1. Most Essential Guitar Bridge Types

2. Introduction The ability to dive bomb and create amazing tremolo effects from your guitar is only possible because of the bridge… Did you know there are 7 main guitar bridge types? This is very important if you want to sound unique and stand out from other guitarists, as each bridge aids your flair and playing style!

3. What Is A Guitar Bridge? The bridge is found on the lower bout of the guitar body and directs the strings over the pickups (for electric guitars) or a sound hole (on an acoustic guitar) before it reaches the fretboard. ❏ Fine Tunes Intonation: adjusting the saddle to fine tune your strings and gets rid of dead frets and elevates fret buzz ❏ Controls Fretboard Action: accurately positioning the strings, a relative height to the fretboard. This controls the gap between the fretboard and the strings ❏ Controls String Alignment: The bridge partly aligns the strings over the pick-ups and sound hole. Whereby, height and gradient can be adjusted to suit your need ❏ Creating Tremolo effect: floating bridge systems main purpose is to provide you the functionality to spruce up your playing, giving you the ability to alter the pitch by the use of a whammy bar

4. Fixed Bridge Vs Tremolo Bridge TREMOLO BRIDGES ❏ Synchronized Tremolos ❏ Floyde Rose / Locking Tremolos ❏ Bigsby ❏ Stetsbar Tremolo ❏ Duesenberg Les Trem FIXED BRIDGES ❏ Hardtail Bridges ❏ Tune-O-Matic Bridges ❏ Wrap-Around Bridges There are many different types of guitar bridges out there. But, when you are talking about any kind of bridge they will fall into two main categories.

5. ❖ The best TuneOMatic bridge is the first example of a fixed bridge. The Tune-o- matic bridge is the Les Paul Standard, whereby it was first developed by Gibson and used on 1952 Les Paul Custom. Gibson first made this design as a way to improve the precise intonation adjustment.best TuneOMatic bridge ❖ The tune-o-matic bridges have a MASSIVE advantage as they are able to intonate more precisely than its counter parts!tune-o-matic bridges Tune-O-Matic Bridge

6. ❖ They get their name ‘wrap-around’ as the guitar strings thread through the front side of the bridge and wrap around the tailpiece where it rests on the saddle. ❖ Pros - Easiest of all to Restring – You just insert the strings from the bottom of the bridge, and it wraps around the top of it. I have ever had any problems with this, and I’d definitely recommend it for beginners ❖ Cons - Lack of fine-tuning/intonation capability in some models (not all) Wrap Around Bridge

7. Hard Tail Bridge Type Hard Tail bridges are known as hard-tails as the bridge consists of a sole unit rather than a disjoined bridge and tailpiece. This means the bridge is attached solid to the body of the guitar whereby the bridge doesn’t move. When it comes to replacing guitar equipment you get what you pay for. If you are looking to replace or upgrade your hardtail bridge then I would personally recommend the Gotoh (second option in the above table).

8. A synchronised tremolo is a floating bridge most commonly seen on fenders. The synchronised tremolo worked by having an integrated bridge and tailpiece. This had a bevelled pivot edge on the top metal plate, which sat against the top of the guitar. Guitar Use The Synchronised Tremolos Bridge ●American Performer Stratocaster® HSS ●American Performer Stratocaster® ●Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster® ●Limited Edition Lightweight Ash American Professional Stratocaster® ●Classic Series ’60s Stratocaster® Lacquer Synchronised Tremolo Bridge

9. ❖ The position of the strings is fixed in these three clamps, eradicating the movement and friction that can often lead to the state of going out of tune. ❖ In addition, Floyd Rose enclosed strings with locking nuts, which keep the string in their right position at the headstock. ❖ Floyd Rose allows you to do dive boms and this is due to the tremolo system having springs allowing the movement of the bridge. Floyd Rose Tremolo Bridge

10. The Bigsby is an add-on vibrato for electric guitar designed by mechanical engineer Paul Bigsby in the late 1940s, and is now produced by Bigsby Electric Guitar Company – which is currently a subsidiary of Fender. This type of bridge is usually seen on hollow and semi hollow-bodied guitars, as well as arch top models like the Les Paul. Guitars that use Bigsby bridge: ●1959 Les Paul Standard ●Epiphone Casino ●Gretsch Triple Jet ●Eastwood’s Airline 59 3P DLX Bigsby Tremolo Bridge

11. Stetsbar ❖ The Stetsbar Tremolo system is a roller bridge system used specifically to convert a tune-o-matic bridge system into a tremolo bridge system. ❖ The big idea is that you can install the bridge system without making any permanent modifications to your guitar. ❖ The Stetsbar is aimed at converting your Les Paul tune-o-matic bridge into a tremolo system.

12. Duesenberg Les Trem ❖ Just like the stetsbar the Duesenberg Les Trem is a compact roller tremolo system for guitars such as a Les Paul that use the tune-o-matic bridge and stop-tailpiece. ❖ It’s very cool design allows you to easy install and doesn’t require any modifications such as drilling which could damage your guitar. ❖ The Duesenberg is aimed at converting your Les Paul tune-o-matic bridge into a tremolo system

13. There are many parts of a guitar bridge.guitar bridge ❖ Saddle ❖ Bridge/Tremolo Springs ❖ Whammy Bar ❖ Bridge Tail Piece ❖ Tie Block ❖ Fine Tuning Screw ❖ Bridge Pin Peg Parts Of The Guitar Bridge

14. ❖ Plastic Pin Pegs: Wears out easily and won’t enhance a guitar’s tone. ❖ Wood: Improves sustain and tone. However, can be expensive and often requires reaming out the bridge to fit properly. ❖ Ivory: Increases sustain, produces a warm tone. Very expensive, and often requires reaming out the bridge to fit properly. In addition, difficult to obtain legally. ❖ Bone: Increases sustain, produces a brighter tone. These a hard to get your hands on, and often requires reaming out the bridge to fit properly. ❖ Brass: Lasts forever, produces a very bright tone (good for guitars with excessive bass). However, they are also difficult to find, and often requires reaming out the bridge to fit properly. Can be too bright for most guitars. Types of Bridge Pins

15. Don’t fear the whammy. If you really want a Floyd Rose or other complex system, or even if you think you want to learn to set up a Fender bridge so it doesn’t go out of tune when you go all Hendrix on it, go for it. Good luck choosing the best guitar parts for your electric guitar!best guitar parts Conclusion