IbanezIceman Posted June 16, 2008 Report Posted June 16, 2008 Hey everyone, It's been a while since a I posted here (2+ years I believe), but I'm working hard on my guitar again now and it's time to find the right bridge for my project. The body is flat, with a BC Rich Warlock neck that I will bolt on paralell to the body. The fretboard will be 3/8" above the body surface. I'm using EMG 81 / 85 pickups but would like to hear your guys' recommendations for a good quality bridge. So, I want a flat-top bridge that: - is not a tremolo bridge - preferrably has fine-tuning knobs on it (but this is not a requirement) - transmits string vibrations well to the body wood for nice sustain and resonance - is chrome and doesn't look like sh*t Specific model numbers / brands is highly appreciated. Thanks!! Quote
Prostheta Posted June 16, 2008 Report Posted June 16, 2008 Strat-style hardtails have good low profiles if you have no neck angle. Quote
vikingblood Posted June 16, 2008 Report Posted June 16, 2008 Fender style hardtails or tom's are always a good choice but they are the most common. Quote
Prostheta Posted June 16, 2008 Report Posted June 16, 2008 Yeah, it is a bit of a hand-holding thread, but hey - answer given....depends on how it's taken! Quote
IbanezIceman Posted June 16, 2008 Author Report Posted June 16, 2008 Why do a lot of people need to be held by the hand on here? damn! Can't anyone do anything for themselves anymore? I mean if it is a hard problem yeah get help but to be helped through the whole thing. What the...?!? Looks like I pissed someone off… Listen, just because I asked a question which in your opinion is not a "hard problem" - doesn't mean I'm the kind of person who needs to be led handheld through the entire process. Before you throw out rude remarks like that, consider the following: - this forum is dedicated to people who want to either customize or build their own guitars from scratch, and a large amount of forum members have never worked on guitars before, let alone done any woodworking, luthering, electronics, finishing. - a lot of people (me included) are still on their first project - building something from scratch (well, aside from the guys building replicas). They therefore get easily overwhelmed by the myriads of part choices out there. - the parts market is crowded with many, many different styles, variations, brands, compatible vs. incompatible setups, etc. Secondly, don't tell me of all people how to do research on a subject before asking. Product, niche, and how-to type research is part of my business as a successful internet marketer. I am well-known on several large marketing forums (under a different nickname) and run my own blog dedicated to the subject of making money online. I am the kind of guy who ALWAYS prefers to read around and research before I ask questions. I make sure to try - before I ask, because from years on various forums (and an avid internet user since 1992), I know from experience that people hate it when newbs come in and are too lazy to research something. They rather ask. There are a lot of things I'm very good at. And then there are things I'm not good at. Like most people, I can be a pro in certain areas - and a total clueless amateur in others. But I still always try. Because learning by doing or learning by self-education is always the best way. So when I finally DO ask something - it's when I have already tried to search around for a solution, but didn't find one. Believe me, I have spent the past few days searching Google and forums for a good answer to my original question. All I found was contradicting answers and misleading "facts". The internet can be an awesome resource, but sometimes you just realize that asking someone directly is your best bet. And so that is what I decided to do. Lastly, I'm curious - from where exactly do you base your comment about me supposedly having to have my hand held "through the whole thing"?? Have you seen me post a question regarding my guitar project on each and every step along the way? NO. I have been working a LOT on my guitar and have done everything (except for the neck, which I bought) myself. I learned to use the tools and I followed through with no help from others. The things I didn't know, I found in the Tutorials section of this site or by reading around - again, without asking to "have my hand held"…. I would like to thank Prostheta for actually answering my original question. His answer now put me on the right track to narrow down which bridge I actually need. Quote
IbanezIceman Posted June 16, 2008 Author Report Posted June 16, 2008 Fender style hardtails or tom's are always a good choice but they are the most common. I see you changed your reply. Well, let's all have a group hug then, lol. Thanks for the tip. I will check out both Fender and Strat hardtails. I will keep you guys posted with pics when I get close to installing it. P.S. to forum admins: Perhaps this forum can benefit from having a "Newbie" section. I would have posted this thread there if I had a choice, but the only section I saw fit was this one. Maybe with sub-sections of Hardware, Pickups, etc. too. Just a thought. Quote
