Sanding the bottom of the bridge?

i'm about to put on a new bridge on my 52 tele...it's a gotoh that has no lip.

anyway, i've read things by dan earlwine about sanding the bottom of a new bridge on a flat surface with 80-grit, which will give the bridge to guitar more coupling and therefore improve tone.

does this really help? should i go through with this step?

thanks,
scott

but on my partsacaster I sanded mine smooth. In all honesty, I didn't do a before and after test, I just trust that some things make sense. Good coupling of bridge to body makes sense to me.

Pouch,

You probably don't need to do it on the Gotoh modern-style bridge. They are heavier duty and are pretty much flat to start with. Besides, you'd never sand that thing, anyway.

You really only "need" to do it on the thin, vintage-style, stamped bridges, as they are notoriously unflat.

I've never sanded one in my life and have never had a problem.

You really only "need" to do it on the thin, vintage-style, stamped bridges, as they are notoriously unflat.

Is what I have and it sure needed it, YMMV.

You really only "need" to do it on the thin, vintage-style, stamped bridges, as they are notoriously unflat.

You're not kidding. I saw the tip in Dan Erlewine's book too, checked mine with a straight edge and was shocked to see a mini rollercoaster profile.

After a little grinding, it was flat and smooth which can only add to better playability.

Give it a go. I can do any harm.

Regards

Peter

i totally didn't realize that dan was mainly talking about the vintage bridges...the gotoh seems to way 3 to 4 times more than the original.

i guess since it does have so much mass to it, it won't make much of a difference...at least so minute i doubt i'd realize it.

thanks for all the help guys

and recommend it.

Hmmm....sounds like an urban myth to me. In fact, sanding or grinding would dull and/or alter the metal surface (both by heat and friction) which COULD negatively impact the tone transfer. It's a nice project if you're really really really bored some afternoon. :shock: