Need advice on what wrap around bridge to get?

[crabby]

Hey guys,

I have a nice Artist on the way,,,,,,,, the model with a wrap around bridge,,,,,, here's the question,,,,,, IF the originals intonation is off much and I want to put on another,, which one exactly is the best?

I like the looks of the Gotoh 510 BUT will it fit without any alterations?

I really want a bridge that will fit with out any changes to the guitar at all IF I do this...............

[sw686blue]

Is the Artist a '95 or '96 with a Wilkinson wraparound tailpiece? If so, I would highly recommend a Pigtail, intonatable wraparound tailpiece with TonePros locking studs. Make sure that the TP locking studs are US-THREADED and not metric.

[Guest Meshuggah]

Is the Artist a '95 or '96 with a Wilkinson wraparound tailpiece? If so, I would highly recommend a Pigtail, intonatable wraparound tailpiece with TonePros locking studs. Make sure that the TP locking studs are METRIC and not US-threaded.

Seconded...WITH A BULLET!

A bullet!

A BULLET!!!

[crabby]

Is the Artist a '95 or '96 with a Wilkinson wraparound tailpiece? If so, I would highly recommend a Pigtail, intonatable wraparound tailpiece with TonePros locking studs. Make sure that the TP locking studs are METRIC and not US-threaded.

Yes, it's a "96" with the Wilky,,,, so the Gotoh 510 won't fit ? or is wrong for some other reason? Thanks for the input,,, I'll look into the "Pigtail"in the meantime............

[BCR Greg]

I should have several in stock in a few days, Steve just sent me a ton of stuff.

[sw686blue]

Is the Artist a '95 or '96 with a Wilkinson wraparound tailpiece? If so, I would highly recommend a Pigtail, intonatable wraparound tailpiece with TonePros locking studs. Make sure that the TP locking studs are METRIC and not US-threaded.

Yes, it's a "96" with the Wilky,,,, so the Gotoh 510 won't fit ? or is wrong for some other reason? Thanks for the input,,, I'll look into the "Pigtail"in the meantime............

The Gotoh 510 has the same string spacing as the Pigtail (2 1/16") but I do not know if the studs used by Gotoh or metric or standard. You'd have to check with the distributor. The stud to stud spacing seems to be the same for both the Pigtail and Gotoh.

[crabby]

I should have several in stock in a few days, Steve just sent me a ton of stuff.

Greg, are you speaking of the Gotoh 510? If so please email me or PM the price shipped,,,,, can I use the same posts that are in the Artist at the present?

[Guest Meshuggah]

I should have several in stock in a few days, Steve just sent me a ton of stuff.

Greg, are you speaking of the Gotoh 510? If so please email me or PM the price shipped,,,,, can I use the same posts that are in the Artist at the present?

Nope. Pigtails.

Be sure to get the locking studs as well.

[sw686blue]

Greg, are you speaking of the Gotoh 510? If so please email me or PM the price shipped,,,,, can I use the same posts that are in the Artist at the present?

Greg is talking about the Pigtail. You can not use the post that is currently in your Artist with the Gotoh. The Gotoh has its own proprietary stud and bushing system.

[BCR Greg]

Pigtail. The Gotoh piece is kinda.........er............

[AdmiralB]

Make sure that the TP locking studs are METRIC and not US-threaded.

The Wilkinsons used SAE studs. If you get metric, they won't fit.

I recommend the Pigtail steel studs and inserts. There's no advantage to locking tailpiece studs beyond the fact that it doesn't come off when you change strings - I'd gladly trade that for steel. The Pigtail stud tolerances are so tight there's almost no play at all anyway.

[sw686blue]

Make sure that the TP locking studs are METRIC and not US-threaded.

The Wilkinsons used SAE studs. If you get metric, they won't fit.

I recommend the Pigtail steel studs and inserts. There's no advantage to locking tailpiece studs beyond the fact that it doesn't come off when you change strings - I'd gladly trade that for steel. The Pigtail stud tolerances are so tight there's almost no play at all anyway.

Holy shit! I meant US-threaded for the TonePros studs and not metric. AdmiralB, thanks for catching that!

[Moose]

So, am I the only one who thinks the tonepros locking studs are miserably engineered pieces of shit?

God help you if you want to adjust your bridge height a little. I'm sure they're fine for locking a tailpiece in place, but that cheesy-ass wrench underneath a wrap bridge is a nightmare. If you get a good, tight fit on a wrap bridge, you're better off using the stock setup.

I experimented a bit and was really impressed with the Wilkinson locking studs. Both height and the lock are adjustable from the TOP of the bridge and they're a pretty slick piece of engineering. The trick is finding them in the the SAE thread instead of metric only, but if you ever have a metric wrap-tail I can't recommend them highly enough.

My tonepros studs found a home holding a stop tailpiece in place on a studio, where adjusting height isn't so critical. It's nice not having to manage the tailpiece when I change strings, but I'd never waste the bucks on another set.

One other note -- Why do people do all the handwringing about intonation before they get their guitar? This seems to come up reasonably often and some folks will even get all evangelical about intonation on wraptail guitars when they've never even played one.

I have NEVER had intonation problems with my wrap around Hamers. And I have a variety (Studio, Artist, Junior, Eclipse) PLUS I have good ears AND a strobe. Others around here have stated that they checked theirs out on a strobe as well. If you have a problem with wraps, there's a good chance you're one of the folks who gets all Buzz Feitien on shit, or whose hackles are raised when a piano is played and nothing's going to please you 100%.

The only reason I even experimented with bridges and locking studs was because I was interested in the tonal differences of a lightweight bridge, not because of the intonation.

I chime in on all of this because I kind of feel bad for people who get all worried about intonation before they even have the guitar in hand -- or worse, for folks who won't buy a Hamer with a wrap. With only one exception, all of my coolest Hamers are the ones with the wrap bridges so I strongly advocate at least trying them to see if they're your cup of tea.

[silentman]

Hey Moose... what you're really trying to say is Intonation is for Pussies.

[belgian]

One other note -- Why do people do all the handwringing about intonation before they get their guitar? This seems to come up reasonably often and some folks will even get all evangelical about intonation on wraptail guitars when they've never even played one.

I have NEVER had intonation problems with my wrap around Hamers.

I chime in on all of this because I kind of feel bad for people who get all worried about intonation before they even have the guitar in hand -- or worse, for folks who won't buy a Hamer with a wrap. With only one exception, all of my coolest Hamers are the ones with the wrap bridges so I strongly advocate at least trying them to see if they're your cup of tea.

Moose is right, the Wilkinson wrap IS great.

[crabby]

Got it today and I think I'll be fine with it as is, sounds good to my ears,,,, as far as intonation ,,, and everything else as far as that goes.

I won't have any problem with the intonation except for one drummer who hears every time that something is the least bit out of tune and he ALWAYS thinks it's my guitar ,,,,,, it's not mine nearly as often as he thinks it is.

I'm very glad I got this,,,, I've had two Studio Customs, a Gibson Les Paul Deluxe and two Gibson Les Paul DC Standards and though I loved the sound I never did like how they felt under my right hand because of the "stop tail" ,,,,,,,,,,, I started out playing Strats n Teles ,,,,,, this Artist with the wily wrap around feels good under my right hand,,,, sounds crazy but true none the less.

My thanks for all the input guys and sorry to have waisted anyones time.