Buzz Feiten Tuning System

[DavidRees]

Anyone tried it? The ads used to say that Vai, Satriani, Carlton, Ford etc couldn’t live without it but their names seem conspicuously absent from the BFTS website now

[Matt77]

Had it and removed it
There's a few topics on it if you use the search
If you don't know the tuning offsets to use on the bridge intonation, you end up paying extra for a set-up or having it incorrectly set-up thus negating the effects of the system

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=13247.0

That said, it's not bad when set-up right

[DavidRees]

many thanks for this - I've had it on my guitar for a couple of years now and I'm still not sure -I recently invested in a Peterson tuner to see if that helped and it seemed to but that may be my ears adjusting to the £169 I spent on it and wanting it to sound better - okay some chords sound better [changing from E to A shape barre chords mid neck] but others don't and single string work I'm not so sure about as we all tend to add a bit of vibrato if its not quite there. As guitarists we all spend a lot of time looking for something and we often don't know what but I'm not convinced that, overall, this has improved my ear, my phrasing or my musical confidence

David

[FELINEGUITARS]

Personally I find the Earvana Compensated tuning system to be a better solution.

Once installed it requires little or nothing from the player and the results are very good.

So much so that I now instal it on all my customs unless asked otherwise (or they are Floyd Rose equipped)

[Philly Q]

Presumably with the Earvana you end up with slightly different offsets of the bridge saddles to get the intonation right?

If that's the case, is there ever a problem with the saddles having insufficient travel?

And another thought - would the Earvana work on something like an LP Junior, where the bridge has very little scope for intonation adjustment, or could it even make matters worse?

[DavidRees]

part of my curiosity that led me to having the system installed was the 'this is the greatest thing and my life has been changed forever' thing that publicised it - that, and with the apparent endorsement of the four iconic players above as set out in a number of magazine adverts at the time, led me to thinking 'well if they think it is great it must be'
wishful thinking and naivety on my part perhaps but I also notice that John Suhr is not setting his guitars up this way anymore, only offering it as an option - maybe issues of money and licensing are all involved? it would be nice to know - there are no perfect solutions but informed consumer choice is always welcome!
David

[Philly Q]

In the case of Suhr only offering it as an option, I suspect that's partly down to the fact that guitarists are, as always, die-hard traditionalists.  There probably is a cost aspect too.  Do Washburn still have the BFTS as standard on their US models?

I've always been intrigued by it, but never tried it.  I suspect my ears aren't sensitive enough to notice any difference.

[FELINEGUITARS]

Presumably with the Earvana you end up with slightly different offsets of the bridge saddles to get the intonation right?

If that's the case, is there ever a problem with the saddles having insufficient travel?

And another thought - would the Earvana work on something like an LP Junior, where the bridge has very little scope for intonation adjustment, or could it even make matters worse?

The typical intonation stagger (2 sets of 3) evens out somewhat with certain strings coming forwards
You don't usually have a problem with insufficient travel, unless the original positioning was a bit iffy to begin with
On a LP junior or guitar with a stoptail  bridge I think it would help  (unless the bridge has hard intonation ridges cast into the tailpiece like the ones below. A straight stopbar would be better




A pigtail or a Gotoh one with intonation would work fine

[DavidRees]

I know Feline has pitched in - many thanks - but wondering if any other forumites who are guitar makers/restorers have a view?
David

[Pete24v]

The BF thing came on my Boogie Street Washburn N4, that guitar does have the best tuning out of all my others. I do use the BF setting on my Peterson, I also like the GTR setting on the Peterson for all other guitars.

[Groove Cartel]

I have it on my Vanquish Custom and Classic. Its a standard on all their guitars.

It really works for me. The reason for this is because I play alongside a Hammond and sax and the sweetened tuning makes the guitar sit better. There was always certain areas on the neck with other guitars where I could never be perfectly in tune with the Hammond. Now I am, simple as that.