KMS Whiptail Wraparound Bridge (Review)

[Stefan Eff]

I‘d like to share my impressions about my latest discovery with you guys. It’s the Kissmystrings (KMS) Whiptail Wraparound Bridge:



This bridge is made from one piece of 7075 Aluminum- ultralight (30 grams) and dense. It‘s precisely compensated and available in three different styles (straight, angled, 50‘s angled) to fit different guitars and comes optionally with steel studs and anchors. The bridge is masterfully crafted and beautifully finished.



I‘ve tried the Whiptail on my Gretsch Jet and I‘m really impressed:

Intonation is spot on (two small Allen keys for finetuning), in one word: precise. Every string intonates close to perfect.

But most impressive is it‘s tone- this bridge adds sustain, it really opens up the guitars tone- more volume, more complex harmonics, more string separation. Fantastic!
The wraparound construction is the most elegant solution by itself with the best tone transfer, no doubt, but the Whiptail is in it‘s own league.



I guess the reason for this beautiful tone is the superlight high end aluminum. It‘s honestly a game changer. The lack of string slots may also have a positive tonal influence. First I was a bit sceptical if the strings may move on the bridge thru bendings- nothing, the strings are „glued on“, so to say.

Check it out if you’re looking for a Wraparound bridge- highly recommended!

403 Forbidden

[AllanAllen]

In my opinion, the wraparound bridge is the most elegant solid body bridge option.

[RJVB]

The wraparound construction is the most elegant solution by itself with the best tone transfer

If I may be a bit pedantic - what tone transfer? If I interpret the picture correctly there isn't even any vibration transfer through the bridge.

Which may be what explains the sustain you noticed: vibrations not siphoned off by the body means they stay in the string andthus continue to be picked up by the PU.
Aluminium is also very stiff/rigid which I guess could explain the effect on tone separation you note. It's also quite soft and easy to machine: I wouldn't be surprised if you find scoring when you take the strings off, enough to keep them in place even during bends or (more so) when you dig in deeply with your RH, close to the bridge.

The "wraparound" design is a clever way to allow some compensation fine-tuning with fixed saddle posts. I don't think there's anything else to it.

[Hammertone]

Have you had a chance to compare it to the Mojoaxe wraptail?

[Stefan Eff]

Have you had a chance to compare it to the Mojoaxe wraptail?

Unfortunately not, they’re not available here in germany. Afaik they’re pretty similar (high grade aluminum for example).

[Herbie]

Sounds interesting. I have two LP’s with wraparound bridges (a Special and a ’54 Reissue) and I have thought that the ABM wraparound bridges has been a huge improvement for them. In intonation, sustain and clarity.

KMS products are rare things, there is no dealer in northern Europe nor here in Finland. There is no second hand market for them and their price is double to the ABM products.

But of course these kind of reviews keep me interested!

[Stefan Eff]

Sounds interesting. I have two LP’s with wraparound bridges (a Special and a ’54 Reissue) and I have thought that the ABM wraparound bridges has been a huge improvement for them. In intonation, sustain and clarity.

KMS products are rare things, there is no dealer in northern Europe nor here in Finland. There is no second hand market for them and their price is double to the ABM products.

But of course these kind of reviews keep me interested!

You can only order via website:

https://www.kissmystrings.de

Nice and helpful guy!
Schwarz Custom Guitars uses in all his models KMS bridges, I‘ve played their TOM in my Guild and use the Telesaddles in my own Tvcaster Guitars. So far, high performance bridges and worth every cent!

[Herbie]

You can only order via website:

https://www.kissmystrings.de

Nice and helpful guy!
Schwarz Custom Guitars uses in all his models KMS bridges, I‘ve played their TOM in my Guild and use the Telesaddles in my own Tvcaster Guitars. So far, high performance bridges and worth every cent!

Thanks! Although I think I'll still wait that someone is selling his/hers KMS for a fraction of a new one...

Did You change the studs too? Or those things that are inside the wood, in where You screw the studs?

[Stefan Eff]

If I may be a bit pedantic - what tone transfer? If I interpret the picture correctly there isn't even any vibration transfer through the bridge.

