Correct location of tune-o-matic bridge?

[Philly Q]

Probable stupid question, but I want to be 100% sure.  Wez?  Jonathan?


The T-O-M bridge of one of my guitars is quite noticeably off-centre so the strings aren't properly aligned on the neck.  I'd like to re-locate it.

Now, I know T-O-Ms are generally angled to give enough intonation range (apart from Carvins and maybe a few others).  Despite that, does the guitar's centre line still go through the dead centre of the bridge?

It seems to me that it should, because surely all you're doing is rotating it slightly around the centre axis to get the angle?  But looking at my actual guitars, the bridges sometimes seem to be offset ever-so-slightly towards the treble side.  I can't think why they should be - is it just an optical illusion?

[FELINEGUITARS]

The T-O-M bridge of one of my guitars is quite noticeably off-centre so the strings aren't properly aligned on the neck.  I'd like to re-locate it.

Now, I know T-O-Ms are generally angled to give enough intonation range (apart from Carvins and maybe a few others).  Despite that, does the guitar's centre line still go through the dead centre of the bridge?

Yes!
Straight through the middle
Before you remove the old one , set the intonation, measure where the intonation line falls and  allow yourself to also slightly improve the placement of the bridge that way as well.
Make it so the saddles will kind of be in the middle with the intonation set ok

[Philly Q]

Thanks Jonathan, I just wanted to be absolutely sure!  :)

Good tip about the intonation, I'll check it before I do anything.  I'm probably going to replace the existing ABR-1 type with a TonePros AVR-II, but they're the same size so the intonation settings should be about the same.

[avdekan]

I'm thinking that if the bridge is slightly offset to the treble side that's because the treble string is much thinner than the bass string, so the distance from the string's edge to the side of the fretboard is identical in the bass and treble and not the string-core to the fretboard's edge. asthetics.
If the nus is also slotted assymetrically that way then it makes sense. 

[Philly Q]

I'm thinking that if the bridge is slightly offset to the treble side that's because the treble string is much thinner than the bass string, so the distance from the string's edge to the side of the fretboard is identical in the bass and treble and not the string-core to the fretboard's edge. asthetics.
If the nus is also slotted assymetrically that way then it makes sense. 

You're right, but I can't drill that accurately!  :lol:  I'll work on the centre line and see where I end up.

[WezV]

is it really so ofset that the bridge needs moving.  personally if its only slightly out of line i would just be replacing the saddles with unslotted ones and putting my own slots in them slightly of centre.

anyway, bridge location, bang in the centre as jonathan says

a few notes from stew-mac on TOM set-up and (string spacing)
http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/Bridges/Installation/i-4557.html

the stew-mac fret calculator also has measurements for bridge location
http://www.stewmac.com/FretCalculator

if you have a laser pen or anything with a little laser on it you can use it to check string alignment quite easily

[Philly Q]

is it really so ofset that the bridge needs moving.  personally if its only slightly out of line i would just be replacing the saddles with unslotted ones and putting my own slots in them slightly of centre.

Yeah, I've considered that, but it's wonky enough that the saddle slots would have to be really noticeably skewed to the bass side.  It'd work, but I'm fussy. :roll:

In any case, I'm planning to change the posts from this type:



To this type, so I might as well get the location right since I'm drilling anyway:

[FELINEGUITARS]

is it really so ofset that the bridge needs moving.  personally if its only slightly out of line i would just be replacing the saddles with unslotted ones and putting my own slots in them slightly of centre.

Yeah, I've considered that, but it's wonky enough that the saddle slots would have to be really noticeably skewed to the bass side.  It'd work, but I'm fussy. :roll:

In any case, I'm planning to change the posts from this type:



Philly - if you are changing to the newer style post, we have those tonepro models in stock. Closer to the Nashville/Schaller type bridge- really good as it happens!

To this type, so I might as well get the location right since I'm drilling anyway:

[Philly Q]

Philly - if you are changing to the newer style post, we have those tonepro models in stock. Closer to the Nashville/Schaller type bridge- really good as it happens!

Thanks Jonathan, but I've already got several TonePros bridges which I bought for other guitars which have since been sold!  I have two of the pre-notched Nashville types (T3BP?) and two AVR-IIs.

I'm going to use the AVR-II for the vintage look, but with the Nashville-style posts.  I've done that before and it works really well.  Looks tidy too because you don't have the issue of the vintage posts being too short or too tall.

It may just be one of my hare-brained ideas, but supplying the vintage style posts with the AVR-II seems illogical.  The bridge is fixed in place by the two grub screws so the thumbwheels can move quite freely and rattle - which is at odds with the TonePros principle of locking everything in place!  :?  :P

[FELINEGUITARS]

I agree with you on that....
We keep an AVR  II in stock for vintage guys but prefer the other type mountings

[Philly Q]

I agree with you on that....
We keep an AVR  II in stock for vintage guys but prefer the other type mountings

Do you think the type of mounting affects the tone much?  It seems to me that the vintage style posts sound brighter/snappier, and the modern posts + anchors round the tone a little bit.  But I may be imagining it.

[FELINEGUITARS]

I agree with you on that....
We keep an AVR  II in stock for vintage guys but prefer the other type mountings

Do you think the type of mounting affects the tone much?  It seems to me that the vintage style posts sound brighter/snappier, and the modern posts + anchors round the tone a little bit.  But I may be imagining it.

Yes - could be true
They reckon that you lose a little bit with every extra component part
In theory the ultimate tone sucker is a Kahler trem - way too many parts