Replace Dual Fulcrum with Saddle Lock Bridge?

[BaaMoo]

Hi,

Can anyone tell me if it's possible to put a Saddle Lock Bridge in where a Dual Fulcrum Vibrato used to be. I have a Legacy Tribute which I love the sound of but I don't like the trem and I love the look and feel of a Saddle Lock Bridge.

Any thoughts would be most appreciated.

[Craig]

Hi,

Can anyone tell me if it's possible to put a Saddle Lock Bridge in where a Dual Fulcrum Vibrato used to be. I have a Legacy Tribute which I love the sound of but I don't like the trem and I love the look and feel of a Saddle Lock Bridge.

Any thoughts would be most appreciated.

As an alternative see: Replacing a DF trem with a hardtail? and How do I block the tremelo on my guitar?.

[danno58]

Blocking it is the easiest way to do it.
That way you aren't altering the guitar in a way that would hurt the resale value.

This product is pretty cool that allows you to lock the trem or use it floating, or dive only.
http://www.tremol-no.com/

[BaaMoo]

Thanks for the tips guys. I have thought about those options and they are good choices. I'm not worried about the resale value and I've sheared a hex key off in one of the saddle bridge studs, so the bridge isn't in the best shape and I'd probably have to replace it. I have sent a question to G&L about it but not had a reply yet. Also, I love the look of the saddle lock bridge.

It's a guitar that's in limbo, I love the sound of it, but I let a friend set it up and he took way too much off the frets and I hate playing it now. So if I can get the bridge sorted, I'd spend the money to have a re-fretted. All this would cost more than the guitar is worth, but I never said it made sense.

[BaaMoo]

Any more thoughts on this from anyone? I'm really keen to replace the trem with a fixed bridge.

[Boogie Bill]

Under the circumstances you describe, it makes absolutely no sense to me at all to convert it to a hardtail.

I suspect that the DFV is not setup properly and that's why your having issues with it. My guitars have no stability issues at all. If you like the guitar, get it re-fretted, and then get the bridge issued fixed and a proper setup using the factory specs. Be sure to have your tech follow the G&L setup procedure EXACTLY. This ain't yer daddy's Fender vibrato...it is a vast improvement over Leo's original. From there you can make minor adjustments to fit your playing style. Once you've got your guitar playing optimally, then you can make a sound, sensible, rational decision. But you have to know what you've got, first.

Some guys want to block the vibrato and I suppose that's fine, but...two months after you do it...I guarantee you'll want it for some new song you want to learn. Then what do you do?

I would certainly look into getting a guitar with a Saddle Lock, be it one of the ASAT variants, or a custom Legacy or even an Invader. Then your Legacy can serve as a backup, and you'll still have a functioning DFV on those occasions when when you want or need it.

But converting your guitar to a hardtail is throwing good money after bad, in my mind. I just don't see any upside to it at all.

Bill

[louis cyfer]

i agree with bill. if you really want to hardtail it, put in a tremol-no as already suggested, you can lock it to make it a hardtail, or you can unlock it to use the tremolo.

[Miles Smiles]

and I've sheared a hex key off in one of the saddle bridge studs

So you just have to get a new saddle, or a set of saddles, not the whole bridge.

[louis cyfer]

and I've sheared a hex key off in one of the saddle bridge studs

So you just have to get a new saddle, or a set of saddles, not the whole bridge.

i think he means one of the 2 posts.

[Miles Smiles]

i think he means one of the 2 posts.

Really? If that's the case, he should never touch it again except for tuning and playing.

[BaaMoo]

Yes, it's one of the 2 posts that I've sheared the hex key off in. I still don't know what to do with it, it's unplayable (for me). I think I'm going to cut my losses and sell it "as is", it'll be a good deal for someone, and I think I'm after an ASAT anyway.

Thanks for the advice and suggestions.

[sirmyghin]

i agree with bill. if you really want to hardtail it, put in a tremol-no as already suggested, you can lock it to make it a hardtail, or you can unlock it to use the tremolo.

In my experience these things do not allow proper trem function. They introduce enough friction to prevent a proper return. They do block it well enough though.

[louis cyfer]

i agree with bill. if you really want to hardtail it, put in a tremol-no as already suggested, you can lock it to make it a hardtail, or you can unlock it to use the tremolo.

In my experience these things do not allow proper trem function. They introduce enough friction to prevent a proper return. They do block it well enough though.

there is no perceptible friction n mine. returns perfectly. if you have tried tremolnos they might not have been properly set up.

[sirmyghin]

^^

I spent days making sure it was absolutely perfect, inspected the machining, took crocus cloth to it incase of burrs inside and out (as recommended by Kevin) and regardless of what I did my floyd would not return properly anymore, so I removed it and everything was again perfect. The original, pre-mass production model was bearing based, opposed to the shaft contacting directly, that would be an improvement.