Which may be what explains the sustain you noticed: vibrations not siphoned off by the body means they stay in the string andthus continue to be picked up by the PU.
Aluminium is also very stiff/rigid which I guess could explain the effect on tone separation you note. It's also quite soft and easy to machine: I wouldn't be surprised if you find scoring when you take the strings off, enough to keep them in place even during bends or (more so) when you dig in deeply with your RH, close to the bridge.

The "wraparound" design is a clever way to allow some compensation fine-tuning with fixed saddle posts. I don't think there's anything else to it.

I don‘t want to start a time consuming discussion (and I‘m no scientist) but a guitar bridge acts as a transmitter of the guitars string vibration, no?

[Stefan Eff]

Thanks! Although I think I'll still wait that someone is selling his/hers KMS for a fraction of a new one...

Did You change the studs too? Or those things that are inside the wood, in where You screw the studs?

Yes, I‘ve changed also the studs but not the bushings inside the guitar. KMS is expensive, that’s true but the bridges are worth it. Honestly, I‘ve never seen a 2nd hand offer.

[GuyBoden]

What is the advantage when compared with an adjustable Wraparound bridge?

[Stefan Eff]

What is the advantage when compared with an adjustable Wraparound bridge?

One part vs. 13 parts.

[RJVB]

a guitar bridge acts as a transmitter of the guitars string vibration, no?

On an acoustic guitar, yes, because on those instruments the string vibrations have to be transmitted mechanically to the part that converts them into sound.
On an e-guitar those vibrations are not transmitted mechanically but electromagnetically.

I didn't want to claim that no string vibrations are being transmitted through the bridge though but I would expect that you'd need a stethoscope to hear the sound that produces on this type of e-guitar.

[Stefan Eff]

On an acoustic guitar, yes, because on those instruments the string vibrations have to be transmitted mechanically to the part that converts them into sound.
On an e-guitar those vibrations are not transmitted mechanically but electromagnetically.

I didn't want to claim that no string vibrations are being transmitted through the bridge though but I would expect that you'd need a stethoscope to hear the sound that produces on this type of e-guitar.

what causes the body to vibrate (electric guitar)? Only the neck?

[Hammertone]

Unfortunately not, they’re not available here in germany. Afaik they’re pretty similar (high grade aluminum for example).

I believe you can simply order them through their website. Excellent hardware. I use one on my R4 Tonequest.

[AllanAllen]

What is the advantage when compared with an adjustable Wraparound bridge?

That’s not aesthetically pleasing to me.

[RJVB]

what causes the body to vibrate (electric guitar)? Only the neck?

No, I suppose that some vibration does get transmitted via the bridge too. But again, in a typical "pure" electric (aka plank) guitar you don't want the body to vibrate: all the string energy that goes into that cannot also go into producing sound.

[Stefan Eff]

No, I suppose that some vibration does get transmitted via the bridge too. But again, in a typical "pure" electric (aka plank) guitar you don't want the body to vibrate: all the string energy that goes into that cannot also go into producing sound.

Hm. All my electrics vibrate in total when they’re played and they all sound paramount. Okay, they‘re all chambered.

[RJVB]

Hm. All my electrics vibrate in total when they’re played and they all sound paramount. Okay, they‘re all chambered.

Well, maybe I was a bit overly affirmative. I only have an acoustic archtop that also happens to have a floater which I never use, but I did noticed that its electric sustain isn't handicapped by all that string vibration energy being pumped into the top.

I've seen Les Pauls (or clones thereof) being built. I can't say anything about the effects those chambers have on how these guitars sound when you pluck them but don't plug them (in). But my hunch is that the effect of chambering is most noticeable in the weight department.

[Stefan Eff]

But my hunch is that the effect of chambering is most noticeable in the weight department.

Sorry, I really don’t think so.

[Stefan Eff]

Small update on the KMS Whiptail:
I‘ve swapped the KMS studs for Tonepros locking studs. The wraparound design flaw (the bridge sits leaning slightly forward in an angled position in the loose stud slots due to string tension) is eliminated with the locking studs. 100% straight, flat and fully contact between studs and bridge.
A simple and great solution! The wraparound bridge is fixed (easier string change), no more worries from accidently misadjustings and the tone benefits from even a little more loudness and sustain.