The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
Reply to Thread Bookmark Thread
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Posts 26 to 44 of 44
  1. #26

    User Info Menu

    I used a Resomax NV2 (ABR-type) bridge on an Epiphone Casino that I used to have. I'll bet that Graphtech says "equivalent to aluminum" because it is light weight. Much lighter than the pot metal bridge that it replaced. I will also bet that they say "strong as steel" because it didn't appear as though it would cut like softer aluminum. It was very solid in feeling and probably wouldn't flex much. In my experience the PTFE saddles don't change any frequency responses except that they reduce the high frequency spike on the attack. Pretty much as advertised. I actually like that effect and have Stringsaver Classic saddles on my Strat. Also toying with changing out the brass saddles on my Tele and the stainless steel saddles on my Jazzmaster.

  2.  

    The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
     
  3. #27
    Quote Originally Posted by lammie200
    I used a Resomax NV2 (ABR-type) bridge on an Epiphone Casino that I used to have. I'll bet that Graphtech says "equivalent to aluminum" because it is light weight. Much lighter than the pot metal bridge that it replaced. I will also bet that they say "strong as steel" because it didn't appear as though it would cut like softer aluminum. It was very solid in feeling and probably wouldn't flex much. In my experience the PTFE saddles don't change any frequency responses except that they reduce the high frequency spike on the attack. Pretty much as advertised. I actually like that effect and have Stringsaver Classic saddles on my Strat. Also toying with changing out the brass saddles on my Tele and the stainless steel saddles on my Jazzmaster.
    This is exactly my experience with it!

  4. #28

    User Info Menu

    PTFE is Teflon.
    teflon can come in pure form but on its own is way to soft. So soft it is hard to accurately machine.
    There are dozens of ‘Engineering Plastic’ compounds out there- just scan the Dotmar website.
    I’d guess Resomax is a Teflon impregnated polyester dyed black. Who knows- so long as it sounds good to your ears. I would not expect an advert or review of the outcome to translate perfectly to my own instrument. Everyone’s ears, instruments, technique are far too variable.

  5. #29

    User Info Menu

    I like the Graphtech saddles on my Strat and Tele; they really do eliminate the "ping" that I don't especially care for in jazz. They were originally designed to reduce string breakage at the bridge, particularly with TOMs. I have never tried them on an archtop but have been interested, since intonation is always such a bugaboo with wooden bridge tops.

  6. #30

    User Info Menu

    Any updates on this archtop bridge from those that tried them?

    ResoMax Archtop Bridge Standard and Low Profile

    sol

  7. #31

    User Info Menu

    I see someone put that model on a Loar archtop (without say if it was the low or the standard version). I too would be curious to learn of experiences others had!

  8. #32

    User Info Menu

    Rich Severson recently demoed a modified Guild X150 with a Graphtech archtop resomax bridge , looks and sounds alright....Guess I'll get one and try it....

    S
    Last edited by SOLR; 03-16-2023 at 06:35 PM.

  9. #33

    User Info Menu

    It's interesting that I believe this bridge is standard equipment from the factory for Godin 5th Avenue guitars. A lot of 5th Avenue reviewers on this forum said the first thing they did was rip the "plastic" bridge off and replace it with a wooden one. Happily.

  10. #34

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by Chazmo
    It's interesting that I believe this bridge is standard equipment from the factory for Godin 5th Avenue guitars. A lot of 5th Avenue reviewers on this forum said the first thing they did was rip the "plastic" bridge off and replace it with a wooden one. Happily.
    I've contacted a number of members who own or owned the archtop bridge,as in many things, there was no clear consensus ..Some like it, some don't, it's pretty much split 50/50 .....

    I'll try one, if it doesn't work I'll return it and get something else....

    S

  11. #35

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by SOLR
    I'll try one, if it doesn't work I'll return it and get something else....
    It's pre-slotted apparently, which at least has the advantage that you don't have to cut your own which would surely void your right to return the item.

    FWIW, a number of members on here have been adamant in the past that a TOM saddle will sound a lot better. They may be right - on an e-guitar. I have a hard time believing you'll hear much difference between a wooden and a graphtech saddle if you play purely electric[omagnetic]ally. The whole argument behind the material's supposedly superior frequency transmission becomes moot in that case.

  12. #36

    User Info Menu

    It's no magic fix. I prefer almost any bridge type other than a TOM style, even on laminate electrics. I removed the TOM from my Epi ES-175 rather quickly, and I don't even know for sure where it is now, because I hated the sound. An ebony replacement sounds far better to me. Others may have different preferences. I replaced the ebony bridge on my 17" Wu with a Resomax bridge, and it does sound slightly different, and perhaps somewhat better. Not as different as a TOM, which I did try for almost an hour before removing it, but a little bit. I've kept the Resomax, for various reasons. It's fine, but not miraculous. The fact that the original base was solid and the Resomax has two feet may have as much, or more, to do with the difference as the composition. I've seen rather dramatic sound differences on some archtops by just changing the base of the bridge, with the same saddle. It's very hard to tell exactly what makes what difference, at least to me, and I can't predict much, even after years of trying. I just try something and see if I like it. It's not the most cost efficient method, but it's all I have.

