In which direction is the tuneomatic made to be installed?

[astrozombie]

I've seen so many different variations on the bridge and the only thing that I see that is noticeably different about them is the direction in which the intonation screws face. On most gibson guitars, I've seen the screws facing the neck. on other brands Ive seen the screws facing towards the butt of the guitar. is there any one right direction or could you place it either way if the saddles would acommodate the strings well?

 

[Pierre]

Re: In which direction is the tuneomatic made to be installed?

Intonation screws forward, I think.

Common sense; with them back, the strings could touch them. It's also a lot harder to intonate. Finally, just like the neck end of the nut is flat, so is the neck end of the saddle (though due to intonation issues such saddles are often changed backwards to gain travel).

I could be wrong. I know nothing of Tune-O-Matics and just thought of this logically.

 

[Varg]

Re: In which direction is the tuneomatic made to be installed?

Intonation screws forward, I think.

Common sense; with them back, the strings could touch them. It's also a lot harder to intonate.
I could be wrong. I know nothing of Tune-O-Matics and just thought of this logically.

I believe you are spot on.

 

[Bludave]

Re: In which direction is the tuneomatic made to be installed?

As long as you can intonate the guitar it won't matter. I've done it both ways. On occasions I have had to remove the "G" string saddle and flip it to get it to intonate properly and it doesn't matter which way the bridge is on.

I think the only reason is most people put the intonation screws pointing at the pickups is because they are easier to adjust.

 

[formula73]

Re: In which direction is the tuneomatic made to be installed?

Nashvilles are designed to have the screwheads face backwards and ABRs go towards the neck. I figured it was because ABR heads are bigger and protrude further out whereas on the newer bridges they made them smaller/lower profile, making it possible to intimate from the back, without the pup in the way.

 

[Surgeon]

Re: In which direction is the tuneomatic made to be installed?

Nashvilles are designed to have the screwheads face backwards and ABRs go towards the neck. I figured it was because ABR heads are bigger and protrude further out whereas on the newer bridges they made them smaller/lower profile, making it possible to intimate from the back, without the pup in the way.

right on... nashville and ABR's are "theoretically" opposite directions. It doesn't really matter though, as long as the strings don't touch it (another solution is to raise the tailpiece to avoid this).

 

[Redmist]

Re: In which direction is the tuneomatic made to be installed?

I don't think the strings could touch the screws no matter what way they face so long as the break angle to the bridge isn't too steep.

I'n the SG pic above, having the screws neck side would make them too hard to adjust because of the position of the pup and ring.

It really just depends on the guitar and preference.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: In which direction is the tuneomatic made to be installed?

It really just depends on the guitar and preference.

I agree, I've always based it on the specific instrument, for best access when adjusting the intonation and avoiding any fouling of the strings.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: In which direction is the tuneomatic made to be installed?

Whatever works is the way it's "supposed" to go.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: In which direction is the tuneomatic made to be installed?

It doesn't really matter as long as the saddles have the correct orientation. Formula is right though, Nashville/BR-EG toward the tailpiece, ABR/Tonepros/Gotoh toward the neck.

 

[cvansickle]

Re: In which direction is the tuneomatic made to be installed?

ABRs are originally from Kalamazoo, MI. The heads face "north." Nashville, TN, is south, so the heads face south on the Nashville bridges.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: In which direction is the tuneomatic made to be installed?

Unless you have backwards guitars, like several lefties on the forum.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: In which direction is the tuneomatic made to be installed?

For what it is worth, the original Gibson patent application drawings illustrate the adjustment screws facing towards the tailpiece.

It should also be noted that the patent application illustrates the ToM sitting on a wooden base of the sort used on cello-bodied Electric Spanish guitars. This would offer slightly more room for a screwdriver.