Prostheta Posted June 16, 2008 Report Posted June 16, 2008 Soooo....anyway....TOMs require a neck angle due to the bridge’s height unless you recess them :-D Quote
Geo Posted June 16, 2008 Report Posted June 16, 2008 I'm sure you can find what you're looking for on one of these pages. http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailp...em_bridges.html http://www.allparts.com/store/guitar-bridg...rs,Category.asp http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/Secondproducth...ectric+Hardware I think the reason someone said "hand-holding" is because, based on the criteria you gave, most of us would go straight to a non-trem Strat-style bridge such as the ones in the links. It might seem obvious to us. There's no shame in it "not seeming obvious" to you. This is actually a very friendly forum. For myself, I always take the rebuke of the experts the best way I can. There's no need to get offended, and you'll learn a lot here if you stick around. And, certainly, keep asking questions! Quote
Tim37 Posted June 17, 2008 Report Posted June 17, 2008 (edited) i like this bridge my self http://www.customshopparts.com/bridges/drop-top-bridge.html but a recessed tom is also pretty sweet sorry let me rephrase that i sound like i know what i am talking aobut. i like the styling of that drop top bridge and if i can ever get that strat project i have been dreaming of started i will look more in to it. Edited June 17, 2008 by Tim37 Quote
vikingblood Posted June 17, 2008 Report Posted June 17, 2008 Soooo....anyway....TOMs require a neck angle due to the bridge’s height unless you recess them :-D Yeah it is a bolt on neck so it can be shimmed to the proper angle. Depends on what Iceman wants to do with it. Quote
Prostheta Posted June 17, 2008 Report Posted June 17, 2008 Hipshot do some very very nice low profile bridges. The hardtails come in two baseplate heights however....in this case I would think you'd need the thinner of the two. Have you measured the string path with a straightedge? There may still be some angle in the neck despite it only sitting 3/8" off the body....the strings may sit high at the bridge point.... Quote
bancika Posted June 17, 2008 Report Posted June 17, 2008 How about these aluminum wraparound Another wraparound Schaller Similar one with fine tuning (I have it on one of my guitars) Quote
westhemann Posted June 17, 2008 Report Posted June 17, 2008 Kahler has a fixed flatmount with rollers and fine tuners....good bridge. wammiusa.com Quote
Batfink Posted June 17, 2008 Report Posted June 17, 2008 Schaller's 3D is a handy bit of kit. Each saddle's adjustable for height and spacing and it can be used for no angle or some angle with the shim provided. Quote
Xanthus Posted June 17, 2008 Report Posted June 17, 2008 Kahler has a fixed flatmount with rollers and fine tuners....good bridge. wammiusa.com +1 And bancika, as far as I know, all of the bridges you posted require neck angles, or a bridge recess Quote
Prostheta Posted June 18, 2008 Report Posted June 18, 2008 IbanezIceman: So we can refine down the wealth of information here, can you lay a straightedge on your frets, and measure the resulting height above the bridge saddle point? Measure it down the centreline as it's easiest, although the treble/bass side will be a little lower because of the radius of course. By doing this, better judgements as to how where the saddle adjustment range needs to be can be used to select which bridges will and will not work. My concern is that nobody is really considering whether you actually have a neck angle. It doesn't matter how high the fretboard sits off the body - it's how the string path extends to the saddle points that defines what hardware will work in there.... Quote
IbanezIceman Posted June 18, 2008 Author Report Posted June 18, 2008 Wow, I really appreciate the feedback here, everyone! Thanks to all suggestions so far. I'm gonna measure with the straightedge and post my findings here soon. Today I got my EMG 85/81 pickup set in the mail and I'm excited as all hell. My plan is to wire them with two 9-volts in serial to make it 18-volts of pure awesomeness. Quote
Prostheta Posted June 18, 2008 Report Posted June 18, 2008 (edited) Sounds good. You might find however, that EMG bass pickups improve noticeably more than guitar pickups with 18v supplies. Lets see how the bridge works out for you first. Edited June 18, 2008 by Prostheta Quote
ray Posted June 20, 2008 Report Posted June 20, 2008 Schaller's 3D is a handy bit of kit. Each saddle's adjustable for height and spacing and it can be used for no angle or some angle with the shim provided. +1 on that this bridge is a good choice for a 1st build as it has a deep throw on the intonation, has sideways saddle adlustment, mounts with 3 screws to the body and is back loaded. the saddles also lock. it comes with a shim as batfink says so you can have it high or low depending how your neck sits it gives wide tolerances with placement unlike the recessed TOM or even strat hardtail with the hassle of string through body technically very simple setting it up Quote
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