Picked up the RSD bridge for my JM

[El Pelo]

I probably over paid but I just had to have the elusive RSD bridge. Previous owner replaced it with a Mastery.

I really think this bridge is what it's cracked up to be. Unplugged it's very acoustic and lively.

I pulled out my radius gauges and it measures somewhere between 7.25 and 9.5...my guess is 8". Fender probably did this so they can add it to any offset no matter the radius.

I happy so far

[BoringPostcards]

Looks great. I didn't like the shape at first glance, but it's grown on me.

[Lamar Fandango]

I saw that bridge on the Devo guitar in my FB feed. I commented asking, "What's that bridge?" The first reply? "It's a Staytrem and they're all the rage." BLOCKED.

[Danley]

Non-rocking, right? Can't tell if there's a gap between the bushings and posts.

[Debaser]

This is THE bridge to have for a offset floating trem. It’s not even difficult to make, and Fender is being all tight with their shit on this.

Don’t they know they can sell at Mastery prices and make a few bucks? I’d take a rocking version with nylon bushings to help self-center.

OP, if you ever want to sell this, I’m down

[Larry Mal]

I pulled out my radius gauges and it measures somewhere between 7.25 and 9.5...my guess is 8". Fender probably did this so they can add it to any offset no matter the radius.

Wait... what do those screws in the center of the saddles do if not raise and lower the saddles? Are those not height adjustment screws?

[Danley]

Wait... what do those screws in the center of the saddles do if not raise and lower the saddles? Are those not height adjustment screws?

Intonation, I think; the saddles slide?

[Larry Mal]

Wait... what do those screws in the center of the saddles do if not raise and lower the saddles? Are those not height adjustment screws?

Intonation, I think; the saddles slide?

I don't see how they could? I think those are height adjustment screws.

[timtam]

I've always assumed that they were saddle height-adjustment screws on the RSD saddles.

It borrows the Mastery idea of 3 strings per saddle, which gives up individual intonation control in favour of roughly tripling the string downforce on each saddle, which must make them less likely to move on the bridge plate (which they are somewhat 'buried' in anyway). At the very least the increased downforce on the saddle screws should stop them sinking down over time.

In fact the RSD appears to give up intonation control all together (unlike Mastery).

I'm curious to know how the bridge height screws work. ie is there a post underneath, and the screw threads through to protrude from the bottom of that (like vintage-style), and so the screw head can can go up or down within that post (which would mean that screw head can go above and below the top plate) ? Or does that screw mate with a thread in the body bushing .. make it non-rocking ? But it looks like there is wiggle-room in the bushings / thimbles.

How much variation is there in the string groove width / string contact ?

It perhaps borrows most from something like a Tru-Arc SerpenTune ? / Compton ?

http://gretschpages.com/forum/elliot-ea ... 095/page4/

[Larry Mal]

That close up of the the bridge makes me like it even more. I like the idea of fixed saddles. The less moving parts, the better.

Frankly, the only way I would like it more would be if the saddles were of fixed height of 7.25".

I just put a new bone saddle on my Gibson L-00 12 fret, and decided to check the intonation. It was perfect all up and down the neck. You really should not need adjustable saddles.

Granted, you say, but Larry! That's a 12 fret guitar! What about my guitar solos around the 24th fret, Larry? Do you even shred, bro?

At which point I'll say that you are playing past the 15th fret with probably light gauge strings, your finger strength is bending the strings far more than any effect perfect intonation would give you anyway. Calm down, Yngwie.

I'm convinced that the reason electric guitars have adjustable saddles at all is because Gibson and Fender were so sloppy back in the day about where they put their bridges on the guitar that they needed to have that. If they would have given a shit and taken the time, they could have gotten their guitars made perfectly just like how every acoustic instrument maker has always done.

[Danley]

It's the crappiest pic on the internet, but I think I see notches for intonation. Guess we'll need to wait for OP to chime in



I'm all for the thing if it works; and I like it better than the Mastery on the surface. I still think it's a bit funny how the 'improvements' people make to the bridge are giving it an evolutionary lineage that ends in a flattish chunk of granite; then again I never had problems with stock bridges.

[Larry Mal]

Yeah, I don't know what to make out of that.

I can say that I have always been a fan of this bridge at least in theory, and I have no idea why this simply isn't the Fender offset bridge across the board now.

I mean, I know why. Fender has that same paralysis that all guitar makers have where if they deviate from the known then they fear complete failure and ridicule in the marketplace, so their fear in tandem with cheapness leads to a stultifying stasis in design. Not very inspiring, but there are signs of life from time to time, bursts of light across the darkness, and this bridge is one of them.

[kgbAttack]

I absolutely love mine, I did not mess with The screws but I always assumed they were there to slide for intonation, not to adjust height. Then again I didn’t think to check it’s radius, but I will now as I’m curious.

[Trout]

I absolutely love mine, I did not mess with The screws but I always assumed they were there to slide for intonation, not to adjust height. Then again I didn’t think to check it’s radius, but I will now as I’m curious.

Slide in what direction?? In my square head it can only be up and down

[kgbAttack]

I'm not saying it can - I just thought it does I will try to loosen up one saddle and see which direction it moves