TonePros Roller Bridge: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
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- čas přidán 4. 08. 2024
- I recently got a TonePros Roller Bridge because of tuning issues I was having with the Bigsby B7 on my Gibson Les Paul Traditional Goldtop. The model is TP6R-N. I ran into some problems, as you'll see, but overall I really like it!
UPDATE: For the time being, I've kept the Faber posts, but I HAVE utilized the set screw on the TonePros to help keep it in place and let the rollers do the work. Seems to be working ok. Hopefully I don't damage the threads on the Faber posts.
**I apologize for the microphone issues in the video**. 😬
0:00 Intro
1:47 Tonepros Roller Bridge specs & details
3:37 Installation & comparison to Faber & ABR-1 bridges
10:43 Buzzing & rattling issue!
13:34 Fixing the dilemma
22:18 More on tuning stability and my opinion
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#tonepros #roller #bridge - Hudba
UPDATE: TonePros did eventually reach out to me & seemed to want to genuinely help. They said they checked & didn’t have a record of my email…although I’m confident I sent it. But I guess there was a mix up somewhere along the way. Other than the hiccup with the loose roller, the bridge seems to be solid. But in the end, do what’s best for you. 👍🏻
Helpful video, and your intro is hilarious!
Sorry if I missed something (watching this at work), but usually aftermarket bridges only come with 'pre-notched' saddles AFAIK. Typically you will want to file proper string slots so the strings don't slip with big bends. So that might be why the slots on the Faber bridge are so much shallower.
Thanks. That’s a good point! I just looked it up on Faber’s website & sure enough, they say that they are just “starter” notches. They say the wound string notches may need widening.
Small update: I actually bought a TonePros roller bridge myself in the meantime. Had the buzzing issue as well. In my case the solution was really simple, though. I use a Towner down tension bar with my Bigsby which allows me to adjust the break angle. Increasing the break angle a bit fixed the buzzing issue (and tuning stability is at least as good as before).
The Vibramate you are using seems to give you a shallower break angle - which is great for normal Tune-O-Matics, but maybe not so much for roller bridges? I kinda got the feeling that it works and sounds better with more downward pressure on the rollers. Maybe something worth looking into.
@@mortb6584 glad you were able to fix yours. It’s funny, one of the benefits of the Vibramate is supposed to be a more shallow break angle. Who knows. 🤷🏻♂️ It’s just one of the many factors. All the best.
That sharpee trick is money!
Right?!
I’m the guy that just bothered you about the Mastery, so I subbed to make up for it. I was looking at these as I have a shitty sideways vibrola on my SG. I was looking at these to solve the problem and not have to lock the goddamned thing down. Think I have to lock the goddamed thing down. Thanks.
Glad to help…I guess. 😂 And thanks for the subscribe!
I had an Epiphone Custom with a Vibramate and Bigsby on it and got that exact roller bridge. The roller on the A string wasn’t fully in and I had to bang it lightly and it fixed. Those bridges are seriously hit or miss.
Try a Schaller roller bridge like Heritage used on my ’03 H-150. They used threaded rods so you could set the intonation and the string alignment. I think all roller bridges are going to be wider to accommodate the roller mechanism.
Interesting. Thanks for sharing. I never realized that about the Schaller Bridge. So, don’t the rollers move side to side whenever they roll??
@@NathanSink The strings don’t move it that much and actually stay where set.
@@NathanSink I spent a buttload of money on a Schaller roller bridge, and, they are an absolute disgrace. The screws that adjust the intonation back and forward are made of copper, or some material that is as soft as butter. The bridge itself is made of brass, plated with your chosen finish, which is fine. But these screws, they are not even as hard as brass, they are softer than that. So as you adjust these screws, your flathead screwdriver will chew up and mangle the slot!
And, also, the screws are F#$*&ING flat-head slots!!! What sort of half-witted moron would use flathead slots here? As you cannot get your screwdriver 100% parallel to screw, there is no other way to do it than come in at a slight downwards angle... so your screwdriver is almost certain to slip out of the slot to scratch your guitar top!! If Schaller had 2 brain cells that worked, they would've used a normal HARD steel screw, and made it a philips-head, so your screwdriver does not slip out. Do NOT get a Schaller roller bridge.
@@An_Idiot_in_the_Wild dang, that’s no good. 😬 Thanks for sharing your experience. Good to know!
I bought one for my 2014 epiphone custom silver burst never put it on it plays like a gem sorta glad I didn’t probably will do more study on it got the roller bridge off of eBay!!!
They use these bridges on the new falcons and it’s driving me insane. Mine are buzzing like crazy. Thinking about returning my guitar lol.
Oh no! Is there enough downward pressure on the bridge from the strings (enough break angle)? Maybe try some Vaseline on the rollers? I know how much those things cost. 😬 It’s frustrating when you have issues.
I ended up getting everything set perfectly for me, then I immobilized with JB weld except for the rollers themselves. No problems now haha
Whatever it takes! 😄
I thought the idea of putting on a roller bridge with a Bigsby is to get a smoother warble and a more stable tuning. You didn't address those concerns concerns unless I missed it.
