Gibson / Epiphone "Mod Bar" bridge

[kazuhank]

Not wanting to resurrect this old thread, I was wondering if anyone knew:

A) What happened to Evan and Webbteca?

B) Is anyone else making these (or something like them)?

C) Any other ways to add sustain/mass on 3-post bridges?

I bought one of these for my Casady awhile back and have been kicking myself for selling it with the bass, not knowing that Evan would close up shop (I now have an EB-0 and Rivoli that could both benefit from this simple mod).

[T-Bird]

Hi.

I can't help You with your questions, but it's just a soft, round bar with four holes, even with a machine vice and a steady hand you can do it with a hand drill. A drill press is preferred though .
Perhaps the exact reason the "inventor" of the bar doesn't make them anymore?

While the bar obviously does add mass to the bridge and possibly also some sustain, AFAIK the main reason was to prevent the loop/silk on the end of the string to go past the saddle, a common problem with this kind of bridge.

Regards
Sam

[mongo2]

Originally Posted by T-Bird

While the bar obviously does add mass to the bridge and possibly also some sustain, AFAIK the main reason was to prevent the loop/silk on the end of the string to go past the saddle, a common problem with this kind of bridge.

On my 3 point bridges I've used either strap buttons or a couple of brass hex nuts slipped onto each string so the ball end is further from the back of the bridge to set the silk back off of the saddle. It also adds a bit of mass but I haven't noticed any difference in sustain.

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Originally Posted by mongo2

On my 3 point bridges I've used either strap buttons or a couple of brass hex nuts slipped onto each string so the ball end is further from the back of the bridge to set the silk back off of the saddle. It also adds a bit of mass but I haven't noticed any difference in sustain.

I tried something similar, but as I didn't notice any difference one way or another, I took the spacer off.

On mine the E saddle is all the way back, so the saddle/string contact looks really bad, but like I said, a "better" contact didn't make any difference in sound, tone, harmonics or sustain.
Not to my one good ear anyway .

Regards
Sam

[kazuhank]

Well, to my ears, the mod bar made a difference in both sustain and intonation. I don't have access to a drill press or whatever, so I would need to find someone that could make these for me.

Any volunteers?

[mongo2]

Originally Posted by kazuhank

Well, to my ears, the mod bar made a difference in both sustain and intonation. I don't have access to a drill press or whatever, so I would need to find someone that could make these for me.

Any volunteers?

Whatever you do don't try to hold a round bar and drill through it with a power hand drill. That's just asking for a drilled through finger when the bit slips...don't ask how I know.

[Pilgrim]

I'm considering the Hipshot SuperTone bridge, which is a bolt-on replacement:

http://store.hipshotproducts.com/car...t_detail&p=264

They show up on Ebay at about $90....still a lot of money for a bridge, or I'd already have one.

OTOH, I do have the tools to make my own mod bar. It can be done with a vise and a hand drill if you center-punch the hole placements before you drill.

Originally Posted by mongo2

Whatever you do don't try to hold a round bar and drill through it with a power hand drill. That's just asking for a drilled through finger when the bit slips...don't ask how I know.

Wise words!!!

[kazuhank]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

...still a lot of money for a bridge, or I'd already have one.

You and I both.

[mongo2]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

They show up on Ebay at about $90....still a lot of money for a bridge, or I'd already have one.

I looked into the Hipshot bridges but my hex nut solution cost me about a buck so I went with that.

[Calexia13]

Hey I've got two of those things. I took the one off my Jack bass when I got the hipshot bridge. I was planning on putting the thinner one on my rivoli bass I've got coming, but you're welcome to the bigger one with the recessed holes. Let me know if you're interested. So Evan closed up shop? What a bummer he was a real nice guy.

On the other hand, before Evan came up with his mod bar idea, I went to home depot and bought a hollow brass tube that was about the same length & diameter as his and drilled the holes using my kids toy work bench vice grips (it worked). I thought it gave real solid sustain, but it didn't look as pretty as the Mod bar.

Regards,

[kazuhank]

Originally Posted by Calexia13

Hey I've got two of those things. I took the one off my Jack bass when I got the hipshot bridge. I was planning on putting the thinner one on my rivoli bass I've got coming, but you're welcome to the bigger one with the recessed holes. Let me know if you're interested. So Evan closed up shop? What a bummer he was a real nice guy.

On the other hand, before Evan came up with his mod bar idea, I went to home depot and bought a hollow brass tube that was about the same length & diameter as his and drilled the holes using my kids toy work bench vice grips (it worked). I thought it gave real solid sustain, but it didn't look as pretty as the Mod bar.

Regards,

PM sent!

[WEBBTECA]

Hey I am still here!
I did not leave!
Just contact me!

-Evan Webb