ShortScale.org

serfx wrote:the tone ring?
for 65 bucks you could make one yourself.

That's what I tried to do when I cut the last one, but I haven't got the right tools. If anybody's got an idea for a poor man's solution, throw 'em my way!

serfx wrote: and toss the jag pup in, record it, and see what it sounds like, if you don't like it pull it out. if you do.
then its done.

That's what I'm gonna do. I was basically just asking if anybody's had a similar idea or experience. *shrug*

i just took off the Bigsby B-16 off my tele. never got used to it so i'm gonna sell it...

Pat.

Ever seen these before??


http://stetsbar.com/t.style.htm

Apparently, the neck of the guitar has to be shimmed for this to install correctly, much the same as the Bigsby B16 (which is a much sexier tailpiece, in my opinion). But the bridge moves with the tailpiece, supposedly keeping better tune and causing less string wear/breakage. I can't seem to find a close up pic of the stetsbar, so I'm not even sure how it works.

Long time no post, eh?

...So I went ahead and mounted the B5 to my tele, using the 6 saddle bridge that came with it. Everything works but it remains to be seen whether or not I'll have a problem with string breakage.

As the strings pass thru the holes of the bridgeplate (it's a top-loader), they touch the top. This worries me slightly. Other than that, it works perfectly and she stays in tune nicely, even after some semi-aggressive vibrato usage.

The thing that surprised me is the marked tone change now that the tailpiece is attached. I knew it would affect the tone but it made a *significant* difference. The tone is now much darker than it originally was and the floppy "rubber band" feeling is gone from the strings. Also, the sustain seems like it's increased slightly. I really didn't like the super-twang of the guitar before but the B5 really took it down a notch and now it sounds a lot more pleasing, to my ears. I would definitely recommend putting one of these on your affinity tele, if you'd like to reduce the toy-like feeling of the guitar.

For the record, I replaced the stock bridge pup with one that is supposedly from and '88 american tele... to be honest, I didn't hear a huge difference between the two but I left it in cuz I didn't feel like swapping again. I plan to buy either a GuitarFetish lipstick pup for teles or (maybe) an SD Little '59.

I'm charging the batteries on my camera and I'll get pics up in the next post.

And here's a crappy pedalboard I made cuz I was finished with the Bigsby and needed something to do with my hands.

oolu wrote:




And here's a crappy pedalboard I made cuz I was finished with the Bigsby and needed something to do with my hands.

Right click the picks and click 'view', so it's direct.

FIXT.







On another note, it's all lookin' good.

cobascis wrote: Right click the picks and click 'view', so it's direct.

FIXT.

On another note, it's all lookin' good.

Thanks man. You're the best.

Looks great mate. I've not really seen that bridge/bigsby combination before (not that I've looked) - does it work smoothly across the saddles with the strings doing the under-and-up thang over the saddles and how's the tuning stability?

It stays in tune quite well, as a matter of fact. I am a little concerned about the strings, as they rub against the top of the holes of the tailpiece. I'll have to wait and see if I start breaking strings. I did this because I can't seem to find just the tele B5 bridgeplate anywhere and I wanted to see if it'd work. Eventually, I'll get rid of this six-saddle business and slap my Jaguar bridge in there.

oolu wrote:It stays in tune quite well, as a matter of fact. I am a little concerned about the strings, as they rub against the top of the holes of the tailpiece. I'll have to wait and see if I start breaking strings. I did this because I can't seem to find just the tele B5 bridgeplate anywhere and I wanted to see if it'd work. Eventually, I'll get rid of this six-saddle business and slap my Jaguar bridge in there.

I've seen the plates on eBay within the last month for sure so worth checking there if you decide on that route. Looks cool as it is though-can the string holes be widened with a round needle file? I did this to a top loader tele bridge to get the bottom e and a of some some GFS Boomers through.