What is IYO the best Tune-O-Matic?

[Rex_Rocker]

I've had three Tune-O's on my Les Paul Tribute. I had the stock API Aluminum Nashville bridge, a Schaller STM with brass roller saddles, and a Graphtech NV Resomax. I found it interesting that all three sounded very distinct. Out of the three, the Graphtech sounded the nicest to me, very lively and bite-y, but it started colapsing after only a few months of use. The Schaller sounded kinda dead and thuddy, but it functioned great and had a larger range for intonation. The stock bridge also sounds nice, or at least more to my liking than the Schaller so I assume my taste leans more towards lightweight bridges.

I also had an old MIM Strat that I swapped the saddles and trem block on the trem a few times. Obviously, not a Tune-O, but it taught me that bridge construction and materials make a noticeable difference in amplified tone, even under tons of gain. Maybe not as much as pickups, and certainly not as much as speakers or amp settings, but it's a nice way to push that extra 1% a guitar that you already love the sound of.

So I wonder what are you guys' experience with differnet Tune O Matics and how they compare to each other. What are your thoughts?

 

[Snake Aces]

All my Warmoth TOM guitars have the Gotoh TOM. I think it is the 510. I always order them from Warmoth direct. Nothing fancy. Just gets the job done.

 

[d1dsj]

I recently replaced 2 of my LP bridges ( both ABR 1’s) with Faber units, both with brass saddles and they seem pretty good. They do seem a little darker tone wise but nothing amp eq couldn’t fix. I think I’m going to order an ABM version to try, they are machined from a solid block and not cast, not cheap though.

 

[Chistopher]

Whats the one that was designed to wobble in the inserts, similar to a Jaguar bridge?

 

[jeremy]

i have a graphtech bridge on my lp, and it like it a lot.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

i have a graphtech bridge on my lp, and it like it a lot.

Resomax? Is yours not showing signs of colapsing?

 

[magillver]

I've been using the TonePros locking versions a lot lately, lots of available options, plus they're machined so that there's a lot less wobble in the mechanical coupling to the body of the guitar, much more stable.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I've been using the TonePros locking versions a lot lately, lots of available options, plus they're machined so that there's a lot less wobble in the mechanical coupling to the body of the guitar, much more stable.

Which one(s) do you have? I'm looking at the aluminum ones with brass saddles. Those seem nice.

 

[jeremy]

nope, its only a few years old, but its good. i use 11 in std tuning and dont top wrap

 

[80's_Metal]

I've never noticed really any tonal differences between any of the TOMs I've ever used.
They may feel different.