tune-o-matic bridges for les paul. graphite or roller??

[dudelove]

i just installed a bigsby onto my les paul

and because of it, the break angle of the strings passing through the TOM bridge becomes very steep. causing one extra friction point, hence, tuning problems.

is it possible to get saddles that were taller? so that i can lower the bridge, so the strings do not touch?

or get this:
http://store.guitarfetish.com/wibrrobrlost2.html

i'm going to beez to get my guitar properly set up, and get the nut cut and lubricated properly.

now i need advice on the bridge. will changing the TOM bridge to roller or graphite bridges do anything to the guitars tone?

because ppl have been telling me that they do, and in a negative way. so i really dont know which direction to go.

i'm hoping that i can get tuning stabilily AND as little alteration of tone as possible. is this achievable?

 

[Whitestrat]

i just installed a bigsby onto my les paul

and because of it, the break angle of the strings passing through the TOM bridge becomes very steep. causing one extra friction point, hence, tuning problems.

I think the key problem here is the Bigsby. It's an ancient and crude design. It looks cool, but hardly functions for a tremolo because the range of depression isn't very wide either. If you wanted a more efficient trem, I think the Schaller or the Stetsbar might have been a better and reversible choice.

Even if you do change to graphtechs, they are still an additional friction point, and I think the problem, though reduced, will still occur.

How about some standard lubrication on your stock saddles to begin with to try?

 

[dudelove]

agreed. but, the thing i dont get it is, if the b7 that was meant to be fitted onto a les paul, and if it is already proven here to have a design flaw, why do gibson, gretsch still put them on their guitars?

the 1957 historic has a bigsby, gibson and gretsch do it. neil young is one of the best examples of putting a bigsby on his les paul. why do they still do it? apparently, they must have found a way to solve those problems. neil young "dive bombs" on his bigsby. no problem. he uses stock saddles i believe.

whitestrat, if u look carefully at this:

doesnt this solve the problem of that extra contact point?

what i'm concerned abt this bridge is the change in tone. which is the reason why many ppl are against the roller bridges. and i dont know why too.. i just dont want to solve one problem and create another.

 

[Whitestrat]

doesnt this solve the problem of that extra contact point?

I don't know how they sorted out those problems, but Bigsbys look damn cool.

But yes, this bridge DOES look like it will solve your problems...

Forget the "suck tone" bit. A good guitar is a good guitar. Either it rocks, or it doesn't. Make it playable. The player will do the rest.:mrgreen:

I personally would prefer metal to graphite. Personal preference... My own demons. Heh.

 

[dudelove]

I personally would prefer metal to graphite. Personal preference... My own demons. Heh.

care to share why?? haha

 

[Everdying]

roller saddles are the preferred ones.
as for the break angle over the bridge, u would need to place a shim under the bigsby.

also u have to understand that the 50/60s gibson bridges, ie. the abr-1, are much narrower than the current nashville tune-o-matics which is why they can do it.

so yea, finding roller saddles on a narrower bridge is the optimum, but dont discount the possibility of a shim just to have a straighter break angle.

 

[Whitestrat]

care to share why?? haha

Graphite is carbon. Very smooth, but I somehow can't get around the thinking that metal is better for sound conductivity. Like I said, personal demons.

I have a friend who SWEARS by graphtech saddles. But then again, he plays real 60s vintage strat pups, which are sometimes very bright. I think he uses the darker factor of the saddles to compensate. He also plays through a Marshall stack professionally, so I think it works well with his setup.

Not my thing though...

 

[dudelove]

okay man. thanks alot for the advise. very hard to make a decision when the ppl on tgp all give different advise.

 

[dudelove]

r
also u have to understand that the 50/60s gibson bridges, ie. the abr-1, are much narrower than the current nashville tune-o-matics which is why they can do it.

narrower in what way?

 

[malicedoll]

any idea where can i get a stetsbar for a stop tail ?

