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 so theres a fair amount of pressure on it. i have a strong pick attack and was breaking strings at the saddle, also felt like the old bridge had flatted a touch. this was the fix to both and im very satisfied.

 

[80's_Metal]

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

 

[ehdwuld]

I have used a variety of piezo bridges with the standard knife edges
They all sounded fine the piezo works well without any special preamp or buffer
Sounds kinda like a piezo acoustic not really an acoustic

I prefer roller saddles, most of mine are rollers unless they are piezo

I on my Gibson it still has the stock bridge albeit with the snake tailpiece that is so bad azz

None of mine have ever collapsed
The roller bridges are all Guyker

The piezo are various brands , I suspect they are all the same manufacturer just rebranded to whoever sells them

I find the rollers to hold tune better
Not binding on the knife edges when bending

Oh I have a trem on some of them as well
Again Guyker

I never top wrap. I find that raising the tailpiece eases the break angle of the string making the strings softer to play
Decking the tailpiece does nothing for the tone in my opinion

The trem system i use on TOM bridges effectively mimics the raised tailpiece
Even though it is screwed tight to the inserts

 

[uOpt]

All my tune-of-matics are ABR-1s, and I find that all of them are of a quality that I don't feel a need to test replacements.

I would have liked to try the Callaham, but alas they are out of production.

 

[Señor Verde]

I've tried a few over the years. Gotoh, Tonepros, Stock Gibson Historic (Kluson) and Faber. Maybe a couple others. I like Faber with brass saddles.

 

[Sam SG]

All my TOM are whatever came on them.
My 2 Gibson SGs have Nashvilles. My Charvel has its stock TOM and Epi SG has whatever Epi uses and my Discovery LP copy has whatever it came with.
My theory is if it dont sound good dont buy it. If it sounds good dont fuck with it.( other than setup and pups)
I did buy a Tonepros several years back then realized I bought the wrong one so I gave it to my freind and never looked back.
Now strats Ill put steel blocks in.

 

[uOpt]

I am more interested in what different material tailpieces can do for me.

 

[GuitarStv]

I like Nashville style bridges a little better just because I find that sometimes the ABR ones don't have enough room to intonate. I like tonepros a little better because they lock in place so I don't have to worry about the bridge falling off and hitting the guitar top when I'm adjusting stuff.

Honestly, those are minor preferences though, I'm not really picky about TOM bridges. The only one that bugged me enough to replace was the pot metal ABR style one that came on my Epiphone Dot when I got it in 2002 - there was a clear difference in sound for the better after doing that.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I like Nashville better too exactly because I do need that extra room to intonate because I tune low with heavier strings.

I want to try a TonePros, but the one model that is not made of pot metal is kind of expensive. I like the locking aspect of it, though.