Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Tech => Topic started by: Twinfan on August 12, 2007, 11:44:29 PM

Title: This wrapover bridge - OK or new one required?
Post by: Twinfan on August 12, 2007, 11:44:29 PM: I have an SG Special with a wrapover bridge and I've just noticed how much the bridge is leaning within the tailpiece studs (see pic below). I'm guessing it should be parallel to the guitar's body?

Will it be affecting the break angle of the strings, therefore the intonation and sustain, and should I get a new bridge and studs?

(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r267/junkacct/BridgeSmall.jpg)
Title: This wrapover bridge - OK or new one required?
Post by: Will on August 13, 2007, 12:17:22 AM: that does look a bit dodgy. I noticed that on the tailpiece of my LP and a bit of movement with the bushings
Title: This wrapover bridge - OK or new one required?
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on August 13, 2007, 01:33:12 AM: That is not unusual , but I'd say best idea is to get some Tonepros locking studs for it - the ones that split open and lock it down tight when you close them

Give us a shout if you want to order some
Title: This wrapover bridge - OK or new one required?
Post by: Philly Q on August 13, 2007, 02:06:41 AM: Mine was the same, they don't make the studs to very exact tolerances.

I had the TonePros studs for a while - they certainly solve the tilt problem - but ended up changing the bridge because the intonation was way out.

That's not another new guitar is it Dave?
Title: This wrapover bridge - OK or new one required?
Post by: Oli on August 13, 2007, 02:09:41 AM: A 'quick fix' for that could be to get a couple of washers, and cut out a notch so that you can push the washer 'through' the stud to fill the gap that is above (or below if you want) the bridge. Not the best option, but an idea nonetheless :)
Title: This wrapover bridge - OK or new one required?
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on August 13, 2007, 02:31:41 AM: Quote from: Oli
A 'quick fix' for that could be to get a couple of washers, and cut out a notch so that you can push the washer 'through' the stud to fill the gap that is above (or below if you want) the bridge. Not the best option, but an idea nonetheless :)

Good tip!
Maybe a circlip of the right size
Title: This wrapover bridge - OK or new one required?
Post by: WezV on August 13, 2007, 09:09:01 AM: i'm with feline - get some tone pro's if its bothering you!!

The washer idea was my first thought but unless you get a perfect fit its just adding something that can move
Title: This wrapover bridge - OK or new one required?
Post by: Twinfan on August 13, 2007, 09:49:07 AM: Quote from: Philly Q
That's not another new guitar is it Dave?

Bloody hell 'Eagle Eyes' - you know my collection better than me! Yes, it's a new one. I picked it up on Saturday. I'm absolutely LOVING P-90s and for a laugh I'd been using Feline's custom order form to spec a guitar up as my 'ultimate'. It ended up being very similar to a Gibson Custom Shop SG Special in white (£2000+) which is a pretty rare bird, or I could have had a custom build done (£1600+).

No-one seemed to do a reasonably priced one except Tokai, but they are as rare as hen's teeth. Then I was crusiing the web one lunchtime in search of guitar bargains (:roll:) and came across the exact thing I was looking for! A NOS 2004 SG Special in TV White. It's a bit like the Ash Blonde you get on Tele's where you can see the grain through the finish. The guitar is light and resonant, with a slightly chunkier neck than I'm used to, but I'm liking it. It plays like a dream:

(http://www.wizardguitars.co.uk/products/tokai-japan-sg-cream-p90.JPG)

Cheers for your advice guys re. the bridge, I'm going to order one of these lightweight adjustable Wilkinson ones. The intonation on the G is wrong on this guitar too (the raised notches on the bridge are for a wound third and so with a plain string it's sharp). Easy fix though, and I can sort the bridge angle thing at the same time for £17.

(http://www.jhs.co.uk/Wilkinson/GTB.jpg)
Title: This wrapover bridge - OK or new one required?
Post by: Kilby on August 13, 2007, 09:59:20 AM: Lovely SG, I love the fender blonde finish

I have a similay (wilkinson I assume) bridge on my eggle, except it's not a stopbar, it's a tunamatic.

