know about being better...but the Flea was the last of the muted bridges.

 

[Dr Stankface]

Does anyone have pics of this "Flea" bridge along with pre and post bridges as a comparison?

 

[EBMM7181]

Stanky, The old Flea bridge is big, and butts up next to the pickguard, the new one is smaller, and leaves a little space between it and the edge of the pickguard, I'll see If I can find some pics to show you....

 

[EBMM7181]

The old bridge ( Flea Bridge )

New Bridge

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Does anyone have pics of this "Flea" bridge along with pre and post bridges as a comparison?

It's all on my website:

HERE

 

[Caca de Kick]

The old bridge ( Flea Bridge )

New Bridge

Okay, but this is what the normal mute bridge looked like with the strings centered on the saddles. Both the string through and the top load mute bridges had strings centered on the saddle. That 'flea' bridge must have been a very short-lived feature.

 

[Moondog]

1990 & 1992 "original style" bridges (strings not straight but are centered on mutes)

1995 "Flea" Bridge (straight string alignment but off-center w/mutes)

 

[Guitarburetor]

I've just become aware that this version of the Sting Ray bridge is referred to as the "Flea bridge". Up to the time we introduced this version, we had comments from time to time about strings popping out of the saddle grooves, and the interference between the strings and intonation springs certainly wasn't ideal. When Flea expressed having the same problem, we decided it was time to take care of the problem.

The modifications followed the SR5 bridge design in becoming solid Stainless Steel saddles, and used the same height adjustment screws. The groove was moved off center to achieve straight string pull with the existing bridge plate. The grooves were sized to the individual strings, and made deeper to prevent the strings popping out of them.

When the new bridge plate was designed without the mutes, we relocated the string and intonation screw holes and moved the grooves closer to centered on the saddles.

 

[Rano Bass]

Thank's for the inside info, very helpful!