Swope Descendant Vibrato

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marqueemoon
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Swope Descendant Vibrato

Post by marqueemoon » Wed Jun 27, 2018 5:27 am

They just posted a picture of a prototype on Instagram and are showing it at Summer NAMM. Anybody here get some hands-on time with this?

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BoringPostcards
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Re: Swope Descendant Vibrato

Post by BoringPostcards » Wed Jun 27, 2018 1:35 pm

saw a pic on Zuckerbook. Looks interesting.
Det er mig der holder traeerne sammen.

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Re: Swope Descendant Vibrato

Post by oid » Wed Jun 27, 2018 3:33 pm

Looks like hell for string changes, perhaps they are keyhole with strings installed from the front?
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Re: Swope Descendant Vibrato

Post by hwestman » Thu Jun 28, 2018 4:41 am

Do you have a link?

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Re: Swope Descendant Vibrato

Post by marqueemoon » Thu Jun 28, 2018 4:49 am

hwestman wrote:
Thu Jun 28, 2018 4:41 am
Do you have a link?
Let’s see if this works.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkdhiailWJD ... fnzavt4gna

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Re: Swope Descendant Vibrato

Post by 601210 » Thu Jun 28, 2018 5:37 am

Oh, cool. I guess the key selling point is higher break angle on a vintage vibrato position.

I wonder if they'll sell these or just have them on their guitars?

I wish someone would make vibrato plates in brushed metal (or even nickel) that didn't cost the whole rest of my guitar.

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Re: Swope Descendant Vibrato

Post by hwestman » Thu Jun 28, 2018 7:07 am

marqueemoon wrote:
Thu Jun 28, 2018 4:49 am
hwestman wrote:
Thu Jun 28, 2018 4:41 am
Do you have a link?
Let’s see if this works.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkdhiailWJD ... fnzavt4gna
Thanks!!!

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Re: Swope Descendant Vibrato

Post by BoringPostcards » Thu Jun 28, 2018 7:15 am

Is this thing going to require a deeper route?
Det er mig der holder traeerne sammen.

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Re: Swope Descendant Vibrato

Post by antisymmetric » Thu Jun 28, 2018 1:43 pm

Looks like someone's been thinking- if you're after more break angle at the bridge, this could be the thing. The guts all look to have been pushed down lower for added break angle, and the knife plate screws moved from underneath strings to between them. I've played around with a stock trem and done the beginnings of this- spaced the knife plate down a few mm for more break angle and installed countersunk knife plate screws for string clearance (the screw change by itself is so simple and the trem has been in production since 1958- way to go Fender! :fp: ), but this Swope trem looks to be taking things to a new level (IMO of course). Really pleased to see this, cheers for posting! 8)
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Re: Swope Descendant Vibrato

Post by El Reclusa » Thu Jun 28, 2018 4:59 pm

I've mostly been offline the last few days and missed this, but this looks rad.

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Re: Swope Descendant Vibrato

Post by antisymmetric » Thu Jun 28, 2018 5:11 pm

Looking at it again, I think I get the Descendant name- the clearance slots get longer toward the bass side, so maybe the string anchor points "descend" in that direction. Could be to keep the strings more in tune with each other throughout the trem's travel..
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Re: Swope Descendant Vibrato

Post by 601210 » Fri Jun 29, 2018 3:26 am

antisymmetric wrote:
Thu Jun 28, 2018 5:11 pm
Looking at it again, I think I get the Descendant name- the clearance slots get longer toward the bass side, so maybe the string anchor points "descend" in that direction. Could be to keep the strings more in tune with each other throughout the trem's travel..
I think they confirmed in the Instagram post that the difference in slot length is purely cosmetic as a play on the name.

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Re: Swope Descendant Vibrato

Post by Kent » Fri Jun 29, 2018 3:42 am

The only possible practical purpose would be due to the accommodation of the increasing thickness of the string guages. However, one could just make them all equally long and solve the problem. It’s a cosmetic appointment.

I’ll take a look at the unit in a few hours and report back if there is anything worthy of mention.
Last edited by Kent on Sat Jun 30, 2018 12:38 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Swope Descendant Vibrato

Post by scottydanger » Fri Jun 29, 2018 6:41 am

Going to get my hands on this tomorrow, can't wait!

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Re: Swope Descendant Vibrato

Post by Kent » Sat Jun 30, 2018 12:50 am

I managed to talk to the creator about the unit and have a play with it.

It is literally the only one in existence. He finished it late Thursday and then flew out for the show. Patent application was filed the same week.

I guess what everyone wants to know is whether it is a drop-in replacement for a Fender unit. The answer is “Yes, it was designed that way.”

The bridge is a Staytrem. He’s happy with those but might have a look into bridges as well but thinks that the Mastery and Staytrem are currently sufficient.

It feels great and he aimed for a ‘50s JM feel.

I got the impression that he is on the fence as to whether it will be released as a standalone product.

I took some pictures but I don’t have a service so.... well, the current one on Instagram will suffice.
Last edited by Kent on Tue Jul 03, 2018 1:22 am, edited 1 time in total.

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