Has changing a guitar bridge ever truly made the axe sound better?

[dystrust]

Re: Has changing a guitar bridge ever truly made the axe sound better?

I've tried ABR converter posts on 3 of my Gibsons, and there was a noticeable change on all of them. On my Les Paul it reduced the low mids a bit (a good thing) and really helped with clarity overall. OTOH it made my Explorer sound like thin, nasal crap. My SG actually sounded good with both the Nashville and ABR, but I like the little bit of extra fullness that the Nashville lends to the single coil tones from the P-Rails.

It isn't a bridge, but I have lightweight tailpieces on all of my Gibsons that don't have a Bigsby. I don't notice a huge difference with overdriven tones, but it lends a nice clarity and chime to cleaner tones.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Has changing a guitar bridge ever truly made the axe sound better?

I changed the TOM on my SG, an LP Studio and an Epiphone Casino to nylon saddle type and it changed the sustain and tone notably - reduced sustain notably and gave the hollowbody a slightly darker vintage tone while sounded slightly thinner on the LP; it was a good change. I also replaced the saddles on a MIM Strat with graphtech and it increased the sustain and darkened the tone a bit. I replaced a 70's Badass bridge kit on my '66 Strat for a period-correct Fender bridge kit and sustain weakened notably but not the tone.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Has changing a guitar bridge ever truly made the axe sound better?

Yes, it has in my opinion. I'm picky about ehight and intonation so I have replaced 2 and 3-barrel bridges on guitars and bass's which has made a world of difference. Improving the bridge or at least the saddles can also improve energy transfer to the body which improves tone. An improved bridge can also help with string breakage and tuning instability. I have also drilled for ferrules and that has made string changes a lot easier. Although I wouldn't put a $300 bridge on a $150 guitar when you can find some Chinese ebay knockoff for less.

 

[Chickenwing]

Re: Has changing a guitar bridge ever truly made the axe sound better?

I have not got any guitars that i have not replaced or modified the bridge on (apart from a partscaster that began life with the bridge i wanted).
Fenders, gibsons, acoustics, basses. You name it. Bridges make a big difference.

 

[Jeffblue]

Re: Has changing a guitar bridge ever truly made the axe sound better?

Yep.......brass roller bridge as well as a brass tailpiece on my Gibson Les Paul Supreme, excellent upgrade.

 

[Exojam]

Re: Has changing a guitar bridge ever truly made the axe sound better?

How are Schaller parts? Looking at their roller saddle for my Jackson RRXT but have not read much about them. Thanks.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Has changing a guitar bridge ever truly made the axe sound better?

I put Alparts rollers on 3 of my LP TOM bridges

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: Has changing a guitar bridge ever truly made the axe sound better?

How are Schaller parts? Looking at their roller saddle for my Jackson RRXT but have not read muchmabout them. Thanks.

Very high quality, from my experiences.


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[Exojam]

Re: Has changing a guitar bridge ever truly made the axe sound better?

Thank you guys.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Has changing a guitar bridge ever truly made the axe sound better?

I have NEVER done it. But I KNOW that it absolutely does. It probably doesn't change as much, or as often as many say....but it absolutely can.


Most important thing I can say here: YMMV

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Has changing a guitar bridge ever truly made the axe sound better?

Mechanical solidity is the main thing that 's important IME. The bridge needs to be able to stay where you set it, and the components need to stay tight enough to avoid rattling. The cheesier the guitar was originally, the more it tends to benefit in that area when you replace hardware with "better" stuff.

The engineering needs to be somewhat well thought out and well executed too. For example, compare the minor engineering and build differences (that go a long way) between the front bevel of a MIM Strat vibrato vs. a Callaham, or even an AVRI/AV/AO Strat vibrato. The MIM is beveled at a point that creates tuning issues (engineering), and it isn't smoothly cast on the bevel (execution). Callahan and AVRI/AV/AO bridge are better in terms of this, even though the diffrence is invisible once it's installed.

