Hipshot on a SX Furrian RN SSS (or similar)?

[TanRu]

Hey Guys -

I'm looking to give B-Bending a try as cheaply as I can. Is it possible to install a Hipshot bender (which I already have) on a SX Furrian RN SSS ? The stock bridge doesn't look like it will work out, but are there dual-load type bridges out there that would fit the Furrian?

If not Furrian, any other recommendations?

Thanks for any info!

[bender-freak]

I'm gonna put one on my Xaviere XV820 in the morning just for poops and grins. It already comes with a 3 barrel dual load bridge, so it will take longer to re-string than it will to mount the Hipshot B/G bender. Crappy picture but that's the Xaviere from GFS that I got just last week. I've lacquered the neck and fingerboard since this pic was taken and it is now not nearly so pale and bleached looking and much smoother to play; wasn't bad at all before but just looked too pale for my liking. I really like this guitar.

I have one of the Rondo double bound Furrians and it is not near the quality of the Xaviere guitar, and no the Rondo bridge will NOT work for mounting a Hipshot B/G bender; not without a LOT of modification. Check out the GFS guitars.

[TanRu]

Ooo great tip, thanks. I was hoping for a Nashville-style but maybe I can rout this out and replace the pickguard.

[bender-freak]

I got the Hipshot on my Xaviere this morning; but ran into a very slight snag. The strap button was far enough off-center that I had to re-locate it about 1/4 to the side so the Hipshot would line up. Still took me FAR longer to restring the silly thing than it did to mount the Hipshot and redrill the strap button hole.

The Xaviere XV820 is absolutely "made" for a Hipshot bender. As I said it already has string thru bodt holes AND top loader holes in the vintage style bridge plate. The saddles have grroves for string spacing. The top loader holes give plenty of downforce for the B/G and big E string with D-tuner to operate properly. Will try to get a pic up after a while. It works great.

[TanRu]

Awesome, looking forward to a pic or video! Thanks again.

[bender-freak]

Originally Posted by TanRu

Awesome, looking forward to a pic or video! Thanks again.

Poor pics, but Hipshot is on there. I thought I had taken a very closeup pic of it, but apparantly not. Oh well, they all look alike, LOL.

[TanRu]

How close to Fender shape is the Xaviere pick guard? If I were to try to put a Nashville pick guard in there, (routing and wiring aside) how much work would I be in for? Fill and drill, reshaping?

[bender-freak]

I can't answer your question on the pickguard. I doubt that it would be a PERfect fit, but any pickguard swapping I ever did on any of my teles I didn't worry too much if the holes didn't quite match up. I just drill new holes. The holes are going to be covered up and out of sight anyway. I bought another "tortoise" pickguard from Grizzly for the Xaviere right after I got the guitar, cost was $9 and tax. Decided after I bought it the black looked better so I'll put the Grizzly guard on something else someday.

Have fun with whatever you do and let us see the results. Don't be afraid to "try" stuff yourself such as minor filing and trimming on a pickguard, they're pretty cheap unless you just HAVE to have Fender brand stuff.

[bendecaster]

I think you could do it on the SX. File a notch in the bridge plate and possibly replace one saddle. I don't think it would require too much work.

I have a similar bridge plate on one of my bender guitars and used a graph tech saddle, cut a little notch in it(it is quite soft and easy to work with) and the bridge plate and voila! This bender has been working just fine since 1998! Obviously, if you are going for a B & G bender you would have to do this on two strings. I'm a big believer in using and getting the most out of what you have.