Compton Bridge

Cymbaline · Post by **Cymbaline** » Fri May 03, 2013 9:25 pm

I was digging around and found this:
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showth ... ?t=1139495

Looks like a cool idea, but how can the intonation be correct? My strings are intonated currently, and they do not all fall in a slanted line, the B string sits back a bit from the rest.
Anyway, that aside, anyone interested in trying the titanium one? Apparently they have to have 10 orders for titanium ones before they will make them. Titanium apparently sounds insanely great.

Thoughts?

BearBoy · Post by **BearBoy** » Fri May 03, 2013 9:32 pm

TGP wrote:The whole tailpiece+bridge combo is now ROCK solid, and you can really go to town on this little guitar without having to worry about tuning stability anymore.

It might be stable but I can't see how you'd be able to intonate that thing at all. Surely it would constantly be out of tune higher up the fretboard?

Pens · Post by **Pens** » Fri May 03, 2013 9:46 pm

Hmm. Well, this reviewer indicated there are adjustments built into the base of it to make the E strings intonate, and the rest is supposed to just line up. Though, he noted one string was a slight bit off.

http://musicmonte.webs.com/comptonbridgereview.htm

Post by **dots** » Fri May 03, 2013 10:01 pm

and that "slight bit" is going to vary by string gauge and even by the ear that hears it. DO NOT WANT.

BearBoy · Post by **BearBoy** » Fri May 03, 2013 10:05 pm

Hmmm. The saddles in my bridges don't line up neatly like that when the guitars are correctly intonated. I suppose they might with different gauge strings but, meh.

George · Post by **George** » Fri May 03, 2013 10:21 pm

looks cool. fixed intonation bridges are tricky but it doesn't bother me with 3 saddle bridges when it gets a little out in the higher registers

Pens · Post by **Pens** » Fri May 03, 2013 10:59 pm

Well, perhaps the maker adjusts for all of that when you order? It does say that you have to give him detailed specs such as radius, post and string spacing, and string gauge. Sounds like he files them by hand before shipping, I suppose it's a bit like an acoustic bridge then?

wadeaminute · Post by **wadeaminute** » Sat May 04, 2013 2:35 am

I use a Tru-Arc bridge on my Billy Bo. It is fixed, with no attempt at offsetting particular strings. "Rocking Bar Bridge". It absolutely rules. No moving parts. It was suggested that I use 11s to make it intonate correctly, and it works. And when you use the Bigsby, the bar rocks slightly so the strings don't have to slide over saddles. Best thing ever. Palm-muting is a dream.

h8mtv · Post by **h8mtv** » Tue May 07, 2013 12:22 pm

It certainly is a nice looking piece.

GreenKnee · Post by **GreenKnee** » Tue May 07, 2013 12:25 pm

Seen a lot of these from when I first got my Gretsch, they love them on the gretsch forum. THe advantage with them on a gretsch is that the bridge isn't fixed down at all, so it can be moved forwards and backwards a little to get the best intonation. When setting mine up, I intonate the 2 E strings, and the rest fall into line from there. I've never noticed any intonation issues when playing, but I also don't confess to having a 'perfect ear'.

On a mustang the bridge is fixed, so I would be a little concerned in not being able to move it. If there are any intonation issues here there's nothing you can do about it...

Cymbaline · Post by **Cymbaline** » Tue May 07, 2013 2:43 pm

Yeah I emailed the dude and he said no one has ever had any troubles with intonation - a pure snake oil sales pitch viewed through rosy colored glasses.

It is a shame they will not change the slant to accommodate your preferred string gauge. Seems like a great idea going to waste over one fatal flaw.

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Tue May 07, 2013 6:38 pm

How many guitars are there with compensated wrap-around bridges and really, with guitars being what they are, they'll never be properly intonated anyway. I think these will do a fine enough job.

The thing about bridges, for me, is that I think fewer moving parts the better, and I really think that bridge designs like the Mastery and the Compton bridges should, in theory, reduce buzz and string binding and all that stuff because there are fewer moving parts and etc. I know my Mastery-equipped Mustang doesn't go out of tune and I actually use the vibrato.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Tue May 07, 2013 6:50 pm

i quite like the look of this, would be keen to try one on my SG-200.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Tue May 07, 2013 8:42 pm

Hmm. Not for the heavy handed player.
Had a few of these on old 70's MIJ electrics and they are a bit unstable to say the least.

cur · Post by **cur** » Wed May 08, 2013 2:34 pm

I really like the look of that, but you would think the groves would be more pronounced.

Cymbaline · Post by **Cymbaline** » Wed May 08, 2013 6:30 pm

We should invite that TGP dude to shortscale and ask him for a full review and some tough questions about intonation. Anyone got an account at that website?