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01-23-2010, 08:24 PM
|  | Bottom Feeders Unite!! | | Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Delray Beach, Florida | | | Funky Looking Bridge - What The Heck Is It?
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I recently picked up a Tobias Model "T", and it has one funky looking bridge on it! I have no clue as to what type or make it is. 
A little background on the bass. The Model "T" basses were made from 1990 to around 1991 or so. Tobias was owned by Gibson at that point, but Mike Tobias was still running it. (this is before they moved to Nashville) To help keep up with demand, Tobias contracted out to have some basses built. As it ends up, the Model "T" basses were built by Mike Pedulla in New England. Only 110 were made.
Anyway, here are some photos. Anyone seen this type of bridge before?
It looks like it was over-engineered by NASA scientists!    |
01-23-2010, 10:17 PM
| | Registered User
Owner: Brevard Sound Systems | | Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Deltona, FL | | | Wilkenson |
01-24-2010, 01:22 AM
|  | Musician - tech/repair at Nordstrand Guitars
Endorsing artist: Genz Benz - Nordstrand - DR strings | | Join Date: May 2003 Location: Los Angeles/Redlands, CA | | | Wilkinson.... long time ago.....
M |
01-24-2010, 01:43 AM
| | | | yes, wilkinson, a dodgy, miserable design.
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Walter Wright
Guitar Repair Gnome
Alpha Music, VA Beach
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01-24-2010, 11:30 AM
| | Bottom Feeders Unite!! | | Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Delray Beach, Florida | | | The the winner is....Wilkinson! Thanks for the replies. I actually saw one on eBay too. Well it does what it is suppose to do, so no reason to change it. |
01-24-2010, 12:56 PM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by ClassicJazz  Well it does what it is supposed to do, so no reason to change it. | what's that, rattle, lose sustain, and get out of alignment? 
actually, if the strings are centered in each saddle instead of being over on one side like other versions i've seen, that thing might be reasonably stable.
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Walter Wright
Guitar Repair Gnome
Alpha Music, VA Beach
Last edited by walterw : 01-24-2010 at 12:59 PM.
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01-24-2010, 06:06 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Virginia Beach, VA | | | Had one on a Carvin and hated it.
Be afraid....be very afraid.
Riis
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"20% of the money will buy you 90% of the sound..another 30% of the money will buy you another 5% of the sound..you can't buy the remaining 5% of the sound because nobody can agree about what it is." |
01-24-2010, 08:03 PM
| | Bottom Feeders Unite!! | | Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Delray Beach, Florida | | | If I did change it.....don't know what I'd change it with. The screw spacing does not seem to match anything Hipshot has. I'll have to measure the screw spacing with some calipers I have at work. If it is metric, good chance Gotoh might have one that I could use. |
01-24-2010, 08:11 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Germantown, Louisville KY USA | | | Damn... I've never seen this bridge before. It seems like a decent design... that is if the saddles really do allow changes in string spacing and their locking screws actually work.
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01-24-2010, 08:27 PM
|  | Registered User
Endorsing Artist: see profile | | Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: toms_river.nj.us | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Zooberwerx Had one on a Carvin and hated it. | I had one on my Carvin... thought it worked well. |
01-24-2010, 08:40 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: USA | | | Works fine
I've had a 5 string version on a TL-5 for years and it works fine. mech 
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01-24-2010, 08:43 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Midland/Odessa, TX | | Quote:
Originally Posted by James Hart I had one on my Carvin... thought it worked well. | +1
A friend of mine has a 6 string fretless Carvin that he's had for 15 years and has NEVER had to do any adjustments, and I've checked it over for him periodically. And the tone, OH GAWD the tone and sustain were just immaculate!
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01-24-2010, 09:38 PM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by ClassicJazz If I did change it.....don't know what I'd change it with. The screw spacing does not seem to match anything Hipshot has. I'll have to measure the screw spacing with some calipers I have at work. If it is metric, good chance Gotoh might have one that I could use. | it might even be standard fender 5-hole mounting, in which case there are plenty of options. since i see a bartolini pickup in there, string spacing is not so critical. a gotoh 201 might fit right on.
the main problem with them (at least on the 5-string versions) was the string sat over to one side of the saddle, putting most of its force on one height screw while leaving the other one to rattle and get out of alignment.  the design addressed this by having a set screw that put pressure on the intonation (length) screw, forcing it downward. it would usually end up bending that screw in the process. 
also, the weird little pin that the string ball hooked onto would sometimes break, rendering it useless.
the 4-string version pictured has a hooked slot instead of a pin, and so avoids this problem at least.
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Walter Wright
Guitar Repair Gnome
Alpha Music, VA Beach
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01-24-2010, 09:41 PM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by ClassicJazz | oh, and check your E string, it has an ugly kink right before it meets the saddle. you might be able to just push down on it over the saddle contact point to get it straight again.
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Walter Wright
Guitar Repair Gnome
Alpha Music, VA Beach
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05-12-2010, 01:54 PM
| | | | I have one on my Tobias 6 string. I'm in the process of choosing a replacement as I opened the case one day to find the claws that hold the ends of the string in had completely snapped off on the E and the G. |
05-12-2010, 01:58 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Nashville | | | IMHO, if the base of the bridge had slots to keep the saddle adjustment screws in line it would be a very servicable and usable bridge. The adjustable string spacing is very handy also. |
05-12-2010, 05:04 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado | | I prefer the design of this Guild bridge on my fretless - they show up on Ebay from time to time.... 
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