Guildsby rocking bridge

[mortsaltzman]

As I've posted elsewhere on this forum, I'm on the lookout for a SF3 (RI or vintage). I saw one in a LGS the other day, and it wasn't exactly what I was looking for, but it was close. 98 vintage, maple, blonde finish. Under the aluminum rocking bridge, it seemed to have thin felt pads and the bridge base moved around noticably more, and more easily than other hollowbodies I've used. These would be in addition to the ones i'm used to seeing under a bigsby system itself. One of 'em was poking out from under the brigde slightly, but once I noticed it, it was clear there were three total. Obviously, this is an easy thing to change if I don't like 'em, though the GS likely wouldn't want me pulling the strings and bridge to do so while it was in their inventory. They didn't know whether those felt pads were original equipment or not.

Does anyone else have a 90s SF3 with the original bridge, and does it have these felt pads? Seems to me they would tend to deaden the sound, since transfer of the string vibration to the top of the guitar is, you know, kinda important.

I guess I'm wondering if what I heard was factory, or someone's idea of an after-market "upgrade" which might have altered the sound in unfavorable ways.

 

[dtw927]

Felt or other pliable pads under the bridge would only serve to attenuate volume and filter out certain tonal ranges, depending upon the material. Bridge mass and attenuating materials would certainly affect the string vibrations transmitted to the top plate and affect sound volume and tone. I have a stock 1998 SF3 that does not have these pads under the rocker bridge. The underside of the bridge is marked B (bass) and T (treble) for proper placement under the strings, and any factory - applied pads would have hidden these markings. I would conclude that pads were not factory supplied.

Dave

 

[Jeff]

No such pads on my 97 SF III, the bridge does tend to move around & unless care is taken will eventually scar the top. I have faint pencil marks on the top to help keep the bridge positioned correctly.

 

[matsickma]

Felt pads are not OEM. I have seen fine grit sanpaper used under floating bridges and also a thin layer of cork. The cork approach seemed the best answer but I don't know where to buy very thin cork. Maybe it was custom cut or shaved.

M

 

[mortsaltzman]

I'd say that's pretty conclusively an after market "upgrade" then. Thanks matsickma, Jeff and dtw927 for the input.

It wasn't exactly the guitar I was looking for, but maybe I'll go back this weekend, and, if it's still there, convince them to remove those pads and try another demo.