As I'm still awaiting the arrival of my first gretsch, I'll make my first post on this forum. I'm expecting a billy bo, but I don't like these adjustomatic bridges because they're too 'sharp' and fiddly and I'd rather something else that allows the strings to slide over. I've taken a look at the bar bridge (and tru-arc) concept, which I like a lot for its simplicity and impact on sustain (makes sense to me). Now my problem is, as a lot of you guys know, that these bridge sockets come pinned on the body by default. If there are any billy-bo owners that use alternative bridges (non-adjustable) here, how did you fit them? Was is necessary to loosen the bridge socket, and how did you find the intonation?
Bridge mod on billy bo
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Jul 27, 2010 5:49 a.m. bloodgulge4:
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Jul 27, 2010 1:33 p.m. Proteus:
Tru-Arcs have often been fitted to the fixed posts of guitars with non-floating (ie, unadjustable) bridge mounts.
Since those posts are positioned (on most factory guitars) at an appropriate offset to provide an optimum angle for best intonation with a straight-line bridge, the Tru-Arc usually works without modification.
This can be dependent on string gauge, both the gauge you use and the gauge the manufacturer considered to be "standard" when calculating the positions for the bridge sockets on the guitar in question.
I don't know of Tru-Arcs on Billy-Bos, so can't swear to behavior in that application. But you can buy a T-A and return it if it doesn't work out for you. A few buyers have done so.
At least a couple have pulled and re-positioned their bridge mounts for better intonation with a Tru-Arc (which I think might be going too far), and several have swapped over to floating bases.
I have Tru-Arcs on various fixed-bridge guitars (Casino, 335, and Hamer Artist among them). They went on as experiments in "will this work here," and they're staying because they work great, give the guitars an eager percussive response, and I like the sound.
At any rate, there's nothing to lose in the experiment.
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Jul 27, 2010 1:58 p.m. Ratrod:
AFAIK a Billy Bo is just an oddly shaped Power Jet.
I have no problems with my Tru-Arc on the pinned bridge of my Power Jet as long as it's stringed up with 11's.
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Jul 27, 2010 3:35 p.m. bloodgulge4:
Thanks for the replies. I think I'll try out a tru arc as a bar. Nice of you to offer refunds if it won't fit. Also, I just aligned my string saddles on my other guitar like a bar, and I gotta say I was surprised by how well the intonation was. I was doing open chords above 12f and they were as good as with a 'properly' intonated bridge. By the way, how can one loosen their pinned bridge? Is there glue involved?
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Jul 27, 2010 3:45 p.m. bloodgulge4:
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Jul 28, 2010 4:31 a.m. Ratrod:
A pinned bridge is not actually fixed to the top. There are two grub screws in the top that stick out and two holes in the bridge base.
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Jul 29, 2010 5:21 a.m. bloodgulge4:
So you can lift the bridge up? I'll take a look at it when it's delivered today
