Staytrem Modification

[candy apple]

Hey folks, I just made a mod to my Staytrem Bridge. The idea was to help the string vibrations transfer to the body more through the bridge to increase the resonance a bit, and also to stop the bridge rocking. It's hard to say if it sounds any better but I like to think it does. Also, I'm not sure aluminium was a good material to use but it's all I could find at the hardware store. I'm sure steel would be better but also harder to work with. Looks ok tough, you can't really notice it.

Step 1 cut 2 pieces of 8mm diameter, 1mm thickness aluminium tubing from B&Q. Cut them to the same length as the bridge posts.
Step 2 shave the plastic bits on the Staytrem down a touch so the tubes can slide past them.
Step 3 sand the outsides of the tubing to fit nicely in the thimbles.

[arkivel]

Does this fix the bridge so it doesn't rock? I think that would be a great idea with the right type of saddles. I wanted to try something similar with compensated hardened chrome tele saddles cut with string slots. It's surprising that no one sells metal inserts to fix the bridge or a jazzmaster bridge channel drilled for tele saddles.

[hoddyman]

Personally, I like the rocking feature of the bridge, and I set it up pulled all the way back, for a fixed point from which to intonate the strings. I use a single layer of electrical tape on the back of the bridge posts to avoid rattle against the back edge of the "thimbles". I get rocking action from the bridge when I use the vibrato mostly in "down" bends, and I rarely pull back on the whammy bar, anyway. if the bridge rocks "forward" and stays there due to a pull back of the whammy bar, I can easily pull the bridge back to it's original position, even while playing. The thing never goes out of tune. Using aluminum pipe inserts to keep the bridge from rocking kinda works, but I wonder how much extra "coupling" you get, if things aren't really really tight in there. I've also heard of people using plastic tubing to fix their bridges upright, which is probably easier to work with than aluminum.

[Harrison]

awesome, I've been thinking about making a handful of those little sleeves to keep for all my bridges, I currently use strips of aluminum can and it can be a bit of a hassle. This looks so clean and almost "factory".

[Gevalt]

I love the thinking behind this mod, because I also dreamed it, but haven't built it.
I use copper tape with a final layer of aluminum for looks. I'm certain your idea will be better. How tight is the fit? You mentioned sanding, so I assume it's mated?

[candy apple]

The fit is really tight plus the tubes go right to the bottom of the thimbles with the bridge pushing down on them. After a couple of days of getting used to this mod, I have noticed that there is buzzing coming from the vibrato mechanism and the rhythm circuit switch which wasn't there before and also the strings behind the bridge are vibrating in sympathy with the strings more. This suggests to mod is doing it's job to make the body resonate more. I recommend trying this out for yourself.

[2fLAz]

hey guys

I did that trick before by asking John (staytrem owner) to cut me some sleeves like the ones candy apple made.
John sells them 3£ each. And it stops the bridge from rocking and you end up with more resonance.

Fabz

[candy apple]

Hey would have been great to know this before . How do these sleeves work out? do they do a good job?

[2fLAz]

well I have been sort of beta tester for John (actually I initiated the request asking for legs like mastery... hum...)
They work same way as the ones you created. Tight fit and bridge is no longer rocking.

[mackerelmint]

haaaaaaaa! OK, I'm gonna have to ask him about these sleeves. Two threads on non-rocking staytrem bridges, I'm laughing so hard. John told me he had zero interest in making a staytrem that was fixed, not very long ago at all. I guess demand talks.

[duceditor]

Too bad that Leo didn't understand that rocking bridges were bad. He could have used your help!

-don

[2fLAz]

haaaaaaaa! OK, I'm gonna have to ask him about these sleeves. Two threads on non-rocking staytrem bridges, I'm laughing so hard. John told me he had zero interest in making a staytrem that was fixed, not very long ago at all. I guess demand talks.

Exactly ! especially when you say that you don't use your trem

[candy apple]

I have ordered a couple of those sleeves now from John at Staytrem.

I find that the whammy bar works just as well with a fixed bridge. Do you find that it causes you problems 2fLAz?

[2fLAz]

Not a single problem at all !
I mean, there might be some frictions due to non rocking bridge
but they are the same I reckon with mastery then

BEWARE: it is going to make your guitar even more resonant

[otis]

This is pretty interesting; nice to know that you can order the pipes from staytrem.
I suppose they fit his staytrem; can you obtain them for a regular JM/JG bridge as well?