Tone pros TOM's: yay or nay???

Tone pros TOM's: yay or nay???

  • Yay

    Votes: 21 67.7%

  • Nay

    Votes: 10 32.3%
  • Total voters
    31
Mr Wolf

Mr Wolf

New member
Hi all,

Simple question... beyond not having to worry about bridge components flying about during bouts of aggressive string changing what is the general consensus on the claimed tonal advantages over standard units? They are certainly a good deal pricier than non locking variants so I am interested to know whether there is any benefit.

Many thanks in advance.
 
Re: Tone pros TOM's: yay or nay???

Sustain was markedly better than whatever came on my Epi Dot, but if this was due to better material and construction or the locking part I couldn't say. There was more room to intonate as well.
 
Re: Tone pros TOM's: yay or nay???

When I had my Gibson SG, I changed the bridge to a TonePros. At least with my experience, there was a huge difference in sustain and playability.
 
Re: Tone pros TOM's: yay or nay???

Wow I haven't posted on this forum in ages...I love this forum, it's the one that started it all for me tone'hounding and gassing for stuff...hmm in hindsight maybe I also hate this forum hahaha damn you forum!!!

Seriously though, love this forum :D

I have heard nothing but great things about Tonepros bridges, from old guitar dudes who know a stack about everything and have decades of experience, not just people regurgitating things they read elsewhere on the internet. The consensus is that a Tonepros bridge and even tailpiece is a great way to upgrade a guitar that doesn't have one already. Sustain, intonation, they apparently make a very positive difference in all the right places. One piece of hardware that the manufacturer really did get RIGHT.

The other day I took my Trussart Steeltop around to a very VERY experienced and knowledgeable guitar guru just to have a look at for another reason and the first thing he asked me is "does it have a Tonepros bridge and tailpiece on it"...I didn't know but I knew it was stock from the factory...so he checked and sure enough it was a Tonepros. So guitar makers like Trussart use them on their guitars when they make them, that's not a bad sign that they're a good piece of kit in my eyes :)

A great and inexpensive way to upgrade a guitar from everything I've heard about them.
 
Re: Tone pros TOM's: yay or nay???

Snake oil.

The metric one at least is a $20 Gotoh with two holes in the side. Just be careful when taking out pickups.
 
Re: Tone pros TOM's: yay or nay???

The 2006 Les Paul '59 Historic Reissue I bought was fitted with an aged Tone Pros ABR-1 by the previous owner. I'd have to say that I'm not impressed with it. I could see that this concept makes sense and could possibly add some small amount of sustain. I just think this one doesn't do this guitar any justice.

The tailpiece was also replaced before I got it with an aged Gotoh LW tailpiece. (I think it came from RS Guitarworks.) It does not have the locking screws of a Tone Pros. I've used the Gotohs on some of my other guitars and been very happy with them. I think this is a nice, inexpensive upgrade over the zinc tailpieces that are used on most Gibsons, as it adds a bit of "air" and resonance, giving a more vintage tone. This one does look nicely aged, and it blends in well with the overall abuse this guitar has seen over it's short life.

Still, I'm really thinking that I want to install a Gibson Historic no-wire ABR-1 and a Historic LW tailpiece, to put the guitar back to as close-to-stock as possible, but these parts ARE expensive--I'm not sure there'd be any increase in value by replacing them.

I could see that the Tone Pros bridge and tailpiece could be a major upgrade to say, an Epiphone, but the reality is that it simply depends on the guitar. Some will be improved, some may show very little difference, if any.

"Ya pays yer money and ya takes yer chances."

Good luck,

Bill
 
Re: Tone pros TOM's: yay or nay???

I'm pretty moderate on this one. I've had the "metric" TOM on three guitars, with three different miniature stories to go with them:

1.) Epiphone Wildkat. Had a licensed Bigsby on it that would go out of tune pretty easily. I went through it and used all the applicable Dan Erlewine tips I could find, and it helped. Nice improvement, but it was still a pain to keep re-tuning all the time. I noticed that the factory bridge would rock slightly back and forth when I used the vibrato. Bought a Tone Pros bridge, and it stabilized the tuning to the point where it was no longer an issue. I can't say I noticed a difference in tone; I was pretty focused in the tuning issues, and I could never get it to sound like I wanted anyway.

2.) Epiphone LP Custom. Had the same factory bridge as the Wildkat. Had a stop-tail and a replacement nut made by a really good luthier, so no tuning problems. I was curious about what the Tone Pros might do for the tone, plus I really didn't want the bridge falling off when I removed the strings. I thought the sound with the Tone Pros bridge was a little tighter, better defined in the bass, with a clearer midrange that had more body and presence.

