Tru-arc bridge

[alexjones]

Gayle,
Yeah, most folks on this forum are lucky to have been around when Chet was playing. I was just a kid, climbing trees and getting in trouble when Chet was slowing down his playing in the 90's. Too bad I didn't know then what I know now - could of at least tried to see him play live. Boy that sure would have been a treat - now all I have are youtube videos. Too bad I was born in the wrong generation.
Alex

[Dean Peterson]

Not sure if anybody else noticed this, but I purchased a brass Tru Arc for my 59-6122. I liked the sustain and tone, but because the arc is so exact I had to raise the bass side of the bridge up to let the bass strings ring. The middle strings were then higher than with the original bridge. The flatter original bride let the bass strings sit higher because it doesm't curve as much. I then bought a CGP and it did the same thing there. Just wondering if anyone else noticed this.

[alexjones]

Dean,
For higher actions - this will indeed occur. But a person could attain a lower more even action using the tru-arc bridge. When using the flatter bridge, the bass strings will be higher than the middle strings when you look at the relation to the fretboard. Then the middle strings will sound "plunky". So your bass strings will be jacked up pretty high in order to make the middle strings sound good. But when using the Tru-arc, it will raise the middle strings (due to the tighter radius) a bit and make them sound more natural and less "plunky". Plain and simple, the bridge should be pretty representative to the fretboard radius. I played for awhile with the stock gretsch bridge when I first got it and then changed to the tru-arc for a long time. Then I changed back to the gretsch bridge to try it out again and it just felt too flat. It didn't feel as if the strings were put in the right place. But if your used to playing with the stock bar bridge and it feels comfortable - then go for it. I know for a fact Chet didn't play with a tru-arc - haha. Take care.
Alex

[Norm]

Dean,
I know for a fact Chet didn't play with a tru-arc - haha. Take care.
Alex

I think he'da jumped on the Tru-Arc in a heartbeat. Having said that it is interesting that he could have had and used just about any kind of bridge he wanted during his gretsch years that he stuck with the bar bridge. I know my gent came with a tunomatic (bought the guitar used) and I used it that way for years until I bought a regular bar bridge.

When I bought the Tru Arc I 'overlistened' to it and didn't hear an obvious difference. A few days later when I was 'just playing' the guitar I noticed that the sustain had indeed lenghthened on the instrument. I like long, held Bigsby'd notes....

[synchro]

I've been wondering about these very issues myself. My HOF is dead stock and, at least for the moment, has very good action. Ijust don't know whether matching the fingerboard radius will help.

[Norm]

I've been wondering about these very issues myself. My HOF is dead stock and, at least for the moment, has very good action. Ijust don't know whether matching the fingerboard radius will help.

Think about it. How can a bridge shaped on the same radius as your stock fingerboard not help?. Whether you think it's worth the price of the unit is another question.

[synchro]

I've been wondering about these very issues myself. My HOF is dead stock and, at least for the moment, has very good action. Ijust don't know whether matching the fingerboard radius will help.

Think about it. How can a bridge shaped on the same radius as your stock fingerboard not help?. Whether you think it's worth the price of the unit is another question.

At the moment the lowest two strings determine the setting for the thumbwheel on the bass side of the bridge. The middle two strings may be slightly higher than if I had a perfect radius match but not enough to be an issue. I have five Gretsch guitars and four of them have Compton bridges which match the fingerboard radius perfectly so I'm familiar with the benefits but in the case of this guitar I'm not convinced that it's an issue. OTOH, I know that bridge material can make a huge difference in sound and the thought of a stainless steel bridge is intriguing.

[Norm]

Just making conversation here... over at the gretschpages site very little (if any) negative posts have been made about this item. It seems to have a remarkable effect on people who hear it for the first time. I have a congenital hearing loss which means my hearing has never been normal. My high frequencies were just never there so when I got mine it sounded good but I was more impressed with the sustain.

In any case, I had a Tru Arc on my old '61 Gent, a single cut. A friend of mine had a double cut gent and was curious about the tru arc. I took mine off and we put it on his and even though the radius wasn't right (apparently) the difference in tone caused him to order a tru arc that very day.

...still... you're talking nearly 100.00 for a slug of metal about the size of one of your fingers. Being that I only require one electric guitar my decision was easy...

[synchro]

Just making conversation here... over at the gretschpages site very little (if any) negative posts have been made about this item. It seems to have a remarkable effect on people who hear it for the first time. I have a congenital hearing loss which means my hearing has never been normal. My high frequencies were just never there so when I got mine it sounded good but I was more impressed with the sustain.

In any case, I had a Tru Arc on my old '61 Gent, a single cut. A friend of mine had a double cut gent and was curious about the tru arc. I took mine off and we put it on his and even though the radius wasn't right (apparently) the difference in tone caused him to order a tru arc that very day.

...still... you're talking nearly 100.00 for a slug of metal about the size of one of your fingers. Being that I only require one electric guitar my decision was easy...

No negativity intended. I know Tim Harmon personally and think it's a wonderful product. I'm simply wondering aloud if a matched radius bridge may have some unintended negative effects in this case because the bass strings seem to want to be a bit higher on this axe and with a matched radius I would be raising the action on the center two strings. FWIW, my spruce-top Country Club is the same way, it comes to life with a bit higher action.

[Norm]

decisions, decisions....