Lightning bar/bolt compensating wraparound bridge

RVA

RVA

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Anybody use them, like them, hate them? I read some things about intonation problems without a wound G string, but it seems this may not be the case with the new type. They seem to be stock on many mid-to-low priced Gibsons and Epiphones.

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My 2 PRS Mira S2s have a lightening boltish wraparound.
So does your 408 and at least 1 other of your PRS guitars.
To answer the question, I love the PRS ones.


th
 
Tony M. said:
My 2 PRS Mira S2s have a lightening boltish wraparound.
So does your 408 and at least 1 other of your PRS guitars.
To answer the question, I love the PRS ones.


th
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PRS wraparounds are by far my favorite "bar none" (sorry about that). I have a lightning bolt and intend to use it on my incoming guitar body. I was even thinking about putting one on my Gadow, Princeton, since I am not thrilled with the Tonepros. So what about the Gibson/import variety?
 
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RVA said:
Anybody use them, like them, hate them? I read some things about intonation problems without a wound G string, but it seems this may not be the case with the new type.
Click to expand...

That is correct. The early wrap-arounds were made with the “saddle” for the G string shifted forward, for a wound G. The type you show in your OP has the saddle shifted back, for a plain G. You may find you can’t get the intonation perfect, but you can probably get pretty close. You may also have to experiment with string gauges to find a gauge that intonates best.

I do like the idea of a wrap-around. They seem simple and uncluttered. But, I don’t have one on any of my guitars.
 
BUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA no really

they do work--- I was "skeptical" many moons ago when I got the first one ---modern ones work jsut fine I cant say for vintage ones as I have not had any experince
 
smitty_p said:
That is correct. The early wrap-arounds were made with the “saddle” for the G string shifted forward, for a wound G. The type you show in your OP has the saddle shifted back, for a plain G. You may find you can’t get the intonation perfect, but you can probably get pretty close. You may also have to experiment with string gauges to find a gauge that intonates best.

I do like the idea of a wrap-around. They seem simple and uncluttered. But, I don’t have one on any of my guitars.
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Thank you Smitty. That will work just fine for me then.
 
Intonating a guitar is a best guess type of thing in any case. It will never be perfect. We have to learn to live with that. I have a $80 Craig's List Epi Les Paul Junior where I "borrowed" the wrap around bridge to put on a Gibson SG that had a broken Tonepros wraparound bridge. One of the saddle adjustment screws was stripped. The intonation on the Gibby was almost spot on with the Epi bridge so I bought a $9.99 Chinese replacement from Amazon for the Junior. It is one of my best intonated guitars, better than it was with the Epi bridge which works perfectly on the Gibson.
 
My 2011 Gibson 50th Anniversary Pete Townshend SG is stock with its Lightning Bolt wraparound bridge.
RVA said:
Anybody use them, like them, hate them?
Click to expand...
My 2011 Gibson 50th Anniversary Pete Townshend SG is stock with the Gibson wraparound Lightning Bar saddle ridges. Yes I love it. Intonation is very close. I got this guitar about 3 years ago, and I paid a lot of attention to this type of bridge. At first, with lots of help from my OCD, I was not comfortable with the forward tilt of the bridge... even though the guitar performed fine. At that point, I was introduced to the TonePros locking studs. Faber and Schroeder also make locking studs, just to name a couple extra brands. The locking studs now allow the bridge to sit flat, and also increased the nut to saddle length for proper intonation, without having to use the set screws to adjust the bridge further back as much. This last feature was important to me, because I don't like to see the gaps in the bridge's stud slots... once again: my OCD kicking in. I wish the position of the bridge studs were extended another 1/16" to 1/8"... oh well! Another gripe is: Why doesn't Gibson design these studs with tighter tolerances in order to avoid the tilt? I bet the PRS style wraparounds don't tilt.

There is something very unique going on with these type of bridges that have no moving parts with the exception of the adjusting set screws. I will never replace this bridge with anything else. This SG resonates like crazy.

Stock studs:

Intonation move Wrap back (1).JPG

Locking studs:

TonePros Locking Studs (5).JPG
 
Kerry Brown said:
Intonating a guitar is a best guess type of thing in any case. It will never be perfect. We have to learn to live with that. I have a $80 Craig's List Epi Les Paul Junior where I "borrowed" the wrap around bridge to put on a Gibson SG that had a broken Tonepros wraparound bridge. One of the saddle adjustment screws was stripped. The intonation on the Gibby was almost spot on with the Epi bridge so I bought a $9.99 Chinese replacement from Amazon for the Junior. It is one of my best intonated guitars, better than it was with the Epi bridge which works perfectly on the Gibson.
Click to expand...

I've never owned a wraparound. The inability to really square up the intonation would drive me nuts....
 
RVA said:
I was going to write that it is spot-on, but maybe not your idea of spot-on!
Click to expand...

Probably right. I don't worry too much about the 12th fret being on point, as long as 3, 5, 7, & 9 are dead on...and that often takes some doing!
 
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jr1.jpg
Lester1.jpg

These 2 work perfectly---- actually WAY LESS B.S. involved in getting it intonated..........you tune it.....set the action...tune it again---done...
no dicking with tiny set screws and crap---Id have all of em like this ---well except the ones with WHAMMIES......


THIS ONE---is odd quirky.....but WORKS well.....its like a combo of bridges-----
jr bridge.jpg
 
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