The Gretsch Pages: Discussions: Other Equipment: Introducing Tru-Arc Bridges

Introducing Tru-Arc Bridges

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- Rated: 20 ↑
Jun 29, 2008 12:11 a.m. troy6120:

I'm very interested. Please let me know when I can send you money.
- Rated: 114 ↑
Jun 29, 2008 12:14 a.m. wenzel:

I'm in definitely for my club. If I feel the club is already bright as it is, do you recommend I stick with steel or go with aluminum? I think the spruce or just the moko makes my country club brighter than usual. I also have the treble bleed installed, but I don't think that has to do with the tone really???

Good luck proteus, you know we all support you! THIS IS AWESOME AND DELICIOUS!!!

Chris
- Rated: 12 ↑
Jun 29, 2008 12:42 a.m. sroux:

Hmmm..depending on price, I'd definately be down for an aluminum 12" bar.

Nice looking work!
- Rated: 4 ↑
Jun 29, 2008 1:29 a.m. JimL:

Count me in as well for a 12 stainless
- Rated: 14 ↑
Jun 29, 2008 2:04 a.m. reverb11:

I need a 9.5 for my Setzer in stainless steel, thank you very much. I'm so excited to finally bid farewell to the dreaded "radius mismatch"!
- Rated: 55 ↑
Jun 29, 2008 2:18 a.m. otterbean:

Ding-Dang! I just bought one before you posted this. I woulda' held off a bit.
- Rated: 19 ↑
Jun 29, 2008 3:27 a.m. Vinkie:

Excellent idea Proteus. I am interested in an upgrade for both my 6120 and Country Club, both have RBBs. The material choice is a great idea too. Keep us informed!
- Rated: 40 ↑
Jun 29, 2008 7:14 a.m. Hobie:

Hi Prote

Yeah, unless really expensive, I'm in for a pair; steel and alumin.

Good of you to do this.
- Rated: 37 ↑
Jun 29, 2008 10:03 a.m. Nobody:

Yeah, let me add this for what it's worth: I was quite typically unaware that an experiment was about to take place when Proteus lugged out the Executive and sat down with "somebody's" DSW...(I knew it wasn't Nobody's)

I just assumed it was another chance to play with the Executive.

I was sitting, with Fred, getting a lesson from Joe on the setup of my Club with the Melitas. Pretty exciting. Suddenly I heard Proteus roll off some licks on the DSW and I recall quite specifically looking up with astonishment.

"What the? That doesn't sound like my DSW? Did mine sound like that before I put those hybrid strings on it? Is that what a DSW sounds like through an Executive? I see he's got a bar bridge on there, but...Crap..."

What I was picking up on was, as Proteus inferred, sort of a "funk" attack. It's solid, crisp, but not thin or brittle in any way. Really "expensive" sounding, for some reason.

Then, later, somebody clued me in that I was hearing one of Pro's custom aluminium bars.

Okay, I want one. Now, it sure would be nice on my Club too...if/when I add a Bigsby...but that would obviously have to be gold.

I don't know how else to say it. The Alum bar simply added a very alive elegance to the DSW...presence on the attack, smooth roundness to the tone, and cleanliness to the twang.

And I was just trying to figure out the difference from my DSW while I was hearing it...clueless as to why.

And, yes, the Exective does make a ridiculous difference in tone of your DSW, as does the Playboy.
- Rated: 30 ↑
Jun 29, 2008 10:33 a.m. JazzBoxJunky:

And, you could get into the whole aluminum alloy thing, I assume the aluminum Prot is using is 6061 which is kinda all purpose, med hard. You could go with 7075 which is really hard, or a 5052 or 3003 which is softer, oh the possibilities.
- Rated: 37 ↑
Jun 29, 2008 10:36 a.m. roadjunkie:

I'll let you in on a lil' secret! Those were some old strings on the DSW that needed changed some time ago.I was going to change them out but since I was taking it down there and others were going to be playing it I thought I'd wait until I got home. I have two sets of flats I wanted to try out but now I just may stick with the rounds!
- Rated: 27 ↑
Jun 29, 2008 11:47 a.m. Jimbodiddley:

So does a 5120 also have a 12" radius? But I guess I'd need to get a new base as well.

