Custom built suggestions?

[Alissarr]

Hi all,

Been a Jackson guy all my life, but decided to go with a Charvel. Figuring I will spec it with mahogany body, flamed maple neck, HSS pup configuration. Want to go with a non locking bridge for easy ability to tune up or down without fidgety adjustments on the bridge.

Any experience or suggestions before I put in the order would be deeply appreciated.

[shreddermon]

Unless you put a hard finish on it (poly or satin) or have a baked neck, I would personally avoid doing a flamed maple neck. They're gorgeous, but oftentimes are just less stable otherwise. Every piece of wood is different, of course. But that's been my experience so far.

And, sure, non locking bridges are more flexible to change tunings. But if this will be your only guitar, the trade off in tuning stability isn't worth it, IMHO. Definitely go with locking tuners then, though.

[Number Of The Priest]

To me, a "non-locking bridge" is basically anything except a double-locking tremolo system. This is a very broad requirement that would include SINGLE-locking tremolo systems, where the bridge itself has no locking mechanism but is only locked at the nut, and would not grant you the easy ability to do alternate tunings.

I can only presume you have given more thought into the specific type of bridge you want, or are seeking opinions from us about bridges, in which case a true fixed bridge would offer the most tuning flexibility. Three examples of fixed bridges are below, followed by two tremolo examples that can be improvised as "fixed" bridges.

Fender-style hardtail bridge:


Gibson-style tunomatic bridge with stop tailpiece:


Tunomatic bridge with strings thru the body:


A vintage tremolo of the 6-screw fulcrum variety. If you tighten the tremolo claw screws fully into the body so that the bridge is pulled flush against the face of the guitar, you essentially have a "hardtail" and can easily do alternate tunings. This is a practice known as "decking the trem". And you can always restore its "floating tremolo" mode by loosening the tremolo claw screws and setting it up to float again.


A vintage tremolo of the 2-point variety can also be set up the same way as the paragraph above.

[neilli]

Great points already. Sounds almost like want a Guthrie sig to be honest, if the 'non locking bridge' you want is a trem rather than hardtail. I ordered a Jackson with a flame maple neck which was just oiled and it moved like crazy, so I would never do that again. It was supposed to be graphite reinforced, but with the amount that thing moved, I suspect they didn't do that.

The only other thing I'd add is that you need to spec everything. Don't assume anything, and so give them detailed notes on anything non standard you are particular about (switch positions etc). And from experience, if you want a non standard colour (i.e. not one from the list), send them in a physical sample or hardcopy picture. Don't rely on them matching a digital photo.

[shreddermon]

I thought about the Guthrie bridge, too. That might be a great approach with locking tuners. However, I'm assuming he means a Charvel custom select order. If so, the Guthrie bridge option might be off the table for that. If a Masterbuilt order, though, it should be fine.

[Carbuff]

Does floyd rose sell that bridge separately?

[neilli]

Yup

[shreddermon]

My understanding is the non-fine tuning Floyd Rose is NOT the same bridge used on the Charvel Guthrie models. That's a different made-for-Charvel only bridge.

[neilli]

Oh really? I just figured it was the same thing - I suppose the guthrie version is sprinkled with prog fairy dust or something?

[Axewielder]

Oh really? I just figured it was the same thing - I suppose the guthrie version is sprinkled with prog fairy dust or something?

Not sure, it is spec'ed as being built in the US. I assume Fender makes them.

[shreddermon]

Oh really? I just figured it was the same thing - I suppose the guthrie version is sprinkled with prog fairy dust or something?

Yep. I've also heard that if you play one, you start having a burning desire to grow out a long, unkempt beard and develop thin spindly fingers.

[neilli]

I could do with some extra finger length, so maybe I should give it a try LOL

[Alissarr]

Thanks for the tips on the flamed maple. Had no idea; basically you are always having to readjust the truss rods in it?

I really like the Guthrie signature, but the price point is too high to not get exactly what I want. I am impartial to the vintage 6-screw bridge vs what they have on Guthrie's but ideally would try to avoid masterbuilt because of the upcharge and wait.

Thanks again. Will post specs and the final guitar of course. Am waiting to hear back on the quoted prices so we can place the order.

[euronymous]

The stability of Guthrie bridge is far worse than locking floyd. I have suhr with recessed gotoh 510 and Guthrie govan Charvel. Both bridges can not keep the guitar in tune after doing normal whammy bar tech like you do with floyd. So keep it in mind!

[x_zac10]

The stability of Guthrie bridge is far worse than locking floyd. I have suhr with recessed gotoh 510 and Guthrie govan Charvel. Both bridges can not keep the guitar in tune after doing normal whammy bar tech like you do with floyd. So keep it in mind!

I feel like this mentality was brought on by a misunderstanding of the purpose of locking tuners, which is just to make changing strings either. The locking nut is 100% essential in tuning stability with a trem. I think the Govan Charvel trem feels great, and seems to be really resonant. But I didn't really find any advantage over a regular vintage trem in terms of staying in tune.