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Badass (guitar bridges)

Badass

Company 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[edit]

• 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. ^[14]

References[edit]

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