Official Luthiers Forum!

I'm working on my first electric. After doing some research, I've decided to go with a flat-top tele shaped body with a bolt on neck. I want to change it up a bit and go with double humbuckers so I need some advice on bridges. Anyone have a favorite fixed bridge? Single piece or tune-o-matic style? Any opinions appreciated.

Thanks,

Bob K

I like both the hipshot baby grand and the Gotoh wraparound TOM bridge/tailpiece. Tonepros makes a wraparound bridge/tailpiece, as well. I like being able to avoid using a separate tailpiece, but like the look and action of TOM bridges. On the other hand, all TOM style bridges are tall which means you'll have to use a neck angle (or more of one) or recess the bridge.

I don't like the look of hardtail bridges, but they're a lot easier to deal with as they're lower.

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

Whatever you do,

just ensure that your fret board plane will hit you bridge in a respectable area so that you can adjust the action properly...

i.e. a tuneomatic is more difficult to use on a 0 degree flat neck, low profile electric because they sit so much higher off the body of the guitar...

conversely, many hardtail bridges are very low - specifically made for flat topped guitars, where the fret plane is parallel and a very short distance from the body plane.

In the past, I have made this mistake and had to set the bushings of a tune-omatic bridge well into the guitar body to ensure that I could get the action low enough...

Stephen

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www.ziegenfussguitars.com

Thanks for the info and tips.

I was planning on routing the neck pocket with an angle so I s/b able to adapt just about anything.

Bob, I like the look of the baby grand.

thanks

The Hipshot hardtails are hard to beat.Also the pole spacing is good for HB guitars.

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How long is that in luthyears?

I currently own a les paul and have owned a few others but i got to admit i was never a tunamatic fan. i always felt the fender style hard tail bridge was a far better bridge. Just my opinion. I'm sure there will be many who disagree. just to let you know they do make a tele style bridge with a humbucker cutout or you can use a strat style hard tail bridge. Wilkinson and gotoh makes some nice quality fender style bridges.

I like the Hipshot hardtail bridge as well. I also like the Pigtail wraparound bridge. Stewmac carries it. Very cool bridge.

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Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

I ended up going with the Schaller roller. Since I wasn't building to a plan, I wanted the extra adjustability. As a whole it came out well, especially considering the body fell off my bench while I was wiring it. Sapele neck and 2 piece body with a Padauk cap all from Woodcraft. Finished with unbuffed Tru-Oil over Zpoxy (been playing it for 2 weeks and it already has beauty marks). I went the easy route with ordering almost everything from Stew Mac. The pups are their standard golden age. I don't have much of a base to compare since the only other double humbucker guitar I've owned was a cheap Ibanez back in the '80's, but I like the tone of these pups. Good clean sounds and a nice mellow distortion when cranked. Thanks for the help.

Bob

I like it! I've heard good things about the Golden Age pickups, too.

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Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.