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Author Topic: Any good fixed bridges?  (Read 10275 times)

vassilis

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Any good fixed bridges?
« on: July 26, 2006, 11:36:50 AM »
Hello,

I am turning my guitar's (10-year-old Ibanez RG-270) bridge to fixed. I am looking for a good, top-loading (not body-through) F-spaced bridge. I was about to get a Schaller 3D-6 (http://www.schaller-guitarparts.de/1219.htm) but I read that the rollers that adjust the string spacing, move around easily when you change the strings and you got to adjust them each time... I don't like that, and I want a bridge that would not need adjusting so frequently.

Could anyone suggest a good fixed, top-loading, f-spaced bridge?

Thanx!

CaffeineJunkie

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Any good fixed bridges?
« Reply #1 on: July 26, 2006, 08:22:16 PM »
dunno if it's F-spaced or not but the tune-o-matic bridge is pretty much the best you can get for hardtails
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vassilis

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Any good fixed bridges?
« Reply #2 on: July 26, 2006, 08:49:00 PM »
I think that most tune-o-matic bridges, since it is Gibson's creation, are s-spaced. Also, the angle that the neck is adjusted to the body is different than the fender-style guitars. So I'd have to change that angle if I chose a tune-o-matic fixed bridge. Also the pups should be all changed to s-spaced (right?). Abd thare are no s-spaced single coils.

The tune-o-matic option indeed crossed my mind. But after I took in account the above, but also the thought that perhaps a heavy fender-style bridge would possibly add more susstain than the tune-o-matic, and the guitar would need less overal modifications, I dropped the option. Especially the thought that I would have to change the angle of the neck, scares me a lot...

However, even after a lot of web searching, I cannot find the f-spaced bridge that I want  :(

Should I use a tune-o-matic after all? :?

deg0ey

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« Reply #3 on: July 26, 2006, 09:00:22 PM »
Well, get a strat style hardtail...they're easy enough to use, although they are string thru - so that doesn't fill your requerements there.

I don't think you're gonna be able to find something f spaced and hardtail that isn't string thru...
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FELINEGUITARS

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Any good fixed bridges?
« Reply #4 on: July 26, 2006, 11:31:36 PM »
The schaller bridge is excellant for a top loader- I do recommend it
The rollers dont move around that much
You have to be pretty cr@p / ham-fisted to move them around when changing strings. The ability to space the roller so tht the strings line up over the polepieces is great and you can customise to suit your picking style too.
It's smooth and nice on the hand too.
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vassilis

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Any good fixed bridges?
« Reply #5 on: July 27, 2006, 12:36:32 AM »
Thanx jonathan! I'm taking in account your opinion very seriously, cause you've used it and you're a guitar builder. While I was happy to buy the 3D-6 I got dissapointed from the negative review I read from a 3D-6 owner and I thought that the rollers would be moving around each time I change strigs (nightmare!). One of the reasons I'm switching from tremolo to fixed bridge is that I don't want to spend so much time in adjusting the guitar, and above all I don't need a tremolo that much.

I found another fixed, top-loader bridge that seemed good, except one very negative review!
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Custom-Shop-Parts-Hot-Rod-Drop-Top-Convertible-Bridge?sku=361537
What do you think of that one?

After the initial dissapointentment with the 3D-6 bridge, I was thinking if I should actually turn to tune-o-matic bridge... What do you think? Would the different angle cause a problem to the guitar neck, that would need messing with the truss rod? What about sustain, are the hard tail bridges better that the tune-o-matic ones in this subject?
I found a really good part that I like, and it is also f-spaced.
http://www.warmoth.com/hardware/bridges/bridges.cfm?fuseaction=bridges_schaller_456
Are the tune-o-matic bridges that come on two parts better than the ones that come in one part, like the one obove?

Sorry for asking so many questions, but I don't have money to spend for sth that will cause more problems... Everybody thanx for the feedback!

FELINEGUITARS

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« Reply #6 on: July 27, 2006, 10:16:05 AM »
Doesn't the guitar have a tremolo now?
It's fairly complex to fit a hardtail where a trem once was
Especially a recessed Floyd
Post a photo if you have one

I fear that the tunomatic will not work
The string height will be all wrong and will give you high action - unless you opt for surgery

Lets see where you are starting from before fantasizing which bridge to use
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deg0ey

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« Reply #7 on: July 27, 2006, 10:40:54 AM »
I got the impression (as he mentioned f spacing and single coils) that it's a strat style guitar, and as such has a vintage style trem...Easier to replace than a FR, but still not a task I would want to undertake
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Sifu Ben

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« Reply #8 on: July 27, 2006, 12:36:53 PM »
The RG 270 has a Floyd. As for neck angle, if the floyd isn't recessed it should have a neck angle anyway.
 You're best bet is sumply to block off the Trem with something like the Tremel-no, as anything else is likely to be expecnsive and complicated.
 Those one piece tun-a-matics are designed to retrofit guitars with a wrapover style bridge like a PRS.
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vassilis

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« Reply #9 on: July 27, 2006, 01:35:11 PM »
Unforunately I currently don't have any pics... Maybe I'll use the web cam to take some close shots later on. In the meantime I found a pic from the web of an RG-270, my guitar has the same tremolo. It is a floating trem.

The whole procedure will be like:
remove ther tremolo, fill the empty space of the guitar with some wood (probably mahogany), and fit the fixed bridge on the same place. The guitar will be off-course repainted.
I don't know if I left out any steps of the procedure, cause I will not perform it :) but a friend of mine that has a custom shop here. I assume the neck would be detached during the procedure :)

So I'm trying to find the optimal choice for a bridge. I could also order for a new body from some better wood, but the costs would go up and I want to get a BK humbuker :)

I know it is more expensive than the tremel-no option, and I currently have the tremolo jammed with two pieces of wood, but I think that what I want to do is better :)

As far as the string action is concerned, I think it is about 4-5mm (distance of the strings from the fretboard at the 24th fret) and I don't want to set it higher than that.

Afghan Dave

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« Reply #10 on: July 28, 2006, 12:14:34 AM »
You basically want to do the same modifications as Paul Gilbert did to his early RGs.
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gingataff

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Any good fixed bridges?
« Reply #11 on: July 28, 2006, 02:17:41 PM »
I saw a pic recently of part of Gilberts guitar collection and there was one of the white f-hole rgs with a.... kahler!
maybe he decided to go back to a whammy bar and tried something different?
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