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." The Badass came on the market in the 1970s, and was made by entrepreneur and guitar repairman Glen Quan. The first Badass bridges were built from diecast zinc and were considered somewhat rough; later models were made from a high-density zinc alloy and more finely milled.

Notable users and models

• Frank Bello of Anthrax on his Fender signature bass.
• Mike Dirnt of Green Day, Badass II on a Fender Precision Bass made in the Fender Custom Shop, the source of the signature Mike Dirnt Precision Bass.
• 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, also his Jetglo Rickenbacker 4001 with a Badass I.
• Marcus Miller, on a Fender Jazz.
• Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, on his Danelectro.
• 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.
• Jerry Only of Misfits; on his "devastator" bass.
• David Ellefson of Megadeth; David's Jackson signature bass model has a Badass II bridge.