Guitar of the Year 2016 (Non-Pit Bull Guitar kits and Scratch Builds)

[Zandit75]

Expensive bit of kit Doc! The options soon add up.
As a noob to the Electric world, what benefits would I get from from a bridge like this?
Apart from higher quality materials, and maybe slightly more adjustment, I don't see what sets this or other brands apart from the basic $15 PBG bridge I have.
Please educate me!!

[DrNomis_44]

Expensive bit of kit Doc! The options soon add up.
As a noob to the Electric world, what benefits would I get from from a bridge like this?
Apart from higher quality materials, and maybe slightly more adjustment, I don't see what sets this or other brands apart from the basic $15 PBG bridge I have.
Please educate me!!

Well, the SuperVee Bladerunner bridge is designed to eliminate one potential cause of tuning-instability with traditional Strat-Style bridges, traditional Strat-Style bridges use a set of six screws to mount on the guitar body and also to pivot against, over time the edges of the bridge which pivot against the six screws can wear out due to the tension of the strings, and also because of the fact that some manufacturers don't properly harden the metal used to make the base of the bridge, the wear causes friction which causes the bridge not to come back to a neutral position with all the strings in tune, friction in the string-slots also causes tuning-instability too, instead of pivoting on six screws like a traditional Strat-Style bridge, the SuperVee Bladerunner Bridge uses a piece of thin Spring-Steel as the pivot, the screws are there only to mount the bridge to the body, Spring-Steel is very hard so it doesn't wear out, the result is that the bridge returns to it's neutral point much easily, I have tried one and it does work well.

[Brendan]

Entries are closed. I'll set up the poll tomorrow and we'll see what people feel is the best non Pitbull guitar!

[Andy40]

I would have to agree with Doc, Zandit. After playing my ST-1 with the PBG trem for the better part of a year (which worked just fine), I eventually replaced the trem with a Wilkinson, which are only about $59, and the benefits are very noticeable. The block itself is larger and more stable, the saddles are much easier on the strings (less snappage), and its much better at returning to a neutral position with all the strings in tune. If I had the money for a supervee, id get one

[Zandit75]

Well, the SuperVee Bladerunner bridge is designed to eliminate one potential cause of tuning-instability with traditional Strat-Style bridges, traditional Strat-Style bridges use a set of six screws to mount on the guitar body and also to pivot against, over time the edges of the bridge which pivot against the six screws can wear out due to the tension of the strings, and also because of the fact that some manufacturers don't properly harden the metal used to make the base of the bridge, the wear causes friction which causes the bridge not to come back to a neutral position with all the strings in tune, friction in the string-slots also causes tuning-instability too, instead of pivoting on six screws like a traditional Strat-Style bridge, the SuperVee Bladerunner Bridge uses a piece of thin Spring-Steel as the pivot, the screws are there only to mount the bridge to the body, Spring-Steel is very hard so it doesn't wear out, the result is that the bridge returns to it's neutral point much easily, I have tried one and it does work well.

I would have to agree with Doc, Zandit. After playing my ST-1 with the PBG trem for the better part of a year (which worked just fine), I eventually replaced the trem with a Wilkinson, which are only about $59, and the benefits are very noticeable. The block itself is larger and more stable, the saddles are much easier on the strings (less snappage), and its much better at returning to a neutral position with all the strings in tune. If I had the money for a supervee, id get one

Cool, thanks for that advice guys!
I've yet to experience string snappage, I guess I'm too easy on my gear! I can see the benefits you are talking about, but as mentioned, my experience is very limited so I guess it means it's time to experiment!!

[Zandit75]

Here's the clean tones.

Listening to it played back it sounds out of tune, but please believe me that I tuned it just before. Considering the strings have only been on there for a few days, they are holding their tune rather well.
Also, I screwed up when calling out the different settings on the hotstack. It should have been Parallel/split/series. I should read things before putting it out on the interwebs!

[DrNomis_44]

Cool, thanks for that advice guys!
I've yet to experience string snappage, I guess I'm too easy on my gear! I can see the benefits you are talking about, but as mentioned, my experience is very limited so I guess it means it's time to experiment!!

I do realize that they are expensive to buy though, I'm looking at buying a Gold Bladerunner bridge for my Gold Strat project this year, just need to get together the money for one.

In the meantime, what you can do to alleviate tuning instability due to friction in the string slots of the nut, is to get some Vaseline and mix in some powdered graphite from an ordinary lead pencil, and put some in the string slots, hope that helps mate.


As far as I can recall, I have never snapped a string while playing, the only time string-snapping has ever happened was when tuning the guitar up or stretching the strings in.

[wazkelly]

Hi Zandit, Doc's comments are mostly relevant if you intend to use the tremolo. If you don't just screw the spring tensioner up really tight and that will help hold it in tune and slightly improve the sustain.

Like most things, with an unlimited budget you can go nuts doing lots of upgrades but best to get used to how it plays and operates to identify what, if anything at all, needs attention the most and therefore becomes the highest priority.

Edit: Just listened to the sound demo with headphones on and it is sweet as and reckon your description for 3 way mini switching was spot on as the series position should have a more fuller sound, like a humbucker, which it did and in parallel it sound a bit thinner, which it also did.

If the Bridge PUP sound level is too high maybe you could lower the PUP down into the body a fraction until sound level is where you want it.

Really happy for you with how this restoration turned out. Well done buddy.

[dave.king1]

I only use three springs on my Strat, set the bridge as instructed on the Fender site and then adjusted the spring tension to suit the string I put on, obviously spring tension will be different for a different gauge of strings.

[DrNomis_44]

Note that I didn't intend for my comments to come across as negative in any way at all whatsoever, they were just a couple of suggestions for some possible mods that could be tried at a later date, from what I have seen, and heard of it, I think it is a cool guitar, and I really like the effect that was achieved with the Granite finish.