Badass (bridges)

Badass

Type	Private
Founder	Leo Quan
Area served	Worldwide
Products	bridges

Badass Bridge on a C.F. Martin Co EB18

Badass is a trade name of 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.^[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]

Notable users and models

• Frank Bello of Anthrax on his Fender signature bass.^[6]
• Mike Dirnt of 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 of Iron Maiden, Badass II bridge on his Fender Precision Bass.
• Kirk Hammett of Metallica (and formerly Exodus), on his 1974 Gibson Flying V.
• Geddy Lee of 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.^[11]
• Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, on his Danelectro.^[12]
• Malcolm Young of 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 of Misfits; on his "devastator" bass.
• David Ellefson of Megadeth; David's Jackson signature bass model has a Badass II bridge.

References

1. Hunter, Dave (2006). The Electric Guitar Sourcebook: How to Find the Sounds You Like. Hal Leonard. p. 21. ISBN 978-0-87930-886-5.
2. Burrluck, Dave (1998). The player's guide to guitar maintenance: a practical manual to get the most from your electric guitar. Hal Leonard. p. 39. ISBN 978-0-87930-549-9.
3. "Bananas At Large History". Bananas At Large. Retrieved 2009-12-13.
4. Erlewine, Dan (2007). Guitar Player Repair Guide: How to Set Up, Maintain and Repair Electrics and Acoustics. Hal Leonard. p. 87. ISBN 978-0-87930-921-3.
5. Ashton, Adrian (2006). The bass handbook. Hal Leonard. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-87930-872-8.
6. Bass Player November 2011, cover picture
7. "New Fender Gear Kicks Mike Dirnt's A#@$!". Fender Australia. Retrieved 2009-12-14.
8. "Artist Signature Series: Mike Dirnt Precision Bass". Fender Australia. Retrieved 2009-12-14.
9. Gruhn, George; Walter Carter (1999). Gruhn's guide to vintage guitars: an identification guide for American fretted instruments. Hal Leonard. p. 103. ISBN 978-0-87930-422-5.
10. Fjestad, S.P. (2008). Blue Book of Electric Guitars. Alfred Publishing. p. 385. ISBN 978-1-886768-73-4.
11. Ashton 29.
12. Tulloch, Doug (2008). Neptune Bound: The Ultimate Danelectro Guitar Guide. Music Dispatch. pp. 117–19. ISBN 978-1-57424-240-9.
13. Fjestad 527.