T.O.M. Bridge Questions...

[Nostalgic Distortion]

I recently bought myself a beautiful 02 Gibson L.P. Special off forum bro. DankStar. While the guitar is nearly perfect in every way (Thanks again Mr. Star) the bridge saddles are a little bit on the rough side? This is unfortunately affecting the playability and probably the tone as well?

View attachment 74327
PRETTY GIBBY!!!!

Anyway, it's definitely not the end of the world & for what I paid I'm definitely still very happy with the purchase but I'm a little conflicted about what to do with the bridge? My first thought was to buy a new Graph Tech NV2 Resomax 4mm bridge, it would run me about $60-$70 but it would also drop right in without me having to mess with changing the posts.

Then there's the Graph Tech String Saver saddles & also the Graph Tech Tusq saddles. These would only run me $20-$30 but they would require a little more work. My only concern there is I've never had to change T.O.M. saddles before & I have absolutely no idea how to do it? I know it's not supposed to be very hard and with a Nashville Bridge there's some kind of clip on the screws. That's about it though?

So I guess what I'm actually asking is whether I should just go ahead and get the whole thing with the saddles already pre-installed or if I should save some some money & just get new saddles for the original bridge that I already have?

If just the saddles are the general consensus, & I think they will be? I'd love to hear some thoughts about the two pre-mentioned types of Graph Tech saddles! Just the pros vs the cons, tonal qualities of each of them, Etc.....

THANKS!!!!

 

[Demanic]

Re: T.O.M. Bridge Questions...

I'd just spend the extra for the pre assembled bridge and save myself the hassle of changing the saddles.

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[astrozombie]

Re: T.O.M. Bridge Questions...

I'd just spend the extra for the pre assembled bridge and save myself the hassle of changing the saddles.

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and what a hassle it is!!

 

[LtKojak]

Re: T.O.M. Bridge Questions...

Ithe bridge saddles are a little bit on the rough side? This is unfortunately affecting the playability and probably the tone as well?

Please, post a close-up picture of the saddles. I find this very hard to believe.

Well?

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: T.O.M. Bridge Questions...

Please, post a close-up picture of the saddles. I find this very hard to believe.

Well?

Honestly I really don't want to go pull the bridge to take a picture. I've got like a half dozen kids at my house right now and way too much to do!

Basically it's a just a Bumped Notched Nashville bridge but each of the saddles has 2-4 notches in it. The problem that I'm having is mostly with the treble strings, they sometimes slip into a different notch while I'm playing, especially if I get a little aggressive. Depending on what notch they fall into I sometimes get a little buzz/rattle on a few of the frets?

I guess I could just raise the action slightly but if I could, I'd like to keep it low, remedy the problems I'm having, & maybe get better resonance through the saddles. Although, I'm not entirely sure how much of that is true & what's just sales pitch B.S.???

 

[Southbound Suarez]

Re: T.O.M. Bridge Questions...

Sounds like the nut was filed for a specific string gauge set, for which you are not using.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: T.O.M. Bridge Questions...

it's a just a Bumped Notched Nashville bridge but each of the saddles has 2-4 notches in it. The problem that I'm having is mostly with the treble strings, they sometimes slip into a different notch while I'm playing, especially if I get a little aggressive.

The solution is to file away the notches and make new ones.

Easy peasy!

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: T.O.M. Bridge Questions...

Ehh, I just ended up getting a new Graph Tech bridge with the String Saver Saddles already installed. The original isn't going anywhere so if I try this & I don't think there's a notable difference in tone & texture I'll just return it? If it doesn't jell I'll either file down the current saddles like you suggested or I think I've got a Gotoh 6mm import bridge laying around that I could steal the saddles off of as well? I could actually just use that bridge but I'm not crazy about changing the posts. This will drop right on my current ones & then it will just need another setup....

 

[Demanic]

Re: T.O.M. Bridge Questions...

I think you're going to like it.

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[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: T.O.M. Bridge Questions...

I think you're going to like it.

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Have you tried them?

 

[Demanic]

Re: T.O.M. Bridge Questions...

I have them in three of my guitars and love them. As I recall, putting them in a tone pro style bridge was a bit of a pain and I actually broke one of them requiring me to get a new set. I definitely noticed an increase in sustain and harmonics.

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[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: T.O.M. Bridge Questions...

I have them in three of my guitars and love them. As I recall, putting them in a tone pro style bridge was a bit of a pain and I actually broke one of them requiring me to get a new set. I definitely noticed an increase in sustain and harmonics.

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Nice, I definitely look forward to giving them a shot!!!

I've got this Love/Hate thing going on with the stock pickups and that might be part of this but I honestly feel like the bridge & those saddles are holding the guitar back right now. I know some of you you guys would dismiss that as Hogwash & B.S. but I guess we'll just have to wait & see?

As for the pickups (490/498) it kinda seems a shame to change them at this point, & they just look gorgeous! Considering it's a 02 the thing is in beautiful shape!!! That said I've never been super impressed with the 490/498 set, especially the neck and I'm seriously considering at least replaceing that with a Phat Cat.

LOL, of course once I do that I'll probably end up changing the bridge 2 weeks later....

 

[dystrust]

Re: T.O.M. Bridge Questions...

Nice, I definitely look forward to giving them a shot!!!

I've got this Love/Hate thing going on with the stock pickups and that might be part of this but I honestly feel like the bridge & those saddles are holding the guitar back right now. I know some of you you guys would dismiss that as Hogwash & B.S. but I guess we'll just have to wait & see?

As for the pickups (490/498) it kinda seems a shame to change them at this point, & they just look gorgeous! Considering it's a 02 the thing is in beautiful shape!!! That said I've never been super impressed with the 490/498 set, especially the neck and I'm seriously considering at least replaceing that with a Phat Cat.

LOL, of course once I do that I'll probably end up changing the bridge 2 weeks later....

You could always take a page out of Blueman's book and swap magnets between them. I hear it vastly improves the 490/498 set, and it only costs a little bit of time.

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: T.O.M. Bridge Questions...

You could always take a page out of Blueman's book and swap magnets between them. I hear it vastly improves the 490/498 set, and it only costs a little bit of time.

I think if I'm going to mod the guitar I'd probably just install one of my favorite L.P. sets? Probably a SH-14/59N or SH-14/Phat Cat set with Zebra bobbins?

That way if I ever decide to sell it I can revert it back to stock with minimal effort. It doesn't have a quick connect system so its just a couple little joints and I solder well enough that unless you really looked you'd never know they had been pulled at all....