 

[Whitestrat]

any idea where can i get a stetsbar for a stop tail ?

uhh... online?:mrgreen:

 

[dudelove]

hmm whitestrat, would u suggest, i get my nut properly and expertly cut by a guitar tech,

or

buy a better higher quality nut such as the TUSQ nut and do the same thing?

also, what should i use for lubrication on the bridge? other lubes other than the big bends nut sauce?

 

[theblueark]

I installed a bigsby onto my superstrat about a year or 2 ago. I'm using these rollers http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges...e-o-matic_bridges/Schaller_Roller_Bridge.html

I set mine up for my F-spaced guitar though, you need to check the measurements for which bridge will be suitable for your les paul.

They're working great, the only tone change I had was that I had a stronger tone, probably cos the bridge is sturdier than the floyd rose that was originally on it. I have seen a youtube ages ago of a guy who changed his tele bridge to a bigsby with a demo showing that the tone is stronger with the bigsby. Maybe if you search you can find it too.

 

[Whitestrat]

hmm whitestrat, would u suggest, i get my nut properly and expertly cut by a guitar tech,

or

buy a better higher quality nut such as the TUSQ nut and do the same thing?

also, what should i use for lubrication on the bridge? other lubes other than the big bends nut sauce?

Tone-wise, Gibson claims to use tone-friendly plastics. How true, I don't know, but my Slash GT doesn't seem to suffer from it.

Is there a problem with your nut slots? If no, then perhaps some graphite (read: pencil lead) would be enough. That's all I use, and my JP nor any of my trems seem to object. If the nut slots are catching, meaning they're too narrow, then yes, get them professionally done. I think Gibsons slot their nuts for 10s. Are you using a thicker gauge?

 

[gsonique]

..wear and tear is completely eliminated with rollers...that's why!

and yes the height needs to be tweaked to get the best breakaway angle...

how bout a bar bridge ?

 

[dudelove]

Is there a problem with your nut slots? If no, then perhaps some graphite (read: pencil lead) would be enough. That's all I use, and my JP nor any of my trems seem to object. If the nut slots are catching, meaning they're too narrow, then yes, get them professionally done. I think Gibsons slot their nuts for 10s. Are you using a thicker gauge?

aww damn. before i asked u that question, my nut already has graphite in the grooves from pencil lead, and i use 10s all the time. just that.. sometimes, but very rarely, i hear a "ping" sound when i bend or tune up the guitar.

 

[Whitestrat]

sometimes, but very rarely, i hear a "ping" sound when i bend or tune up the guitar.

Hard to tell where the source of the problem is without seeing/hearing the guitar. cound be your tuners? or nut? or saddles? so many issues. Get a pro to check it out.

 

[eclipze]

aww damn. before i asked u that question, my nut already has graphite in the grooves from pencil lead, and i use 10s all the time. just that.. sometimes, but very rarely, i hear a "ping" sound when i bend or tune up the guitar.

bro if u hear a "ping " when u bend or tune up your guitar... im sure the "ping" sound is come from your Nut graphite is soft material... i have plenty of graphite here... it easily break ... and i so dont use it
my 2 other guitars do sound "ping" when i bend the string , tune up the string to pitch on the tuning machine, play dive on tremolo.. and it comes from the NUT

i use a composite material on my axe... its hard and slippy ... when i do a dive on my trem ... it easily goes back in tune... i checked it with my digi-tuner
... though its a composite material but its different from Teflon like graphtec use... its harder and more durable.. if u want to try it i can give u 1 for free

and i'm planning to make some pcs nuts from this composite material for some fellow softies for free... and try it.. yes, i do really want u to try it, and not just keep it ....& do not sell/give it to anybody, and use it on your axe.. hehe preferably a serious and experienced player
to give me an objective opinion

and if some of u have ever use graphtec's TUSQ nut.. please try mine.. is it as good as TUSQ or not
... no need for lubricating etc, just file the slot, tune up , strum , bend , dive the trem, and hear..
please compare it and let me know 'bout your opinion