Here's another 'sound comparison' I recorded, between the Tru-Arc BR120 brass bar bridge and the stock Gretsch brass bar bridge (original bridge on my 6122-1959 Nashville Classic).
http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?PID=1161079&t=1722
Shootout: Tru-Arc BR120 vs. Stock Gretsch brass bar bridge
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- Rated: 20 ↑
Oct 2, 2008 9:04 a.m. troy6120:
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- Rated: 43 ↑
Oct 2, 2008 11:27 a.m. Ric12string:
Nice work, Troy. Thanks for going to the effort of creating this comparison.
To my ear the Tru-Arc has a bit darker sound than the stock Gretsch bridge. There are less ringing highs with the Tru-Arc, less overall brightness. Both sound great, however.
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- Rated: 15 ↑
Oct 2, 2008 6:47 p.m. AndyJ:
I agree with Ric12string regarding the darker tone of the Tru-Arc. Nice pickin'!
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Oct 2, 2008 8:40 p.m. wenzel:
Yeah, I'm hearing the tone a little darker too, but it sounds great! Also, nice picking Troy!!! I didn't want you to stop playing, I almost forgot it was a sound comparison too.
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Oct 2, 2008 10:15 p.m. troy6120:
I decided to use longer song clips this time so that maybe the listener's ear would have time to grasp onto the first sample, and when the second one comes the ear tells the immediate difference.
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- Rated: 204 ↑
Oct 2, 2008 10:33 p.m. Proteus:
Interesting...when I comped the brass Tru-Arc to the plated brass Gretsch bridge on my 6120GA, it seemed to me the Tru-Arc had more high-end bite.
My ears could be broken, though.
Stock Gretsch RBB
Tru-Arc BR-120From what metal guys tell me, though, plating ought to make a metal sound harder and sharper, so what y'all hearin' makes sense.
Really subtle differences though – and I hadn't expected the T-A brass bridge to sound materially different from the Gretsch. The brass was primarily intended to solve the radius issue.
Great playing for sure, Troy. Thanks for doing this!
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- Rated: 55 ↑
Oct 3, 2008 9:01 a.m. otterbean:
The Tru Arc seems to have more sustain. Also seems to have more bass and treble response to my ear. I know the bridge material is the same on both bridges. Could the darkness you guys are describing simply be coming from strings that are closer to the pickups on the bass and treble sides? I think that is a strong possiblity.
The playing on the tru arc samples seems like it is more quickly played as well. Maybe less work required to play those strings or the change in action on the outer strings causes a slight change in timing on the part of the guitar player.
Troy's playing is always enjoyable. I'm glad he posted this sample for us. He is a very talented guy.
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- Rated: 43 ↑
Oct 3, 2008 10:07 a.m. Ric12string:
otterbean, I have a hard enough time trying to figure out how to play a guitar, much less trying to figure out the physical properties of pickups, etc. But, it would seem to me that have the strings closer to the pickup poles would modify the volume, but do you think that this would somehow affect the tonal properties as well?
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Oct 3, 2008 8:11 p.m. troy6120:
otterbean said: The playing on the tru arc samples seems like it is more quickly played as well.
It was very late when I got through recording the stock bar bridge samples. So, not wanting this project to last into Saturday, I made a pot of Community coffee. This, combined with chain-smoking and lack of sleep, probably contributed to the speed in which I recorded the Tru-Arc samples. (I had to install the Tru-Arc, also).I'm glad you guys enjoyed it. Thanks for the compliments! And Proteus, at the :40 mark of your Tru-Arc sound sample, where it gets funky.... that kills. There's a greater tonal difference in Proteus' clips, to my ear...... with the Tru-Arc coming out on top, of course. Much, much sweeter. -
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Oct 3, 2008 8:47 p.m. otterbean:
It does sound sweeter to me as well. It sounds like Troy is enjoying the Tru Arc experience to me.
Yessir- I think it modifies the tonal properties. Its just like the tweaking we do with pole pieces. The strings are slightly closer to the strings on the bass and treble sides.Seems to make sense to me at least.
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Oct 3, 2008 10:19 p.m. troy6120:
Keep in mind that I had a set of D'Addario flatwound 10's on there. You know, they're dull in their own throaty, charming way. I also didn't change anything bridge-wise when I installed the Tru-Arc. I didn't re-intonate it, I didn't change the bridge height, etc. I did an even swap. The coffee had me too tweaked up to do much tinkering. And then it made me play faster! (I really was striving for consistency, I promise). Cheers to you guys.
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- Rated: 43 ↑
Oct 4, 2008 12:43 a.m. Ric12string:
Hey Troy, is that you playing the guitar on Revved up For Gristle? Pretty nice playing. Bottle On The Floor is also a hot one!
By the way, which model is that sunburst Gretsch you are playing? Interesting arrowed-G on the headstock.
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- Rated: 20 ↑
Oct 4, 2008 4:36 a.m. troy6120:
Yessir, it is I. Thanks.
The sunburst Gretsch is a 6122-1959 Nashville Classic, the guitar used in this shootout. Same as all the others I think (???), but just done up in sunburst.
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Oct 7, 2008 4:02 p.m. troy6120:
Hey Proteus. Are you going to get a website for Tru-Arc?
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- Rated: 204 ↑
Oct 7, 2008 4:21 p.m. Proteus:
I am. Working on it presently, as I get time.
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- Rated: 37 ↑
Oct 7, 2008 4:36 p.m. Nobody:
Friggin Proxy Error.
Twice.
Hey...yeah, I would describe the Tru-Arc tone as more "hi-fi." Both ends of the spectrum get the kick.
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Oct 9, 2008 7:23 p.m. troy6120:
The fretting hand and the picking hand together realize a greater "comfort" with the Tru-Arcs. Everything becomes a little more in sync. I notice that I'm not using as much effort as I used to, in the way of picking and fretting as a whole. If this sounds like some hippy-dippy rambling, I apologize. You know how it goes, trying to explain intangible things like music, guitar tone, preference of soaps and toothpastes...........
