Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: 5F6-A on August 25, 2007, 09:39:14 PM
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My guitar has the nashville bridge. My strings do not clear the back of the bridge as I use a B7 bigbsy. My question is if whether or not there is consensus on the negative impact of strings touching the back of the bridge.
Thanks
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its not going to help the trem function well
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I've found it strangles sustain a bit on the affected strings. This was with a stop bar tailpiece.
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Swap it for an ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic.
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Doesn't the ABR1 have a different post spacing?
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Doesn't the ABR1 have a different post spacing?
exactly the ABR-1 and nashville bridges are very different.. I'm thinking about using some washers to raise up the bigsby a bit,. Also I'll whack the saddles all the way back for max clearance and then adjust th intonation.
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the problem is that if you raise the bigsby too much you wil loose sound quality and sustain because of a lack of pressure on the bridge - the better solution is to find a roller bridge that you can make fit, so even if it still touches the back of the bridge it still only has one place to snag
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Here's some roller bridges for ya.
http://www.guitarvalue.com/brtp.htm
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Doesn't the ABR1 have a different post spacing?
I think it may depend on the manufacturer, but 74mm seems pretty standard for tune-o-matic post spacing - I have a Gotoh ABR-1 type sitting on Nashville posts and it fits perfectly.
Another thought - Graphtech string saver saddles? They're a bit taller than the metal saddles. I put some on my The Paul and the strings are now clear of the back of the bridge. Only the two E strings were touching though, I'm not sure how low the Bigsby sits?
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The B7 has a tension bar wich means the strings are kept down more and are at a sharper angle. A Les Paul with a B7 really needs a rolling bridge or graphite saddles. Not only because the strings touch the back of the bridge but also because of potential tuning stability problems.
Guitars with a bridge on a base and a B6 don't have that problem. The angle and presure of the strings on the bridge are lower and the bridge wiggles along a bit with the vibrato.
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I think I'm going a drastic yet the best option. Plug those holes in and install a ABR-1 bridge with titanium saddles....
A good friend of mine is an excelent luthier and he'd do it for me gladlywhen he finds some time....
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I think I'm going a drastic yet the best option. Plug those holes in and install a ABR-1 bridge with titanium saddles....
Before you go for drastic surgery, why not try the ABR-1 on the Nashville posts? It worked fine on my V.
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Suppose it would be cheaper to play with alternative bridges rather than go in for guitar surgery so quickly?
Just my opinion, but I always find it a bit weird seeing the two filled holes of a bigsby removed. Doesit affect the value?
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I think I'm going a drastic yet the best option. Plug those holes in and install a ABR-1 bridge with titanium saddles....
Before you go for drastic surgery, why not try the ABR-1 on the Nashville posts? It worked fine on my V.
I'll try although the bridge might wobble a bit... oh well if it does hopelessly I'll go on with the "drastic" option. I'll keep you posted......
;)
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I have a Gibson LP-295 (Les Paul goldtop with a factory installed Bigsby).
The strings touch the back of the tune-o-matic bridge as supplied by Gibson. This has graphtech saddles standard, so I would not consider this as a fix!
I am considering having a reduced diameter tension bar machined up for the bigsby, which would reduce the angle on the strings back onto the bridge.
But you know, I really don't think it matters a lot. This guitar sounds incredible, and holds tune very well.
I think the main drawback of this issue is restricted range of the Bigsby, but how much? Couldn't be sure.