Tremolo verses saddle locking bridge

[jwebsmall]

How much of the sparkle of a legacy/s-500 is attributable to the tremolo?
How would it change the tone other than increased sustain to have a saddle locking
bridge instead of a DF tremolo?

The reason I ask is I'm amazed at the sound of ASAT specials. Besides
the obvious difference of the pickups it seems the saddle locking bridge
is a major contributor to the tone. I loved the sound of the ASAT III
and I heard a lot of that character in the ASAT special. I'm wondering
what the S-500 sounds like with the saddle locking bridge? Anything
like an ASAT III?

[BillEvans1956]

Ask Willy...

[youtube]nqqdCf98Vsc[/youtube]

Bill

[jwebsmall]

Great playing. I can hear the edge of the saddle locking bridge
- really solid and crystal clear - thanks!

[BillEvans1956]

Great playing. I can hear the edge of the saddle locking bridge
- really solid and crystal clear - thanks!

I asked Willy the same question earlier this year. His reply:
"Well, for my main blues guitar I like the feel of the fixed bridge. When I play rock stuff floating bridge is fine."
Glad to have helped. Bill

[offplanetfilms]

There's definitely a lot more sustain on the saddle lock bridge... almost 2-3 times the amount when I time it (compared to the tremolo). Very clear too.

[jwebsmall]

The saddle locking bridge is compelling for sure.

[BillEvans1956]

Here's Willy again...

[youtube]vM1F3mlwjC4[/youtube]

Enjoy.

Bill