  13. #37

    User Info Menu

    Thanks, I guess that's about as helpful as it can get

    Quote Originally Posted by sgosnell
    I've kept the Resomax, for various reasons.
    Can I ask to go into those reasons?

    How do you feel the saddle keeps up in terms of wear, compared to ebony?

  14. #38

    User Info Menu

    I can't say with any certainty how the wear will compare, because I don't have enough experience. The Resomax hasn't been in place long enough to show any wear. I expect that it will be at least as durable, if not more, but it's too early to say with any certainty. The ebony saddle had been slotted for a wider string spacing than will work perfectly with the pickup, so it required new slots, and it can get messy in that situation. The Graphtec has correct spacing. The original was set for the wide neck, 45mm at the nut. That was fine for purely acoustic playing, but with a standard pickup the strings are not over the polepieces. The sound is somewhat better also, because it tames the upper mids and treble just a little. It also has better intonation, although it's barely perceptible. To replace with the original ebony, I really need to rework the saddle to remove the string slots and reshape the top, and that's more work than I really want to do right now, for little or no improvement in anything else.

  15. #39

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by SOLR

    I'll try one, if it doesn't work I'll return it and get something else....

    S
    I've received the Graph Tech Resomax Archtop bridge and tried it.

    Verdict:

    Well, no......

    1-It's very light and small, I mean tiny, slim/very narrow etc...
    2- it did conform to the guitar's body shape without any further adjustment , the feet do bend under the string tension easily..if you look at the pics you can sort of see that the base collapses in the middle in order to achieve this.Graphtech Resomax Bridge-364c5adc-1a90-419f-a3c7-abe5660aa840_4_5005_c-jpeg


    Graphtech Resomax Bridge-f7704c99-2015-4a46-87ae-23b45192a0b2_4_5005_c-jpeg

    Graphtech Resomax Bridge-d3288c5e-3c46-4426-956b-8beb1a13c045_4_5005_c-jpeg


    3- Acoustically it was much louder than with the wood bridge /bone saddle original....however some strings (High E and B ) rang louder than others and at different frets...
    4-The string spacing was spot on....and compensated
    5-Plugged in, the sound was definitely different, more ringing tones not as controlled as this guitar usually is (no more "thunk" ). There were some "dead notes on the High E around the 7-8th frets that I did not have with the wood/bone bridge, coincidentally the same notes that rang louder acoustically??? I should mention that the bridge base was slightly longer than my original and perhaps that had an effect on the ringing as it was not sitting exactly on the bridge sound post....
    6- After a few minutes I took it off and put the old bridge on.

    I have to mention their Support team was very knowledgable and efficient, I wish all companies would copy. And they do have a 45 days love it or return it policy no questions asked....

    Thanks for reading

    S

  16. #40

    User Info Menu

    IME, changing bridges on an archtop is hit or miss. I've been trying for a very long time, but I'm unable to predict which bridge will sound better on a particular guitar. Some sound better with a solid base, some with a footed base, and some sound better with different bases of the same style. It is a puzzlement.

  17. #41

    User Info Menu

    Graphtech has great support. Having worked with them on replacement parts and purchases.

  18. #42

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by SOLR
    I should mention that the bridge base was slightly longer than my original and perhaps that had an effect on the ringing as it was not sitting exactly on the bridge sound post....
    I wish there were more clearly established conventions about which dimension is length (usually distance measured along the strings...), which width etc...

    But: sound post? If your guitar has one of those it will have a quite different acoustic behaviour and indeed the relative positioning between bridge (base) and sound post will probably make a big difference.

    What's the string spacing (E-E) on this?

  19. #43

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by RJVB
    I wish there were more clearly established conventions about which dimension is length (usually distance measured along the strings...), which width etc...

    But: sound post? If your guitar has one of those it will have a quite different acoustic behaviour and indeed the relative positioning between bridge (base) and sound post will probably make a big difference.

    What's the string spacing (E-E) on this?



    I had seen many reviews about the acoustic properties of the resomax material and I think it was pretty much as expected on my guitar. I 'm not certain it's the same material as the Tusq saddles and nuts they also distribute but it sounded similar when I did the drop test on the table. What surprised me though was the amped tone (was very uneven on my guitar).

    As Sgosnell remarked, finding the perfect archtop replacement bridge may prove a bit more challenging than I had first imagined...


    S

  20. #44

    User Info Menu

    Perfection is in the ear of the beholder. Perfect for me and perfect for you are not the same things. Good luck in your quest. Sometimes it can take a long time, as I can attest...

    And sometimes perfection is just impossible to attain, and I have to settle for the best I can find.