Quick! opinion on which TOM

[Bentley]

Okay, if you've been watching my Firecaster build then you'll know I'm in need of a new bridge because I wrecked the other one.. I figured I'd just replace the whole thing because It's a five dollar chinese one. I'm just wondering what you guys like, Conventional TOMs or rolling toms? I think I might go with the rolling one, since it locks somewhat. I don't think that the cheaper ones really are any different in quality from say wilkinson.. Idk, but It's either one of these, I'm not spending a tonne of money. And do you think both insert are the same size?

[R. Stratenstein]

Unless you're going to use a Bigsby or other whammy bar, I don't see much point in using a roller bridge. Conventional bridge will give you more solid coupling with the body, and in theory, perhaps a bit more sustain, plus more likely to intonate more easily and stay that way. With a cheapo bridge, no telling if the inserts are the same size. If it was sold as a replacement for Gibby TOM, it should have the same center-to-center measurement, and the same thread pitch, but as far as fitting in the holes you've already drilled--?????
Good luck with it. You're a real trooper, keep after it

[Bentley]

I bought the one i had before. And a new stop bar.. The screws annoyed me. I'll use the messed up screws until i actually finish it. Anywho, i figured out none of the rolling briges had a 52 mm spacing... So my whole design would have been off. Thanks for the reply, yeah the rolling bridge was useless. I just do a lot of bending, but realistically its not going to move it that much. Snowboarding tomorrow, so no updates.

[Picton]

The cheaper, non-rolling Gotoh TOM that StewMac sells is an excellent bridge. I've used it many times with no complaints.

[Barncaster]

What he said.

[Bentley]

If I encounter problems with this bridge, then I'll replace it, it's only 5 bucks, so that's why I'm not too worried.

[Nick JD]

Originally Posted by Bentley

Snowboarding tomorrow, so no updates.

How's Big White?

[Cat MacKinnon]

Originally Posted by Picton

The cheaper, non-rolling Gotoh TOM that StewMac sells is an excellent bridge. I've used it many times with no complaints.

^this. it's hard to go wrong with Gotoh. i also like that Gotoh because it doesn't use that annoying retainer wire that seems to cause more problems than not.

keep in mind that most of the Wilkinson bridges are actually made by the same Korean company that makes a lot of the "budget" bridges (Sung-Il is the manufacturer.) unless it says "Wilkinson by Gotoh", there's really not going to be much of a quality difference. i'm certainly not saying the Wilkenson stuff is bad (in fact most of it is a pretty good deal), just that Trev Wilkinson licenses his name and designs to several different factories.

[GigsbyBoyUK]

I always use cheap no-brand tunomatic style bridges (but from a retailer I trust) and they work fine. Once, after about three years, one saddle started to rattle and I just changed the bridge altogether since it was not expensive. I use the Nashville type as I like the extra room for intonation adjustments.

[guitar2005]

Originally Posted by Picton

The cheaper, non-rolling Gotoh TOM that StewMac sells is an excellent bridge. I've used it many times with no complaints.

Agreed.