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Topic: Tonemaster bridge adjustment - ideas? |
Tony Wilson
From:
Kentucky, USA
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Posted 11 Mar 2015 5:06 am |
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In an earlier post I mentioned buying a new Gold Tone cover plate for my Tonemaster. The plate is _almost_ a perfect fit. The photo below shows how the opening for the bridge is about a 1/4" too far forward. In the photo I placed the bridge where it needs to be to keep the proper scale length. I figure I have 4 options, but I'm sure folks here are more creative than I and have a better solution:
1. I could file the overlapping edge of the bridge so that unfiled part of the bridge lies flat on the guitar and and the filed edge lies on the cover plate.
2. I could place a shim in the cover plate opening and under the bridge bringing the bridge level with the cover plate.
3. install the bridge in the opening, but change where the strings break by placing a metal rod on top of the bridge.
4. build a new bridge.
Options 1 & 2 seem the best, but I could really use your input. Thanks.
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Michael Maddex
From:
Northern New Mexico, USA
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Posted 11 Mar 2015 8:04 am
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I like Option Number Two. I imagine it would be quick and easy to do and totally reversible if you get another idea later on.
The shim might look good made of a contrasting material such as black plastic. Or covering the shim with something like Mylar tape might make it disappear. Or ...
MTCW, YMMV, &c. Good luck with your project; I like it. 
_________________
"For every expert, there is an equal and opposite expert." -- Arthur C. Clarke |
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Gary Meixner
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 11 Mar 2015 8:21 am
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Tony,
I agree with Michael, using a shim is the way to go. My fist choice would be to cut a piece of aluminum plate to fill the space. Either dull it up with a course scotch brite pad to match the look of the bridge or polish them both so they match. Few people would even notice that it was a modification.
Best of luck,
Gary Meixner |
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Tony Wilson
From:
Kentucky, USA
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Posted 11 Mar 2015 8:32 am
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I'm favoring option 2, the shim, for the same reason: it doesn't do any permanent damage. There's a local hobby shop that carries K&S 1/16" x 1" x 12"brass sheets; I'll try it and see how it works. I'll look for aluminum sheets as well.
For those other Tonemaster owners, the opening in the Gold Tone cover plate would be perfect if the lap steel has a 25 1/2 " scale length, but mine is 25 3/4"
Thanks. |
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Michael Maddex
From:
Northern New Mexico, USA
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Posted 11 Mar 2015 8:39 am
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After thought: Will slightly raising the bridge in any way affect the fit of the Pickup/Bridge cover-plate, aka the 'ashtray'?
_________________
"For every expert, there is an equal and opposite expert." -- Arthur C. Clarke |
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Tony Wilson
From:
Kentucky, USA
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Posted 11 Mar 2015 8:51 am
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| Michael Maddex wrote: |
| After thought: Will slightly raising the bridge in any way affect the fit of the Pickup/Bridge cover-plate, aka the 'ashtray'? |
No, I had the same worry,  There's plenty of room. The shim would only need to be be 1/16" . The curved rear portion of the ashtray would sit over the curved part of the bridge. |
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