whats the best NT guitar bridge!?

[FIXXXER]

hey guys,

i have an ABM bridge with graphtech saddles on my guitar (25,4)
and i am not able to set up the guitar correctly...

FIX:

as you see i can't even get the saddles straight,
WHATEVER i do to the bridge changes the saddles
position and so the strings pitch.

if i losen the middle screw that holds the saddle,
the sattle kinda bends if i tighten it up,
it bends and changes the pitch also.

if i lover or raise the saddle it moves right or left,
even if both scres have an identical height...

i had to move some saddles to the max and
the 12. fret is still sharp, the open string is perfectly in tune!

is there any way to fix it, or is it just a shitty bridge?
even my guitar tech (a very capable guy) was not able to get this right.

i thought about buying METAL saddles, at least these won't bend
is this an option?

is there anoter (better) stlye of bridge that could be placed
without having to modify the guitar?

cheers
S.

 

[Lazzari]

i like hip shot ones.. They are really good imo

 

[006]

That looks soooo fucked. Are you sure you are doing it correctly? Not trying to be condescending, it's just I have never seen a guitar that out of whack before.

 

[locus_coeruleus]

hey guys,

i have an ABM bridge with graphtech saddles on my guitar (25,4)
and i am not able to set up the guitar correctly...

as you see i can't even get the saddles straight,
WHATEVER i do to the bridge changes the saddles
position and so the strings pitch.

if i losen the middle screw that holds the saddle,
the sattle kinda bends if i tighten it up,
it bends and changes the pitch also.

if i lover or raise the saddle it moves right or left,
even if both scres have an identical height...

i had to move some saddles to the max and
the 12. fret is still sharp, the open string is perfectly in tune!

is there any way to fix it, or is it just a shitty bridge?
even my guitar tech (a very capable guy) was not able to get this right.

i thought about buying METAL saddles, at least these won't bend
is this an option?

is there anoter (better) stlye of bridge that could be placed
without having to modify the guitar?

cheers
S.

Judging from the picture alone I can tell that it is badly set up, not only because of the saddles not being straight, but also because the saddles should be set so that the string is longer as it gets thicker. You might want to have it set up by a professional before you consider getting a new bridge.

 

[FIXXXER]

@Lazzari
do you mean the single bridges like this one?

@006
yeah, it is fucked, it's the floating saddles that cause the problem, can't get them straight.

the screws are not working correctly also as the graph tech material is soft and got worn out, it's hard to do anythig here.

maybe i am not doing it right but i think the bridge just sucks as i have no priblem to set up
other style bridges.

first i set up the saddles to match the fret radius, then i set up the neck using the trus rod.
i ceck the string height and try to avoid fret buzz.

when this is done i tune the guitar and check the 12. fret.
if it's sharp i move the saddles closer to the nut and the other way around.

i will call ABM tomorrow and ask if there is a bridge that fits the drillholes.

@locus_coeruleus
haha, ok i really got a bad picture, i managed to align the saddles a little bot more,
lovered some of them a little bit, i got it better but it still does not look right.

i also brought it to a luthier, he could'nt set it up correctly also, he's very good though.

cheers
S.

 

[Lazzari]

Nope. I was talking about this model http://store.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=163,
Normal fixed bridge...

 

[FIXXXER]

this one looks good, exactly what i am looking for, but how to find out if this one will fir my guitar!?

maybe i should just get the original saddles!?
when i ordered the guitar they replaced the original saddles
by the graph tech ones.

looking at this pic, the original saddles seem to be much better,
they are wider and they fit the bridge perfectly.
there is also no space for them to move to the side...

 

[Wolfeman]

You have the wrong saddles for your string spacing.

Those saddles you put in are made for a Wilkinson VS-100

 

[FIXXXER]

thanks for the enlightenment!

i guess this explains the whole problem,
now i have to find original ABM saddles somewhere, damn...

cheers
S.

 

[FIXXXER]

just got the mail, 50€/ 70$ for 6 original saddles, FML!

 

[Wolfeman]

just got the mail, 50€/ 70$ for 6 original saddles, FML!

But a properly functioning bridge is priceless

 

[locus_coeruleus]

haha, ok i really got a bad picture, i managed to align the saddles a little bot more,
lovered some of them a little bit, i got it better but it still does not look right.

i also brought it to a luthier, he could'nt set it up correctly also, he's very good though.

cheers
S.

Did he say anything about the bridge?

 

[FIXXXER]

@Wolfeman
you're right, no more capo on 7.th fret and retuning for every little take...at least i hope so
still hurts as i am totally broke atm.

@locus_coeruleus
nope, he just couldn't set it up correctly, it was maxed out but the intonation was still fucked.

i always kindawondered about the long but slim saddles, never looked right to me.

cheers
S.

 

[FIXXXER]

ok, so i am close to a mental breakdown now...

ordered and received original saddles
for the bridge, installed and tried to set it up...FAIL!

it's just not working!

maybe my guitar is fucked, maybe my tuner is fucked,
no matter if i move the saddle closer or away from the
nut it just does not change anything,
the tone on the 12. fret is and stays sharp, WTF!?

maybe the guitar is working too much, yesterday i
was close to a perfect setup, then played
a few minutes and everything was fucked up again,
must be some higher force that wants to keep me
from a perfectly set up guitar i guess.

seriusly i am considering buying a new guitar with a
fixed bridge that has as less moving parts as posible,
what would be good in this case!?


cheers
S.

 

[Lazzari]

What guitar is that ?? If its the one on your picture, looks like a mayones, am i right ?

 

[FIXXXER]

yeah it's a mayones regius 6

 

[Lazzari]

I think you should send them a mail.. Or change the bridge.. Check the hipshot bridge I was talking about.. they are really solid

 

[FIXXXER]

i did that before as i got the guitar (about 2 years ago)
as a few more things were not OK but all i got back was
"send the guitar back to us and we'll check it"
of course i should pai for the shipping...i live in germany,
mayones is stationed in fucking poland...i already invested
350€ extra in this guitar to make it as it should have been
from the beginning as it was a custom order.

actually the german distributer should take care of this but they just ignored me.
(i was a loyal customer for more than 5 years before, spant so much cast there)

in germany you do not have any rights a s a customer, sad as it is.

another problem is, i don't think that i can just change the bridge
as every bridge has it's own dimensions, i do not want to make major
changes to the guitar, rather i sell it and get another one.

cheers
S.

 

[Lazzari]

I suppose there is a Mayones forum around somewhere, right ?? most brands have a forum, have you checked there ?

 

[FIXXXER]

checking this out right now

EDIT:
no forum so far, only homepage support contact
(of course mainly concentrated on slaes, no help for people whose money they already have )