You’re sort of right. However see, @22:19 in the video. 😉
Awesome《☆》Definitely better than it was. Nice Gold Top👍🤓🏈
Thanks!
Actually wanted to buy this for tuning stability, I do not mind the rattling but tuning stability, it is good?
Yes, but it also depends on other things too. For example I had bad tuning with this bridge but it turned out that the issues were at the nut. Once I replaced the nut everything was great.
And of course the rattle was able to be fixed too with a little effort.
@@NathanSink Thank you! I also have same issue, do not know if it is from compensated nut of bridge on a Schecter E1 SLS Evil Twin!
Do these bridges fit on a Gretsch jet?
I’m not sure honestly. I don’t own a Jet, but I really want one! You will probably have to measure or verify your bridge post spacing to find out. This sounds like it might work: reverb.com/au/item/23044260-roller-adjustomatic-bridge-for-gretsch-guitars-6118-duo-jet
I feel ya, I rolled my ankle falling off the last step of our daughter's basement. Dec 23, 2021 It still hurts sometimes now even on February 13, 2022.
😬 Seems like it’s never quite the same.
What would be really useful to know is this … On your Epi that works well, do the strings actually slide over the saddles when you use the trem, or does the whole bridge rock slightly on its posts ???
If it’s the latter then A) Rollers are pointless and B) A locking bridge will never achieve the same result.
Absolutely a valid point. When I went away from the Nashville style post on my Gibson, I think I actually made it worse for the Bigsby because the bridge doesn't have much "give" to rock back & forth.
That's just like on racing engines. Everybody always thinks "roller rocker arms" are the bees knees because "it rolls so there has to be less friction". Except that the "roller" only moves about 0.040" of an inch at the most and the wheel actually slides across the lifter face, still. Ita such a short distance that the roller doesn't have time to even roll.
But you can't tell anybody that. "It's called a *roller* rocker. It rolls. Duh!"
SMH 🙄
Nickle is fine but nickel frets will wear out fast if you are a fast and aggressive player. Especially if you really like to push down on those strings. I use .09 gauge sets most of the time because I do a lot of bending and even steel guitar style licks which do require bending. I like 10's but in my older age can't get the bends with out struggling.
same experience with tone pros when I asked about a bridge I have - no response
They actually did reach out not too long ago. Someone actually sent them my video. 😂 They said they looked but didn’t have a record of my email (I sent it through their website). Anyway, they wanted to make it right. Hopefully you get an answer. 😕
I used Vanson ones also good.
I had actually not heard of them. Thanks for sharing. 👍🏻
God bless you i hope you make a live youtube video you using that guitar 🎸 with the roller bridge playing that guitar
Here’s a video of me playing the guitar with the roller bridge (starts about 5:50 in): czcams.com/video/mLgdgjJjAVk/video.html
Nail polish or super glue that rattling post.
Good thought, but it’s supposed to be able to roll or move with the strings as the Bigsby is engaged. Wouldn’t that hinder it?
Guitar fetish has a great roller bridge
Thanks for the info. 👍🏻
God bless you i hope you play live with that guitar to see how it sound with the roller bridge
Thanks! Playing it this Sunday! 😊
Zamak is basicly Zinc but with a tiny bit of aluminium/copper/magnesium mixed into i believe like.. 95% zinc
Thanks for the info! So it’s:
Z - zinc
A - aluminum
M - magnesium
A - aluminum
K - kopper
😁
@@NathanSink hah, that could be the reasoning for the naming i have no idea, i only know because im looking at a bridge replacement for my epihone limited 59 as the B string is buzzing thanks to the bridge and im considering faber, had a look at tonepros only reason i checked out what zamak is tonepros seems quite overpriced compared to faber tho
@@SubutaiTuul I got this TonePros on Reverb for about $60. The Faber one I bought was about $70.
@@NathanSink Im in europe and the one im buying from Faber Germany is 45 euros. with brass saddles. its around 70+ if i want Titanium but i think ill stick with brass
@@SubutaiTuul oh, gotcha. 👍🏻
You don't get that with Schaller roller bridges
I just don’t like the way Schaller bridges look for some reason. 😬
Tonepros is notorious for not responding to emails. Idk why they bother having contact info on their website.
😂😬
Yeah, they ignore you and they don't seem to sell any spare parts. Why can you not buy spare saddles for example?
@@ryanstark2350 the first rule of business is “The customer is always right”….unless you can get away without providing any customer service at all. 🙄
Yeah no tonepros for me
Lesson is, don't mess with wiggle sticks. Ever.
😂
FACTS! They’re shite
Why change all the strings when 1 breaks? It's WAYYYYYY cheaper to buy a bundle of single high E strings and just replace the single string when it breaks.
Side Bonus - it doesn't take nearly as long and you only have to stretch a single string when you're done. Again, saving more time.
