Hi everyone,
This is my first post on the forum in many years. I hope everyone is well.
I am trying to retrofit new hardware on an older import guitar. I thought I would post my thoughts here. I am not sure if the small differences in measurement will matter but, if they do, I would appreciate you guys letting me know.
I am swapping out the hardware on a 1996 Jackson Kelly Professional--a mid priced guitar that was made in Japan. It uses the Jackson JT580LP bridge, also called the TRS-101 and made by Takeuchi.
I stick with upgrading imported Jacksons, especially Kellys, because I prefer bolt ons and to my knowledge most USA/upper range Kellys are neck throughs. Everything else is bolt on with cheaper hardware.
However, as you all know, upgrading a licensed bridge can be a trial and error process.
I have made several observations about the JT580LP bridge:
1) In design, it is like a Floyd Rose Pro in that there are no saddle bolts sticking out the back. It is slightly wider than an OFR bridge. However, it is shorter front to back than an OFR.
If I need to retrofit a bridge, I think a Schaller (non-Lockmeister) bridge would be my best bet, especially if the guitar is detuned and the saddles have to be moved back to intonate it properly.
2) Jackson told me they use R3 nuts. The JT580LP nut measures 1.6875", the same as an R3 nut. However, in height it measures about .224" or 5.7 mm, which is closer to an R2 nut.
Floyd does make this size--it is called an R8. I do not think it is very common relative to R2-R3.
Schaller only makes R2-R3 nuts.
Gotoh nuts look closer in size to the R8--especially the GHL-2. However, it has a 400 mm radius compared to the 254 mm radius of the OFR.
Jackson neck radii tend to be 12"-16" compound.
Conclusions:
1) I would be best off using a Schaller (non-Lockmeister) trem if the guitar is going to be detuned because there will be more room for the saddle screws.
2) I would be best off using an OFR R8 nut so that I do not have to have the R3 nut ground down as I did with the R3 nut I tried (I did not know R8 existed then).
3) I am sticking with the original import posts/screws. They are narrower than the OFR/Schaller ones. The OFR I have tried so far has not been affected by the import screws save perhaps wiggling a bit more on the knife edges. I do not think this should not be an issue once everything is at playing tension.
4) Might there be an incompatibility between the Schaller bridge and OFR nut in terms of radius? I would think not since I have looked at schematics for both bridges and they appear to be the same aside from the Schaller being slightly smaller overall. Additionally the Schaller knife edges may be smaller in circumference due to the removable knife edges. This may work well with the smaller import screws.
Here are charts if you need them:
OFR: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/17...f?v=1629814484
Schaller: https://schaller.info/media/pdf/34/53/6c/TZ_1302.pdf
Thanks,
Aaron
This is my first post on the forum in many years. I hope everyone is well.
I am trying to retrofit new hardware on an older import guitar. I thought I would post my thoughts here. I am not sure if the small differences in measurement will matter but, if they do, I would appreciate you guys letting me know.
I am swapping out the hardware on a 1996 Jackson Kelly Professional--a mid priced guitar that was made in Japan. It uses the Jackson JT580LP bridge, also called the TRS-101 and made by Takeuchi.
I stick with upgrading imported Jacksons, especially Kellys, because I prefer bolt ons and to my knowledge most USA/upper range Kellys are neck throughs. Everything else is bolt on with cheaper hardware.
However, as you all know, upgrading a licensed bridge can be a trial and error process.
I have made several observations about the JT580LP bridge:
1) In design, it is like a Floyd Rose Pro in that there are no saddle bolts sticking out the back. It is slightly wider than an OFR bridge. However, it is shorter front to back than an OFR.
If I need to retrofit a bridge, I think a Schaller (non-Lockmeister) bridge would be my best bet, especially if the guitar is detuned and the saddles have to be moved back to intonate it properly.
2) Jackson told me they use R3 nuts. The JT580LP nut measures 1.6875", the same as an R3 nut. However, in height it measures about .224" or 5.7 mm, which is closer to an R2 nut.
Floyd does make this size--it is called an R8. I do not think it is very common relative to R2-R3.
Schaller only makes R2-R3 nuts.
Gotoh nuts look closer in size to the R8--especially the GHL-2. However, it has a 400 mm radius compared to the 254 mm radius of the OFR.
Jackson neck radii tend to be 12"-16" compound.
Conclusions:
1) I would be best off using a Schaller (non-Lockmeister) trem if the guitar is going to be detuned because there will be more room for the saddle screws.
2) I would be best off using an OFR R8 nut so that I do not have to have the R3 nut ground down as I did with the R3 nut I tried (I did not know R8 existed then).
3) I am sticking with the original import posts/screws. They are narrower than the OFR/Schaller ones. The OFR I have tried so far has not been affected by the import screws save perhaps wiggling a bit more on the knife edges. I do not think this should not be an issue once everything is at playing tension.
4) Might there be an incompatibility between the Schaller bridge and OFR nut in terms of radius? I would think not since I have looked at schematics for both bridges and they appear to be the same aside from the Schaller being slightly smaller overall. Additionally the Schaller knife edges may be smaller in circumference due to the removable knife edges. This may work well with the smaller import screws.
Here are charts if you need them:
OFR: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/17...f?v=1629814484
Schaller: https://schaller.info/media/pdf/34/53/6c/TZ_1302.pdf
Thanks,
Aaron
Comment