3.) Jackson SL2HT. This one, I did it just to do it. It was the bridge from the old Wildkat, actually, that I ended up putting on there. The Jackson had come with an actual Gotoh bridge that was, apart from the locking studs, identical to the Tone Pros bridge (as far as I can tell). In fact, the Tone Pros bridge even says "Gotoh" on the underside. I really didn't notice a difference here, other than the bridge staying in place with no strings (kind of a must on this guitar, for me), and I wasn't spending any more time wondering if I'd hear a difference.
 
Re: Tone pros TOM's: yay or nay???

i like it. i like how it holds on to the posts when you take off the strings. I like the sound of the nylon saddles on the one i got.
 
Re: Tone pros TOM's: yay or nay???

I like them but mostly for reasons outside of any tonal changes.

I did have one guitar that it just wasn't right for and it was mostly a tone issue. I've put them on about 5 or 6 guitars overall I guess and to have one not be a good match isn't too bad. I ended up using that same bridge on my friend's Les Paul Studio when I had it on the bench and it worked fine so it seems it was just an odd match for my LP. The spacing with the binding wasn't very good either, I guess that bothered me with my Standard too.

On any Epi's I've used them on it has always felt and sounded like a worthwhile investment to me.
 
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Re: Tone pros TOM's: yay or nay???

I didnt notice much of a tonal change but sure like it when I am changing strings or doing any maintenance.
 
Re: Tone pros TOM's: yay or nay???

Babicz has a measurable sound difference that is identifiable by the range of human hearing , think they are best bridge upgrade I have used by far. Like a locking tailpiece that is certainly a nice add with the Tonepros but not noticeable sound changes.
 
Re: Tone pros TOM's: yay or nay???

Oinkus said:
Babicz has a measurable sound difference that is identifiable by the range of human hearing , think they are best bridge upgrade I have used by far. Like a locking tailpiece that is certainly a nice add with the Tonepros but not noticeable sound changes.
Click to expand...

I need to try one of those.

So far, the best upgrade I've tried is the Faber Tone Lok stuff. They have a fantastic ABR-1 style locker without a wire and make conversion studs for big Nashville post holes. I had one on my Hamer Vector and currently have that setup on my Dean Czaddy. I noticed an increase in sustain, more likely from the added mass of the posts than any improved vibration transfer through a better mechanical connection, though the recessed locknut does seem a better design than a $20 Gotoh bridge with a couple setscrews.

I imagine most of the tonal improvement people notice from the TonePros upgrade is from the quality Gotoh bridges they use for a base over the craptacular bridges most imports come with. Even Gibson doesn't use the Schaller bridges on their stuff, anymore. It's all made in China. You can get a considerable improvement with the regular $20 Gotoh from Allparts-no need for the spendy TonePros.

IMHO, of course.
 
Re: Tone pros TOM's: yay or nay???

You need to make a trip out here to the boonies Formula73 and you can get a look at a bunch of crazy stuff you probably haven't tried. Flannel has a pretty high opinion of you so I will let you play my guitars . After you wash your hands well in hot soapy water of course.Have you tried the Graphtech Preplay hand conditioner yet ?
 
Re: Tone pros TOM's: yay or nay???

Even though I'm a hated forum troll??

Well, thank you, sir. I may take you up on that, though I live in P Town so it's a bit of a drive.

I've given up on the corrosion thing. I just play til the high strings feel like wound strings and change em.
 
Re: Tone pros TOM's: yay or nay???

Simple physics. Greater sustain results from more secure contact surfaces. If it can wobble, even slightly, that represents a point where energy is lost. I have one on my Schecter Blackjack baritone and the only upgrade I will be doing is Graphtech string saddles.
 
Re: Tone pros TOM's: yay or nay???

Demanic said:
Simple physics. Greater sustain results from more secure contact surfaces. If it can wobble, even slightly, that represents a point where energy is lost. I have one on my Schecter Blackjack baritone and the only upgrade I will be doing is Graphtech string saddles.
Click to expand...

Yeah but there isn't more surface on the post just because you have a tiny screw lean against it.
 
Re: Tone pros TOM's: yay or nay???

You don't need more surface area, more secure contact that prevents small amounts of dampening movement would result in reduced energy loss/increased energy transfer . . . at least in theory. No idea if it makes any real difference in practice. The easiest way to test would be to use a bridge/tailpiece with the screws removed and do some recordings, followed by screwing it down and repeating. I suspect the difference would be minimal, but haven't tried.

I got my tonepros used for thirty or fourty dollars . . . so I just was happy that it sounded better than the stock epi stuff and doesn't fall off when changing strings.
 
Re: Tone pros TOM's: yay or nay???

I have a Tone Pros on two guitars. The only thing I don't like about it is that the adjusting the action is more difficult than other bridges. I wish you could adjust it with a flathead screwdriver or at least an allen wrench, but you have to use something a little bit more involved.
 
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