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

[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.

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.

No worries at all bud, I didn't take any of it as negative! We all approach these builds differently, and one day I might lash out and do a kit with higher end parts just to see what comes out of it. I still want to have a crack at using those Lace Alumitones pups, just because they look so cool!!

[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.

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.

Thanks bud, glad you liked it, and that the mods you provided worked as well as they did! Thanks again for helping me out!

[DrNomis_44]

No worries at all bud, I didn't take any of it as negative! We all approach these builds differently, and one day I might lash out and do a kit with higher end parts just to see what comes out of it. I still want to have a crack at using those Lace Alumitones pups, just because they look so cool!!

Those Lace Alumitones sound interesting, I'll definitely be interested in hearing what they sound like, if they are anything like Lace Sensors they should be good.

[wazkelly]

Thanks bud, glad you liked it, and that the mods you provided worked as well as they did! Thanks again for helping me out!

We're all just one big family here so helping each other out just comes naturally.

Looks like you are now spoiled for choice when plugging in an electric.

[Muzza]

Just a thought, but shouldn't all the 'chatter' go in the build diary pages?

We've now got 11 pages to trawl through to see all the entrants.

[Brendan]

Muzza - we'll have a summary out soon with links to some photos - just finalising the details with one entrant before we go live.