Upgrading a generic Tune-O bridge... should I?

Rex_Rocker

Rex_Rocker

Well-known member
I recently got an LTD EC-401 in a trade. It's a fantastic guitar, and I love it! It's a keepr for sure, and I want to make it the best I can. I already dropped in a set of pickups in it, and I've got a Graphtech nut on the way. The tuners (Grover) seem pretty solid, so I'm leaving those alone.

The only part left is the Tune-O. It's a generic no-brand bridge. I don't have any problems with it, really, but I wonder if I can make the guitar even better by dropping a higher-quality bridge. Do you think a new bridge would be a worthy upgrade?

I wonder what my options are too. The guitar comes with black nickel hardware, which I like the look of, so I want the bridge to be the same. I know Gotoh has cosmo black, and Schaller has ruthenium... do TonePros bridges come in that finish too? Hipshot? Also, which would be the best replacement bridge? I see Graphtech also has a Tune-O in black nickel. Are those bridges any good?

Thanks. :)
 
Re: Upgrading a generic Tune-O bridge... should I?

Unless the bridge is causing you problems, I don't think that replacing like for like will make much difference to be honest. Maybe replacing the saddles that the strings sit on would be an upgrade, but we're getting into cork sniffy territory here.
 
Re: Upgrading a generic Tune-O bridge... should I?

If you are happy with the sound and playability now, leave it alone. You gain nothing by replacing the nut or bridge unless it is to correct a problem.
 
Re: Upgrading a generic Tune-O bridge... should I?

Thanks for the replies, dudes! So you guys don't think a bridge change is necessary, huh?

I removed the bridge, and it had "BM003" stamped underneath. I googled, and this is what came up: http://www.sung-il.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=b051_20

Is this a good bridge? It doesn't say what the baseplate is made of, but the saddles are zinc. Could I just upgrade them to brass, maybe, and save some money?

How about upgrading the tailpiece to alluminum?
 
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Re: Upgrading a generic Tune-O bridge... should I?

Theres no point in convincing yourself that your guitar has bad hardware if you can't find anything wrong with it.
 
Re: Upgrading a generic Tune-O bridge... should I?

Rex_Rocker said:
Thanks for the replies, dudes! So you guys don't think a bridge change is necessary, huh?

I removed the bridge, and it had "BM003" stamped underneath. I googled, and this is what came up: http://www.sung-il.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=b051_20

Is this a good bridge? It doesn't say what the baseplate is made of, but the saddles are zinc. Could I just upgrade them to brass, maybe, and save some money?

How about upgrading the tailpiece to alluminum?
Click to expand...

Tailpiece doesn't really matter. Sung Il manufactures a bunch of stuff from atrocious to serviceable.... they've been typical stock on models that don't rate Schaller or Gotoh hardware since the 70's.

TonePros *IS* Sung Il, for example.
 
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Re: Upgrading a generic Tune-O bridge... should I?

TonePros is Gotoh! :)

742146_120623162600_DSCF3128.jpg

But you guys are right. I think I'm just going to leave it.
 
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Re: Upgrading a generic Tune-O bridge... should I?

I think that is a licensing and distribution deal. Gotoh for example also produces products for Wilkinson and Tone Pros but owns nither.
 
Re: Upgrading a generic Tune-O bridge... should I?

Ayrton said:
I think that is a licensing and distribution deal. Gotoh for example also produces products for Wilkinson and Tone Pros but owns nither.
Click to expand...

Isnt it the other way around?

Owns both / manufactures neither?
 
Re: Upgrading a generic Tune-O bridge... should I?

Tonepros is privately held

TonePros Sound Labs International
Oakdale, CA 95361, (209) 848-4966

CEO listed as Brian Devereaux
Owner of record is listed as Sharon Devereaux

Trev Wilkinson sold his guitar line (Fret King) to JHS, but I think he still owns the Wilkinson brand.
 
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Re: Upgrading a generic Tune-O bridge... should I?

I just got a black piezo bridge for my custom ehdwuld branded guitar
The hardware looks the same as what I have just with the wire off the bottom

From Ebay
 
Re: Upgrading a generic Tune-O bridge... should I?

I agree with everyone saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

I even question if upgrading the bridge would add a dime to the value of the guitar! I wouldn't pay extra...
 
Re: Upgrading a generic Tune-O bridge... should I?

A couple things...

1) As others have said, the 4XX series generally comes with really nice hardware from the start.

2) The TonePros bridges were originally made by Gotoh, but that stopped several years ago. The quality of the newer parts is "ok", but more on par with the stock bridge you already have.

3) The stock BM003 bridge by Sung-Il is perfectly adequate and nicer than most Chinese-made bridges. Jackson has used that same bridge for 20+ years, even on their nicer MIJ models. Upgrading to a TonePros at this point really won't net you any noticeable sonic improvements, in my opinion.

4) Why did you order a Graphtech nut? Your EC-401 should have come with ESP's own Graphtech-made Earvana nut, if I'm not mistaken? Unless it was messed up somehow, I wouldn't bother replacing it personally.
 
Re: Upgrading a generic Tune-O bridge... should I?

masta' c said:
The TonePros bridges were originally made by Gotoh, but that stopped several years ago.
Click to expand...

Are you sure? The stuff I ordered just last year still had "Gotoh" on it. I guess it could have been old stock, but who knows.
 
Re: Upgrading a generic Tune-O bridge... should I?

It doesn't come with an Earvana nut. I think they stopped using those some time ago on the 400 series. The nut is not bad, though... so you're right. I'm probably going to be using the Graphtech nut on a PRS SE which does come with a rather horrendous nut.
 
Re: Upgrading a generic Tune-O bridge... should I?

I recently got a viper 400 and the threads on the bridge post seem loose and when I palm mute I get a metallic hum sound kind like the spring sound when you palm mute a Floyd. Any ideas how to get rid of this or where I can get just a higher quality posts.
 
Re: Upgrading a generic Tune-O bridge... should I?

They are the metric threads and they are black. Not sure the exact size what ever come on the bm300 sung il bridge
 
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