Good stuff Prot!
- Rated: 12 ↑
Jun 29, 2008 3:02 p.m. Rex:

I'm interested as well Tim. Great idea!
- Rated: 37 ↑
Jun 29, 2008 10:02 p.m. roadjunkie:

Cris for what all you been doing I think you'd like the stainless bar. That really had some sweet voicings in it. I am getting the aluminium and when ever we do get hooked up you can check it out for sure! As far as being gold plated I don't know but personaly I like the contrast. My brass bar is gold plated but with either the SS or alum. it almost pulled a more vintage look to it!

I hope it's not over exuberence on my part but I've been blown out of the water since this all happened! I tried but couldn't keep my mouth shut before Tim made his annoucement!
- Rated: 0 ↑
Jun 29, 2008 10:21 p.m. rpc:

YES!

I am very interested in a 9.45 AL (possibly steel as well).

We've got TV Jones for pickups, now you for bridges...excellent work.

rpc
- Rated: 1 ↑
Jun 30, 2008 2:41 a.m. MoltenMagna:

I'll add to the count. I want a 9.5 for my hotrod!
- Rated: 19 ↑
Jul 2, 2008 6:53 p.m. Vinkie:

I wasn't clear about what type of bridge I'd be interested in in my first posting... I'd like to try a brass 12" for the 'Club and an aluminium 12" for the 6120.
- Rated: 32 ↑
Jul 2, 2008 8:52 p.m. RepentOrPerish:

Wow. That looks like a fun hobby/business to get into. Could you make them with angled string slots to compensate for the fact that most players have the entire bridge assembly angled for intonations sake, thus resulting in the perpendicularly cut string slots being misaligned with the neck?

I believe that this may be the reason some bar bridge lovers experience a drop in volume on the high E string.
- Rated: 17 ↑
Jul 2, 2008 9:28 p.m. Adam:

Any word on whether or not they fit on the studded bridge early Electros? If so, I'm interested, pending price.
- Rated: 114 ↑
Jul 2, 2008 9:32 p.m. wenzel:

Any word on the price yet?
- Rated: 6 ↑
Jul 2, 2008 10:01 p.m. tedzepplin:

I want one and I don't even own my first Gretsch yet! I'm saving up for a Gretsch. I'm new to the Gretsch world, it would be helpful to me if in addition to sound clips of these new bars, comparison clips of the other Gretsch Bridges would be great. - space bar, synchro-sonic/melita, compentated, etc.
- Rated: 204 ↑
Jul 2, 2008 10:21 p.m. Proteus:

RoP, I'm looking into that. I don't know that they would be notched all the way around in that form, and the exact angle would be a guess, as not all players pitch them the same. Probably dependent on string gauge, and I can't see making multiple bridges for multiple gauges.

That said, that's one of the ideas for next-gen bar bridges – along with a few corkers of my own.

First things first though: gotta get some of these out into the field and see if you guys hear what we heard at the Roundup.

Sorry, don't have pricing yet - I'm waiting to find out what bridge bases are going to cost.

Also, I'm beginning to suspect that not all modern-era bar bridges from Gretsch have had identical hole-to-hole spacing. All the protoypes fit perfectly on the bridge base the model Gretsch bridge came on, and they rock beautifully smoothly.

But they were a little tight on the base on roadjunkie's guitar.

All of which means they might HAVE to be sold with bases, even to guys who already have bar bridges.

It would help if those of you with bar bridges would measure from center to center between the mounting posts on your bridge bases. If you could supply the year (or serial #) of your guitar it might show any pattern (if there have been multiple batches which might have varied slightly from each other). Also, if you got the bar bridge aftermarket, identify it as such.

ted, funny you should ask that...

Check 'em out here.
- Rated: 37 ↑
Jul 2, 2008 11:27 p.m. roadjunkie:

Proteus: said: Also, I'm beginning to suspect that not all modern-era bar bridges from Gretsch have had identical hole-to-hole spacing. All the protoypes fit perfectly on the bridge base the model Gretsch bridge came on, and they rock beautifully smoothly.

But they were a little tight on the base on roadjunkie's guitar.

All of which means they might HAVE to be sold with bases, even to guys who already have bar bridges.

OK! My base and bar is an aftermarket piece. When we swapped them out the aluminium was tight but the SS slipped right off with no problems. I'd rather do both base and bar myself. One off and one back on in a few minutes with no messing around!

I was also wondering if you tried these with any of your guitars since we went home?
- Rated: 46 ↑
Jul 2, 2008 11:33 p.m. Timthom62:

ted, there is a great bridge comparison thread from Proteus here.

Also, a great sampler of Gretsch sounds here.
- Rated: 39 ↑
Jul 2, 2008 11:36 p.m. JBGretschguy:

Count me in, too!