it's good to change up your technique.

Thanks guys, I appreciate your support and friendship. I think I'm just going to chill out in the hot tub.

I think you need a bigger tub.

I think you need a bigger tub.

but if he can't find. one we need pictures.

Proteus: The tru-arc was tried on two guitars a Setzer SSLVO and a Setzer Hot Rod. On each guitar the tru-arc post to post dimension is off, the tru-arc sat on the posts so tight that you could not even move the thumb wheels to adjust the string height, in addition the 6th and 5th strings no longer centered over the pickup pole pieces. Proper intonation was un-obtainable. I'll be happy to return this tru-arc for a full refund. Just give me the mailing address and a return authorization number and I will send it back!

sonnyjimslim: Why not contact Proteus directly. Handle your business with him directly. And try to remember to stay classy.

I think that it is okay for him to provide a fuller explanation to Proteus in this thread since he has somewhat been called out here. It is okay to civilly state what his issues were with the bridge. Who knows? In the interchange about this issue between him and Proteus, we might all learn something new.

Just everyone stay civil and stick with the facts, ma'am.

Without answers to my earlier questions, there's no way to troubleshoot what might be wrong. I'd need to know the precise center-to-center measurement of sjs's bridge posts, and then measure the corresponding holes on the Tru-Arc.

It's possible I sent him a bridge with the wrong spacing for the bases on his guitars. We do multiple versions for the variety of spacings out there, and I could've grabbed the wrong one when I shipped.

My records confirm I knew the bridge was for a 6120SSLVO – but I don't see that I knew what vintage sjs's Setzers are. Pre-FMIC models are likely to have one post spacing, and FMIC-era to have another. Since I learned that, I generally ask before shipping if there's any question, and let the buyer know there might be an issue. sjs's sale may have been before that became general practice, or I may not have asked.

In any case, the answers in this particular situation are now moot; sjs wants to return the bridge for a refund, which is fine. When it comes back, I can measure it and come up with at least half a theory.

In the meantime, when I went into my records to find whether I knew what guitar sonny had, I found that sonnyjim ordered his ST-95 on 10/8/2010, and I shipped to him on 10/19/2010. Give it three days in shipping, and it makes a two-week wait – perhaps long when you're anticipating something, but not the month he remembers!

Since I've kept track of the order dates and ship dates of all bridges since #1 in July 2008, that discovery sent me to my records for some math.

I know these very public threads about my congenital tardiness can create an unrealistically negative impression. (Just as the very public threads praising the bridges can do the opposite.)

When I factor in all sales (including to vendors, who pay me after receiving product rather than before – and the few sales where I've had to chase money and it came a looong time later), my average ship time for all bridges has been 9 days.

When I take out the dealer sales, the guy who owed for two bridges for 316 days, and the guy who owed for 74 days, I get the average ship time for "retail sales."

That answer is 15 days.

The longest ship time, for a custom order that had to come from the shop and then go to another party for more work, was 135 days.

The shortest time has been zero days - ordered and shipped on the same day.

But overall, I ship in an average of 15 days.

Sticking with the facts, sir.

So Tim, you're saying you don't have superhuman influence over the post office?

I'm deeply disappointed.

And I've always heard the US Post described as "protean," or is it "mercurial"?

And I've always heard the US Post described as "protean," or is it "mercurial"?

Haven't heard those before, but have heard "slow," "inept," and a few that shouldn't be repeated in mixed company on a public forum.

I tried to measure the post spacing of my guitar bridge planks, but the screws sort of point outwards and not straight up. I tried measure center to center, outer minus inner and inner to outer. It all yielded different result. I just ordered planks too, so I could forget about my measuring anger. The tolerance is so small that I could get a 5120 plank to be a 512X plank, which is wrong. And I'm not really extremely unhandy; using a calliper should work, but ahem...

Actually...except when shipping to Canada and certain southern and eastern European countries, I haven't had much occasion to complain about the speed of the USPS.

I can generally figure 2-3 days anywhere east of the Mississippi, 3-5 days west. Occasionally something goes awry, but not often.

Regarding post spacing not matching up: bridge bases have some flex in them. They can sit on point, with a noticeably smaller radius than the guitar top, when released from string tension. Yet, flush as you like when the strings are on.

Obviously, then, having strings on or off could make a difference to the bridge post measurements . Whether this has a bearing on the issue at hand or not, I can't know, but thought it might be of interest.

It's another complicating factor, Sandy, and could have a bearing. It helps to explain why fit can vary on seemingly identical models.

My good uncle Tim 100x removed, has not once, but twice been quick on getting me what I was needing for my gretsch fiddles. Now the 3rd time is even better.. I'm getting a low rider aluminum tru-arc for my B-16 bigsby on the ol' baritone tele..

hand made in America by Ameri-CANS!! .....makes my heart proud to have a Tru-Arc and be part of keeping american business alive. Thank you UNCLE TIM!