Yamaha - bridge options?

[tvrf]

Hey, I'm looking for some ideas on what I could do with my Yamaha AES620HB. It's my go to humbucker guitar, but I don't really like the string through. I've been thinking over a few ideas like converting to a wrap around (a lot of drilling and filling), a bigsby (the jack is where the tradition strap pin would be) and a trapeze (same issue with bigsby).

I just wanted to see if anyone else had any ideas I haven't considered? I'm probably just looking for something to mod but maybe I'm better off just replacing the bridge and leaving the string through.

Here's a pic of the bridge/string through (not my actual pic)



Here's where the jack is

[Shadoweclipse13]

Aesthetically, you know what would look perfect on there? Hipshot baby grand

[tvrf]

I looked at a baby grand, but that only retrofits on tail piece studs as far as I can see. Am I wrong about that?

[Shadoweclipse13]

I honestly don't know. Hipshot are very clever though. Maybe you could pull the TOM studs out and out STP studs in... I'd write them...

[Toots]

https://www.musicstore.de/en_SE/SEK/Goe ... 025029-000

This wraparound bridge is made to fit the tune-o-matic post spacing.
You'd have to check that the bridge height works, and depending on what size your bridge posts are, you might have to enlarge the holes i guess.

[tvrf]

Thanks for the suggestion. I have never heard of Goldo before, are they a part of Duesenberg? Maybe I will send them an email too and check the size of the mounting posts. Yamaha are known for weird hardware sizes.

[Larry Mal]

What's wrong with the string-through?

[jdr1014]

What's wrong with the string-through?

My first thought too.....

That's a pretty elegant looking guitar IMO and I wouldn't screw around drilling/converting, etc. If there is something functionally wrong with that bridge I'd find a better replacement but leave the basic string thru configuration.

[tvrf]

What's wrong with the string-through?

My first thought too.....

That's a pretty elegant looking guitar IMO and I wouldn't screw around drilling/converting, etc. If there is something functionally wrong with that bridge I'd find a better replacement but leave the basic string thru configuration.

I think it's my urge to tinker and mod! Just finding ways to get a bit more mass at the bridge, get the guitar to resonate a bit more. Maybe just a straight TOM bridge upgrade is in order?

[Larry Mal]

I think the string-through looks fine and probably doesn't hurt the sound any, either. Changing that would be a hassle and a half, I'd think. Anyway, string-through is great, I'd probably prefer it to the stupid stopbar tailpieces all things being equal.

Regarding the bridge, not sure how to change that on your guitar. If it was a Gibson, I'd have any number of suggestions, but that bridge looks pretty decent. Does it come off the guitar when you take the strings off? Does it use the same posts and such that Gibsons use, or is it a proprietary system?

[Embenny]

What's wrong with the string-through?

My first thought too.....

That's a pretty elegant looking guitar IMO and I wouldn't screw around drilling/converting, etc. If there is something functionally wrong with that bridge I'd find a better replacement but leave the basic string thru configuration.

I think it's my urge to tinker and mod! Just finding ways to get a bit more mass at the bridge, get the guitar to resonate a bit more. Maybe just a straight TOM bridge upgrade is in order?

String-through designs are actually meant to get the guitar to resonate more than a top-loading design. I don't think you'd achieve what you're looking for by changing it the other way around.

I can't tell from that photo - are the saddles rollers? I find rollers to be an upgrade over any knife-edge TOM, even on hardtails.