Aftermarket TOM bridge recomendations

[woodenspoon]

I just bought a Squier Active Jazzmaster https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... surf-pearl

I love it so far but the bridge is cheap and I'm having a few issues with tuning. I had planned to put an evertune bridge in the thing but have since been swayed away from that idea due to the cost of getting one put in.

My next thought was to put in a Graphtech TOM but there's some tonal sacrifices from what I've read about them. I considered a Bibiacz bridge, but they are pretty gawdy. So now I'm looking at Gotoh, Hipshot and TonePros. Are all TOMs crerated equal? Is one better in your opinion? I've been doing some research but can't seem to nail down which will be the best for tuning stability.

[soul1]

I'm curious what the problem with the stock bridge is. FWIW, the TOM in the Squier Mascis is actually a pretty decent bridge, I'm assuming they might be using the same on this model

Also, a big part of tuning issues is related to the nut, especially if it is cut improperly from the factory, which is quite common. I would spend the effort to fix or replace the nut, instead of the bridge. But just my 2 cents.

[higgsblossom]

Best TOM I know, available in black: https://schaller.info/en/bridges/329/gt ... r=12090400

Also change the nut if necessary, and what people sometimes forget: Tuning stability depends a lot on the strings themselves, so get quality strings.

[Larry Mal]

https://faberusa.com

[woodenspoon]

I'm curious what the problem with the stock bridge is. FWIW, the TOM in the Squier Mascis is actually a pretty decent bridge, I'm assuming they might be using the same on this model

Also, a big part of tuning issues is related to the nut, especially if it is cut improperly from the factory, which is quite common. I would spend the effort to fix or replace the nut, instead of the bridge. But just my 2 cents.

The saddles have a lot more wiggle than I'd like, I'm having intonation issues. The whole bridge itself also isn't without a slight amount of wiggle.

[Larry Mal]

That wiggle is just the usual slop that all TOM bridges suffer from. It's a garbage bridge.

If you want to address that- and I did- then look into the Faber stuff, which locks the bridge to the posts, and locks the posts to the body.

[higgsblossom]

https://faberusa.com

I had no idea that Aalen in Germany, which is like 15km from my home town, was also the home of such nice guitar parts. Thanks for that, Larry

[Larry Mal]

Sure- your people make good stuff!