Badass (guitar bridges)
{{Infobox company
| name = Badass
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| type = Private
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| founder = Leo Quan
| defunct =
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| area_served = Worldwide
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| products = bridges
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File:1960 Les Paul Special Doublecut body.jpg on Gibson Les Paul Special / SG Special]]
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."{{Cite book
| last = Hunter
| first = Dave
| authorlink =
| title = The Electric Guitar Sourcebook: How to Find the Sounds You Like
| publisher = Hal Leonard
| year = 2006
| location =
| page = 21
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=u8qxXFvsqeMC&pg=PT21
| doi =
| id =
| isbn = 978-0-87930-886-5}}
The Badass came on the market in the 1970s,{{Cite book
| last = Burrluck
| first = Dave
| authorlink =
| title = The player's guide to guitar maintenance: a practical manual to get the most from your electric guitar
| publisher = Hal Leonard
| year = 1998
| location =
| page = 39
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=qiN8WrjKgN8C&pg=PA38
| doi =
| id =
| isbn = 978-0-87930-549-9}} 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).{{Cite web
|title=Bananas At Large History
|publisher=Bananas At Large
|url=http://www.bananasmusic.com/articledetail.asp/articleid_25
|accessdate=2009-12-13
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803155731/http://www.bananasmusic.com/articledetail.asp/articleid_25
|archivedate=2009-08-03
}} The first Badass bridges were built from diecast zinc and were considered somewhat rough;{{Cite book
| last = Erlewine
| first = Dan
| authorlink =
| title = Guitar Player Repair Guide: How to Set Up, Maintain and Repair Electrics and Acoustics
| publisher = Hal Leonard
| year = 2007
| location =
| page = 87
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=zF24JMkjSpQC&pg=PA87
| doi =
| id =
| isbn = 978-0-87930-921-3}} later models were made from a high-density zinc alloy and more finely milled.{{Cite book
| last = Ashton
| first = Adrian
| authorlink =
| title = The bass handbook
| publisher = Hal Leonard
| year = 2006
| location =
| page = 23
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=RpOcVLXime4C&pg=PA23
| doi =
| id =
| isbn = 978-0-87930-872-8}} 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.Bass Player November 2011, cover picture
- Mike Dirnt (Green Day), Badass II on a Fender Precision Bass made in the Fender Custom Shop,{{Cite web
|title=New Fender Gear Kicks Mike Dirnt's A#@$!
|publisher=Fender Australia
|url=http://www.fender.com.au/feature/mikedirnt/
|accessdate=2009-12-14
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101115042343/http://www.fender.com.au/feature/mikedirnt/
|archivedate=2010-11-15
}} the source of the signature Mike Dirnt Precision Bass.{{Cite web
|title=Artist Signature Series: Mike Dirnt Precision Bass
|publisher=Fender Australia
|url=http://www.fender.com.au/electricbasses/pbass/artistsignature/mike_dirnt_pbass.php
|accessdate=2009-12-14
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213174324/http://fender.com.au/electricbasses/pbass/artistsignature/mike_dirnt_pbass.php
|archivedate=2009-02-13
}}
- 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,{{Cite book
| last = Gruhn
| first = George
| authorlink =
|author2= Walter Carter
| title = Gruhn's guide to vintage guitars: an identification guide for American fretted instruments
| publisher = Hal Leonard
| year = 1999
| location =
| page = 103
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=sgeZ_cISRpAC&pg=PA103
| doi =
| id =
| isbn = 978-0-87930-422-5}}{{Cite book
| last = Fjestad
| first = S.P.
| authorlink =
| title = Blue Book of Electric Guitars
| publisher = Alfred Publishing
| year = 2008
| location =
| page = 385
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=IrN-E3yn5mMC&pg=PA385
| doi =
| id =
| isbn = 978-1-886768-73-4}} also his Jetglo Rickenbacker 4001 with a Badass I.
- Marcus Miller, on a Fender Jazz Bass.Ashton 29.
- Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), on his Danelectro.{{Cite book
| last = Tulloch
| first = Doug
| authorlink =
| title = Neptune Bound: The Ultimate Danelectro Guitar Guide
| publisher = Music Dispatch
| year = 2008
| location =
| pages = 117–19
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=dIOTBcZUQkkC&pg=PT117
| doi =
| id =
| isbn = 978-1-57424-240-9}}
- 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.Fjestad 527.
- 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. {{Citation |title=Rig Rundown - Soundgarden's Kim Thayil, Chris Cornell, and Ben Shepherd |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEl7u9Z3lK0 |access-date=2023-08-18 |language=en}}