I ordered a Gretsch the other day...the Anniversary model 6118T-120 in Bamboo Yellow and Copper. I'm pretty stoked about the guitar overall, especially that it comes with TV Jones pickups. I was wondering though, for those of you who have these guitars or a Gretsch with a rocking bar bridge, do you suggest keeping this bridge or replacing it? I don't have experience with a rocking bar bridge, but I assume that the only way to intonate the guitar is to move the bridge up or down. I want somthing that is going to be the best for tuning purposes, since the only place I'll be playing the guitar is in the studio. Anyway, I'd love anyones input on what bridge would be best for this guitar... Thanks!
gretsch rocking bar bridge
-
- Rated: 1 ↑
Jul 21, 2007 12:22 a.m. christoph:
-
- Rated: 115 ↑
Jul 21, 2007 1:05 a.m. wenzel:
I have a country club that came with the space control and swapped it out for a rocking bar bridge. I say keep it. If you use it and it just doesn't agree with you, then you can always change it. Try it for a while. That bridge, to me, eliminates a lot of tuning issues. It rocks forward and then backward when you use the bigsby, so it helps to keep the strings from binding on the bridge saddles. I say leave it!
-
- Rated: 1 ↑
Jul 21, 2007 1:17 a.m. christoph:
I hear ya...it seems like a great bridge for Bigsby's. I was just wondering how you would intonate the guitar if need be? I'm constantly setting up my other electrics before a session and it makes a big difference in tuning stability.
-
- Rated: 115 ↑
Jul 21, 2007 1:22 a.m. wenzel:
Normally you have to turn the bridge slightly. Look at a bunch of photo's of gretsch's without the TOM bridge and you'll see the tilted bridge base. The way I intonate mine is to get the two E strings intonated and then don't worry about the rest. It has worked for me like that. You could choose any two strings to intonate though. Maybe the E and B or E and G might work better for you? With this type of bridge it's never going to be 100% spot on perfect, but I think that has a lot to do with the gretsch sound as much as anything else. To me, it's not even noticeable...
-
- Rated: 1 ↑
Jul 21, 2007 1:40 a.m. christoph:
the guitar comes in on Monday so I'll try it out for a while before considering replacing. Thanks so much for the feedback!
-
- Rated: 32 ↑
Jul 21, 2007 1:43 a.m. gagsy:
I'm with wenzel, and a fan of the rocking bar bridge. I replaced the adjustamatic in my 5120 & am impressed with the increase in acoustic volume & clarity of individual strings. I also play with my right hand resting on the bridge & find this alot more comfortable now.
I was always told, that when positioning the bridge, start by using the middle of the 'F' hole as a starting point for lining up the bridge - then make gradual adjustments from there - this should at least put you in the right area...(I'm talking about guitars that are 'unpinned')
On my own guitar, I found that the high E was pretty much sorted, I then concentrated on the low E - and adjusted that end of the bridge - and (as wenzel said) this concluded with the bar bridge being slightly tilted.
I'm not very knowledgable about the science behind this stuff - but I can say that once I got 1st & 6th strings sorted, the others were fine also.
Good luck & give it a fair try - in my humble opinion you may find the results worth it!
-
- Rated: 8 ↑
Jul 21, 2007 1:55 a.m. dimmy:
I've got one on order and can't wait to try it out. I'm all for it's simplicity!
-
- Rated: 2 ↑
Jul 21, 2007 3:11 a.m. MrCrump:
Can anyone tell me the string-spacing (E-e) on the bar bridge, please?; I like the look/idea of them, but am used to wide-ish spacing on my Bigsby bridge (one of their advantages, that you can cut the notches to whatever suits), & am concerned that if the bar bridge has narrower spacing (like the TOM)it won't work, for me..
-
- Rated: 115 ↑
Jul 21, 2007 3:19 a.m. wenzel:
PM setzer, I think he has a photo of a bar bridge with a ruler next to it.
-
- Rated: 41 ↑
Jul 21, 2007 9:22 a.m. JC:
Another vote for keeping it
I don't have a new Gretsch yet, but on my old stuff that bar bridge is perfect,expect for my Gent, which has an original Space Control bridge. Which i think, is much worse than the new ones,as it has the large domed knobs which get in the way when resting the hand on the bridge.
I play like that too gagsy
-
- Rated: 14 ↑
Jul 21, 2007 9:28 a.m. Drew Morrison:
Yes I agree with JC and the rest of the Guys.
I replaced the stock Melita with a Bar Bridge on my reissue 'Cat Man' Jet and suffice too say it is working out really well.
Yours
Drew
-
- Rated: 1 ↑
Jul 24, 2007 12:01 p.m. christoph:
I got the Annie in last night and couldn't put her down. This guitar sounds great acoustically, and plugging it in it sounds like a little bit of heaven. I've owned a Gretsch before, but it was a cheaper model, and this guitar makes my previous model look and sound like poo. Every aspect of this guitar feels important and looks pristine. And I think you guys are right about the bridge. I haven't noticed any problems yet, and I love the way the Bigsby feels with it. This guitar is definitely a keeper. Thanks to all for your help!
-
- Rated: 41 ↑
Jul 24, 2007 2:48 p.m. JC:
Now,where are the pics
-
- Rated: 1 ↑
Jul 24, 2007 3:11 p.m. christoph:
HAHA! I'm a sucker for pics as well... I'll have them posted tonight!
-
- Rated: 42 ↑
Jul 24, 2007 3:17 p.m. seadevil:
It's been said before, but it bears repeating: the bar bridge intonates better with a wound G.
And yes, one of the greatest advantages is the ease in muting the strings. Space control and Melita bridges are definitely problematic for muting. The ABR's, Bigsbys, and rollers are all OK for it, but the bar bridge is perfect.
-
- Rated: 77 ↑
Jul 24, 2007 3:37 p.m. sassy:
I Love Bars...And I love my bar bridge too
-
- Rated: 39 ↑
Jul 24, 2007 5:44 p.m. Rocketman:
I love the bar bridge. Took some time to get used to, it even made me quite desperate, but but now I don't want no other bridge.
-
- Rated: 1 ↑
Jul 25, 2007 11:37 a.m. christoph:
Okay, so I went to take pics of my new Gretsch and it seems I've run my camera batteries down. SO, I'm going to buy some batteries today and then post some beautiful pics.
About the rocking bar bridge, after two days of playing on it non-stop, I can tell that this bridge is going to work beautifully. I love the way that the Bigsby interacts with the bridge, and it seems to feel better than any TOM bridge I've ever played on.
I don't if its because this is my first expensive Gretsch, but I'm smitten by this Anniversary model guitar. It seems classy and elegant with just the right touch of vintage vibe. The pickups/bridge/tuners are all top notch, and the finish of this guitar is supurb! And that doesn't even mention what this baby sounds like! It seems like the guitar that I should have bought years ago.
I'll get pics up soon...
-
- Rated: 0 ↑
Jul 26, 2007 4:23 a.m. mraja03ttr:
Hi guys, I just bought a new Gold Sparkle Jet which is absolutely lovely, but I too am having intonation issues with the Space Control bridge. Following your conversation here it seems that you all herald the Rocking Bar bridge, but do any of you have experience of the Adjusto-Matic bridge? It just seemed to me that it's designed for perfect intonation but no-one has mentioned it. Also how does one 'pin' the bridge?