For another example, look at how often Gibson bridges (of all eras) lose their radius over time. It happened on my Les Paul Standard well within 10 years. I didn't know what I was missing until I put a well engineered and well built piece of hardware on the thing. The original bridge worked, and didn't significantly hinder me...but the well built one is solid and luxurious. I'm pretty sure it will always do its job properly, and won't ever need to be replaced.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Has changing a guitar bridge ever truly made the axe sound better?

Yes

Swapped around bridges between partscasters & was surprised

 

[InbredJunk]

Re: Has changing a guitar bridge ever truly made the axe sound better?

I once swapped a tune o matic on an epiphone for a babicz model. It made a large difference in sound. Smoothed out the low end and focused the mids a bit better. The magic happened in the highs. Before, they were shrill and lacked any kind of definition. After, the highs were more subdued, and harmonically rich. Very much an improvement if you ask me. It did not make a noticeable difference in sustain, but the note separation and clarity was worth the bacon.

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[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Has changing a guitar bridge ever truly made the axe sound better?

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[kramersteen]

Re: Has changing a guitar bridge ever truly made the axe sound better?

For another example, look at how often Gibson bridges (of all eras) lose their radius over time. It happened on my Les Paul Standard well within 10 years. I didn't know what I was missing until I put a well engineered and well built piece of hardware on the thing. The original bridge worked, and didn't significantly hinder me...but the well built one is solid and luxurious. I'm pretty sure it will always do its job properly, and won't ever need to be replaced.

What part of the bridge failed for it to change the radius over time?

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Has changing a guitar bridge ever truly made the axe sound better?

What part of the bridge failed for it to change the radius over time?

TOM type bridges have been known to sag in the middle of their span after years under tension. That's one of the primary reasons why Gibson switched to the Nashville type bridge, with a more robust chassis that won't become swaybacked over time.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Has changing a guitar bridge ever truly made the axe sound better?

In my experience, absolutely. I had a Les Paul copy back in the early 70s. It had one of those TOM bridges with nylon saddles. I replaced it with a heavy brass Stars bridge. I actually hated the sound of the brass! Too warm. Lost all the snap.

Wait a minute!
You're saying that the nylon saddles were brighter and had more snap than brass?!!!

I think you're losing a little credibility with this one.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Has changing a guitar bridge ever truly made the axe sound better?

How are Schaller parts? Looking at their roller saddle for my Jackson RRXT but have not read much about them. Thanks.

Schaller roller bridges are absolutely excellent. Plus string spacing adjustability.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Has changing a guitar bridge ever truly made the axe sound better?

Ive changed a Big Brass Block on my OFR with good results.

I have a large Brass Block on my Fender Strat.

The Floyd Rail Tail seems cool, dive only with the benefits of a hardtail. I don't like the $250 price tho.

Why dive only? Loosen your springs and it can be set up for full floating.

And what do you mean by "benefits of a hard tail"? Even if it is dive only, you DON'T have the benefits of a hardtail! (Unless you have your springs adjusted so tight that you can barely even move the trem without standing on the trem arm).

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Has changing a guitar bridge ever truly made the axe sound better?

This whole thing is nonsense, unless you are replacing a physically damaged bridge with a new one. That's a good thing and worth the time/money/effort.

It won't make a guitar sound "better", however! It MAY make a guitar sound "different". One person's "better" is to make the guitar sound brighter (for example). Another person's "better" is to make his guitar sound more mellow and less harsh/bright.

As far as sustain goes...BS! You'd need an oscilloscope to determine that. And even if it DID increase sustain, so what. You wouldn't notice it in real-world playing, especially when amplified or using any effects. Plus, excessive sustain is usually a BAD thing.


All those who swear by their $500 bridges are saving face. I've used MANY quality and MANY cheap bridges and as far as quality of components and smoother or better function is concerned, yes, by all means change your bridge. But as far as improving tone (or any specific aspect of tone) is concerned...generally that's hogwash. It's like saying a '59 has better tone than an Invader...or a Demon has better tone than a Jazz.

"Different" yes. Definitely!