The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Archtops

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 11-07-2013, 10:10 AM
jricc jricc is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Jersey Shore
Posts: 4,982
Default Changing graph tech bridge for rosewood

Thanks to some good advice from Mr Beaumont and Steve De Rosa, I'm in the process of changing the graph tech bridge to rosewood on my Godin 5th Ave. It will be in the shop today for proper installation. But I did a pre test and changed out the bridge to give it a listen and these were my first impressions, it seems the guitar is a little bit louder with the rosewood bridge and a bit brighter, or is it clarity? Not sure. Can't wait for it to be properly fitted and slotted.
Will report back when installation is complete.

Last edited by jricc; 11-07-2013 at 12:39 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11-07-2013, 01:38 PM
bohemian bohemian is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: State of Jefferson
Posts: 3,508
Default

Did you get a Stew Mac unit ?

Fitting the plastic bridge was an improvement on mine...
fitting a proper rosewood bridge was mo bettah.

I also jumped up to 13's ( I believe) if not, certainly 12's from the original string which I belive were 10's or 12's.

Anxious to hear your final opinion.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11-07-2013, 05:34 PM
Steve DeRosa Steve DeRosa is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Staten Island, NY - for now
Posts: 14,983
Default

Definitely volume along with clarity and definition (what you call "brighter"), and you'll have even more of all three when the bridge is properly fitted - and thanks for the props...
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-07-2013, 07:05 PM
jricc jricc is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Jersey Shore
Posts: 4,982
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by bohemian View Post
Did you get a Stew Mac unit ?

Fitting the plastic bridge was an improvement on mine...
fitting a proper rosewood bridge was mo bettah.

I also jumped up to 13's ( I believe) if not, certainly 12's from the original string which I belive were 10's or 12's.

Anxious to hear your final opinion.
Yeah a Stew-mac, and moving from 11's to 12's... will have it back on Saturday. Let you know then.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11-07-2013, 10:00 PM
slewis slewis is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Seattle-ish, WA USA
Posts: 3,331
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by jricc View Post
Thanks to some good advice from Mr Beaumont and Steve De Rosa, I'm in the process of changing the graph tech bridge to rosewood on my Godin 5th Ave. It will be in the shop today for proper installation. But I did a pre test and changed out the bridge to give it a listen and these were my first impressions, it seems the guitar is a little bit louder with the rosewood bridge and a bit brighter, or is it clarity? Not sure. Can't wait for it to be properly fitted and slotted.
Will report back when installation is complete.
I'm about to do the very same, with the same guitar, with the same rosewood bridge, based on the same advice from the same two guys.... Or maybe this is one of those parallel universe things...

I also tried going to 13s from 12s but didn't like the feel as much, and I guess I really didn't need the greater volume since I'm already using it plugged in. Anyway, looking forward to getting this done, for sure. Although I thought it was fairly easy to do yourself... Hmmmm....
__________________
.[SIZE="2"]
- Sean

Debut album Time Will Tell now available on all the usual platforms
-- visit SeanLewisMusic
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 11-08-2013, 03:48 PM
JCave JCave is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Zig Zag, Oregon
Posts: 2,131
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by slewis View Post
I'm about to do the very same, with the same guitar, with the same rosewood bridge, based on the same advice from the same two guys.... Or maybe this is one of those parallel universe things...

...
Yup... My wife gifted me with a nice rosewood bridge last Christmas. Could not wait to replace the plastic bridge on my Kingpin. To me, the wider foot print of the more expensive bridge is worth the money.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 11-08-2013, 03:56 PM
jricc jricc is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Jersey Shore
Posts: 4,982
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by slewis View Post
I'm about to do the very same, with the same guitar, with the same rosewood bridge, based on the same advice from the same two guys.... Or maybe this is one of those parallel universe things...

I also tried going to 13s from 12s but didn't like the feel as much, and I guess I really didn't need the greater volume since I'm already using it plugged in. Anyway, looking forward to getting this done, for sure. Although I thought it was fairly easy to do yourself... Hmmmm....
Cool, I'll look forward to your comments, I'll pick my guitar up tomorrow, and post mine.

Re :it being a pretty easy job, it probably is, but i'm not very good with that kind of stuff, I'd probably sand right through the guitar's top.
I change strings, tighten up screws and adjust the truss rod. That's about it for me.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 11-08-2013, 06:25 PM
JCave JCave is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Zig Zag, Oregon
Posts: 2,131
Default

Difficulty for me was sticking the tape to the sandpaper. Otherwise.. No big deal. Just go slow and keep a watchful eye.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 11-08-2013, 06:47 PM
bohemian bohemian is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: State of Jefferson
Posts: 3,508
Default

Why was it difficult ?
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 11-08-2013, 09:13 PM
JCave JCave is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Zig Zag, Oregon
Posts: 2,131
Default

Blue tape didn't adhere to the sandpaper very well. Sandpaper is taped to the top of the guitar, where the bridge locates. The bridge is sanded to that contour by moving it back and forth. Poof, the tape lets go.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 11-09-2013, 08:15 AM
D Stewart D Stewart is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Milton, ON.
Posts: 4
Default

Yeah, tape doesn't really want to stay stuck. The trick I use is to first apply tape to the BACK... half on/half off the sandpaper... then go ahead & tape the front of the sandpaper (& portion of exposed adhesive ) tight to the guitar.
__________________
Dave
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 11-09-2013, 02:36 PM
jricc jricc is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Jersey Shore
Posts: 4,982
Default

OK, I 've had some time to try the 5th Ave with the new rosewood bridge, and a jump from .011 to .012 strings.
Acoustically, it's a little louder, with more clarity, and a rounder more resonant tone. Plugged in, it's again, rounder, warmer.
There's no way I'd go back to the graph tech bridge.

Thanks again go out to Steve De Rosa and mrbeaumont for their advice.

Last edited by jricc; 11-09-2013 at 06:49 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 11-09-2013, 10:16 PM
bohemian bohemian is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: State of Jefferson
Posts: 3,508
Default

I was asking why it was difficult as I have fitted a number of archtop bridges over the years and never found it "difficult". Except when you use ACE brand blue tape, it's garbage.

Glad to see you have completed this and seen some improvement.

Last edited by bohemian; 11-10-2013 at 06:37 PM.
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Archtops

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:45 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=