roller bridge for string thru?

[155]

anybody done this ? thinking to increase tuning stability and reduce string binding? what do you think?

 

[gtr-tek]

Not my first choice as they tend to suck tone a bit in my opinion. Those work best with a whammy bar. Otherwise, its not too bad of an idea and certainly would work.

 

[greenhorn]

Not my first choice as they tend to suck tone a bit in my opinion. Those work best with a whammy bar. Otherwise, its not too bad of an idea and certainly would work.

I agree, they kill sustain on bends too.

Although I loves me Kahlers like the PRS in my avatar but shes a high gain beast. And who needs sustain when you play 1000 notes a second?



It would work though.

 

[Nay]

Surely any bridge that has a smoother saddle (over the TOM) and a decent angle from the ferrules should be fine?

 

[schoeftinger]

I've done it on one of my Lill' Lucy prototypes...

I'm actually very happy with the tuning stability AND the sustain.
Never broke a string on it either...

Cheers,
-Tom

 

[geezberry]

Roller bridge killed my sustain when i tried one. Went back to a tone pros to solve the problem

 

[Archtop 13]

Roller bridge was a great idea, in theory.

 

[H.E.L.Shane]

Wilkinson Gotoh locking roller.

Its actually my favorite bridge for string thrus..

its 14" radius, which is also my preferred radius..

becasue of the way the saddles are designed, you can put your string thru ferrules very close to the bridge without the string resting on the back of the bridge. This gives better strig pressure over the roller, thus better sustain IMHO

there are TWO locking set screws which allows a massive amount of intonation adjustment as the whole bridge can be moved back and forth by about .5 cm

Maybe because its a locker, i've never had ANY problems or any noticeable difference between it and a tone pros TOM. itts more massive that a TOM my a few grams

 

[greenhorn]

Sweet V Shane!



The part that kills sustain with roller bridges or roller nuts is when you do a bend. Because the string can roll over the roller saddle, it actuall makes the string longer, or pulls motionless string from behind the roller and throws it into the vibrating part of the string. This causes it to reduce the vibration because of the "dead" area of string that was introduced.

Same with Kahler wammys or any whammy with a roller bridge. When you dive your notes go dead pretty quick compared to a floyd. Thats because as you dive you introduce a bunch of motionless string into the already vibrating string thus killing the sustain. With a floyd, or locked bridge and nut, the string is always the same length, so to say. When you bend, it stretches the string, it doesnt pull dead string from behind a roller.


The reason TOMs work better than rollers IMHO is because there isnt as much dead string introduced with bends (because there is too much friction over the saddle for them to slip easily) so they have better tone and sustain

 

[JimmyPage968]

You can always try Graph Tech saddles, or even stainless steel ones!

 

[155]

that V is sick, thanks for the info guys if i can find that ridge in black I may go for it.

 

[H.E.L.Shane]

Sweet V Shane!



The part that kills sustain with roller bridges or roller nuts is when you do a bend. Because the string can roll over the roller saddle, it actuall makes the string longer, or pulls motionless string from behind the roller and throws it into the vibrating part of the string. This causes it to reduce the vibration because of the "dead" area of string that was introduced.

Same with Kahler wammys or any whammy with a roller bridge. When you dive your notes go dead pretty quick compared to a floyd. Thats because as you dive you introduce a bunch of motionless string into the already vibrating string thus killing the sustain. With a floyd, or locked bridge and nut, the string is always the same length, so to say. When you bend, it stretches the string, it doesnt pull dead string from behind a roller.


The reason TOMs work better than rollers IMHO is because there isnt as much dead string introduced with bends (because there is too much friction over the saddle for them to slip easily) so they have better tone and sustain

The way you fix a kahler is to put longer set screws in the saddles and raise them up.. (thus creating more of a break angle and more tension on the roller like the TOM) This comes from Neal Moser... now.. you either have to design your guitar for this, or increase your neck angle on a bolt on.. but.. it works.. the increased string angle over the roller also gets rid of that dreaded kahley "G" string wonk after returning from a dive.

I have the part number somewhere from McMaster for the set screws... its only about 1/4 inch... but it makes a HUGE difference.

The Hamer G has a Kahler fixed bridge on it... and it has no tuning or sustain problems whatsoever though! (but its a fixed bridge!)

 

[H.E.L.Shane]

that V is sick, thanks for the info guys if i can find that ridge in black I may go for it.

Guitar Fetish.

Thats where i go for a black one honestly...

 

[greenhorn]

The way you fix a kahler is to put longer set screws in the saddles and raise them up.. (thus creating more of a break angle and more tension on the roller like the TOM) This comes from Neal Moser... now.. you either have to design your guitar for this, or increase your neck angle on a bolt on.. but.. it works.. the increased string angle over the roller also gets rid of that dreaded kahley "G" string wonk after returning from a dive.

I have the part number somewhere from McMaster for the set screws... its only about 1/4 inch... but it makes a HUGE difference.

The Hamer G has a Kahler fixed bridge on it... and it has no tuning or sustain problems whatsoever though! (but its a fixed bridge!)

Ahhhh. I see.

I basically stuck with Kahlers recommended saddle angle. IIRC they call for an 11 degree angle. They say any more and it can increase string breakage or tuning issues. I have no experience with this though so I dont know. I always thought it would be better as you said but my guitars neck angle wouldnt allow that anyway.

I have no problems with Kahlers, I love em. You'll never be able to pull up on any other trem like you can on a Kahler. I also love the soft smooth feel they offer.

 

[TKOjams]

I agree, they kill sustain on bends too.

Although I loves me Kahlers like the PRS in my avatar but shes a high gain beast. And who needs sustain when you play 1000 notes a second? :

Excelent point!!