Where I live our guitar/music store options are extremely limited. In the past I was used to going to the store, rummaging through their miscellaneous single strings & getting what I needed. However, I’ve recently found that you can get packs of single gauged strings on Amazon. Score.
Schaller is the way…. Just like Heritage Guitars use.!!
I won’t argue with their performance, but they look too bulky for me. 😬🙂
@@NathanSink
You wouldn’t notice, I had them on both H150s, they worked and strings seemed to last a little longer (Slinkys 9/42) as they had just that minute movement especially when you’re continuously bending the B+E strings, it has a low profile albeit just slight wider than stock but never noticed any differences of maneuverability or hindrance..
CZcams now interrupts videos like this to put in adverts...I really think we need to create a similar but less Google platform....
Well…it’s the only way I make any money off these videos…so. 😂
@@NathanSink pardon me, not popping at you...this is on almost every video I see on CZcams...I think they're a bad platform..interruppting sensitive music, censoring us, spying on us....have a good day
Someone is snorrin
Rest is best.
Schaller roller bridges are a better design. Pricey but worth it.
I don’t disagree, but I’m sort of a minimalist with regard to looks. The Schaller is pretty bulky. The good thing is that there are options! 🙂
Super glue it on the posts
The bridge to the posts?
@@NathanSink 👶🎤🙏👶🎤🙏👹🎤👽🙏🖼️🩲🩲🩲🩲🩲🩲🔘🔘🔘🔘🔘🔘🔘🔘🔘🔘🔘🔘🔘🎟️🎟️🎟️🎟️🎟️🔘🔘🔘🔘🔘🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🩲🩲🩲🩲🩲🩲🩲🩲🩲👯♂️👯♂️👯♂️👯👯👯👯♀️👯♀️👯♀️👯♀️👨👩👦👦👨👩👦👦👨👩👦👦👨👩👦👦👮👮👮👮👮♂️👮♂️👮♂️👮♂️👮♀️👮♀️👮♀️👮♀️🎟️🎟️🎟️🎟️🎟️🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🔘🔘🔘🔘🔘🔘🔘🔘🔘🔘🔘🔘🔘🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🔘🔘🔘🔘🔘🩸🩸🩸🩸👹🩸👹🩸👹🩸👹🩸🔘🩸🔘🎄🗺️🌏
SO THERE YOU HAVE IT FOLKS TONEPROS CUSTOMER SERVICE SUCKS THE BIG ONE ! 😂 🤣 😂
To be fair, TonePros did eventually reach out to me & seemed to want to genuinely help. I pinned a comment at the top with a little more detail.
wow im surprised how bad are these. Considering its not a cheap bridge, this is a joke.
Yeah, it was definitely an unpleasant surprise to me. 😐
@@NathanSink i ordered a schaller roller type, i hope its gonna be good. Im using the stock Tonepros bridge on my LTD ec1000, the saddles are from this zinc alloy, wich is just awful. it sticks, corrodes, i need to fight for harmonic content...
@@attilahavasi6987 hope it works out for you!
That movement is unusable. Maybe interesting deign but bad execution.
You really butcher the pronunciation of Faber. Both syllables wrong. 🤣
Can’t do a drop test on an Ikea table…
Use some Teflon tape, on the bridge post insert. It will stop wobbling.
You have a Gibson, yet you cheap out on the bridge? 🤦
Hopeless.
So…
1) I’m not German: I grew up in the southern US. What do you expect? How do you pronounce it: FAH-BEAR?
2) It’s not an IKEA table. I came up with it myself (here’s the video if you’re interested: czcams.com/video/W1XvHf0P3N0/video.htmlsi=qzJkeN9oPyltYrmz No, the top isn’t real wood, but you can most certainly do a drop test on it. If two pieces are dropped & sound different it works: the sound is relative.
3) You comment later that I’m “cheaping out” on the bridge, yet you suggest using teflon tape as a solution?
4) I don’t believe the TonePros bridge is cheap or inferior. I got a bad one, but I fixed it & now it works perfectly.
@@NathanSink
1. I thought it was funny.
2. Didn’t mean to drag your table. The drop test is better done, on a more solid surface. Yes, the sound *is* relative… To what you drop it on. A solid surface will better transfer the metallic sound.
3 & 4. Tape is a solution, for an existing problem. If you’re replacing the bridge, on a Gibson, you should at least get a quality replacement. Not saying you should drop $400+, on a Four Uncles, but at least a Schaller, or Graph Tech. Both are similarly priced, to the TonePros, but much better quality. You’ll notice the difference.
i want to know how a graphtec saddle bridge holds up with tremolo vs a roller bridge
Interesting. I’d be curious too. To me the biggest consideration with Graphtech is the possible change in tone. I would imagine though the PFT would make the strings slide back & forth with ease.
@@NathanSink it appears that on a new fender model they pair the bigsby with the jazzmaster mustang bridge which is rocking, however bushings are available from darrel riely that eliminate the rock, apparently this could work too