All I can say is once it's intonated, it totally outclasses the gibson style one.
Title: This wrapover bridge - OK or new one required?
Post by: Twinfan on August 13, 2007, 11:05:15 AM: Cheers Kliby - just what I wanted to hear! The Wilko one above is super lightweight aluminium and I've had great results with lightweight stop bars in the past. It's all ordered and should arrive in a couple of days. Should make the guitar even better :D

I'll admit I'm contemplating a P91/P92 BKP set too...
Title: This wrapover bridge - OK or new one required?
Post by: Philly Q on August 13, 2007, 11:18:14 AM: Oooh, that's nice! I've seen TV yellow finishes on Gibson-style guitars, but never TV White. Where do you keep finding these bargains? :lol: Whenever I impulse-buy I nearly always realise - in hindsight - I've paid over the odds! :(

I've got Pigtail bridges on my SG and Melody Maker. They're excellent, but a bit pricey:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar,_non-trem_tailpieces/Pigtail_Aluminum_Wraparound_Bridge.html
Title: This wrapover bridge - OK or new one required?
Post by: Twinfan on August 13, 2007, 11:26:32 AM: I'm aware of the Pigtail stuff, but like you say it's a bit pricey. The guitar intonates pretty well as it is so I thought a fully adjustable bridge was OTT in this case.

Where do I find these things? Well I have a list of a few shops I know that sell second hand guitars so I cruise them every few days. I've had a run lately of stuff I want but I'm going to have to stop now. I've spent FAR too much and I need to curb it for a while...
Title: This wrapover bridge - OK or new one required?
Post by: HTH AMPS on August 13, 2007, 11:26:59 AM: gorgeous SG - now what was your address again? :wink: :lol:
Title: This wrapover bridge - OK or new one required?
Post by: Twinfan on August 13, 2007, 11:41:25 AM: Ha ha! I think you'll want PhilKing's address more than mine ;)
Title: This wrapover bridge - OK or new one required?
Post by: HTH AMPS on August 13, 2007, 02:43:58 PM: Quote from: Twinfan

I'll admit I'm contemplating a P91/P92 BKP set too...

I'd expect nothing less - stock pickups nearly always suck.

You could always opt for one the Gibson P90 sets on ebay at the minute, the guys has three mid-50s P90s and only wants $2k :roll:
Title: This wrapover bridge - OK or new one required?
Post by: Ratrod on August 13, 2007, 06:42:57 PM: Apart from the short lived SG classic (with P90's), that is the coolest SG I've ever seen.
Title: This wrapover bridge - OK or new one required?
Post by: Twinfan on August 13, 2007, 06:45:56 PM: Cheers Mr Ratrod - a bargain price too!
Title: This wrapover bridge - OK or new one required?
Post by: dave_mc on August 13, 2007, 07:41:14 PM: wow, very nice guitar. so you found someone else apart from the emporium who had one?

:twisted:
Title: This wrapover bridge - OK or new one required?
Post by: sgmypod on August 13, 2007, 07:55:43 PM: not the wizard again
Title: This wrapover bridge - OK or new one required?
Post by: Philly Q on August 13, 2007, 08:06:19 PM: Quote from: Ratrod
Apart from the short lived SG classic (with P90's), that is the coolest SG I've ever seen.

What about the Pete Townshend? It's cooler than the Classic because it has a wraparound bridge!

http://www.gibson.com/products/gibson/sg/townshendsg.html
Title: This wrapover bridge - OK or new one required?
Post by: Twinfan on August 13, 2007, 09:43:18 PM: Quote from: sgmypod
not the wizard again

Yep, 'fraid so. Went over in person to his Sheffield store. Some nice guitars there, and some 'interesting' prices...
Title: This wrapover bridge - OK or new one required?
Post by: 38thBeatle on August 13, 2007, 09:46:48 PM: That new one looks great Dave.
Title: This wrapover bridge - OK or new one required?
Post by: Twinfan on August 13, 2007, 09:49:30 PM: Cheers Steve! I guess as it has single coils it's OK with you ;)
Title: This wrapover bridge - OK or new one required?
Post by: headtheball on August 13, 2007, 10:20:50 PM: I had a rattle on one of those Tokai Specials before. Lovely, lovely instrument.

Maith Thú!
Title: This wrapover bridge - OK or new one required?
Post by: sgmypod on August 13, 2007, 10:31:58 PM: Quote
interesting' prices
what do you mean good or bad?
Title: This wrapover bridge - OK or new one required?
Post by: Twinfan on August 13, 2007, 10:51:50 PM: Bad. For example:

* Vintage 'distressed' Les Paul Copy - £349 (RRP £299)
* Vintage 'distressed' Strat Copy - £299 (RRP £249)
* Tokai Love Rock Relic - £1199 (at RRP, but Coda Music have one at £749)

See what I mean??? If you don't do you homework first you'd feel stung. This is always true in a lot of shops as discounts vary, but paying over RRP? I'd be seriously naffed off...
Title: This wrapover bridge - OK or new one required?
Post by: sgmypod on August 14, 2007, 11:31:46 AM: nah that makes sense..never want to pay over the odds