X175b Manhattan adding a Compton bridge?

BoneDigger

Member
Joined
May 8, 2014
Messages
211
Reaction score
27
Have any of you added a Compton to your x175b? Just wondering how you liked it? I have a steel (hollow) one on my Gretsch G5420t and it really took that guitar up a level!

If you did add one, do you remember what the specs were? FB radius? Width? They come with either 2.9 or 3.0 inch spacing.
 

GAD

Reverential Morlock
Über-Morlock
Joined
Feb 11, 2009
Messages
22,594
Reaction score
17,815
Location
NJ (The nice part)
Guild Total
112
I'll be ordering one for my X175 Manhattan Special. The stock bridges is not Bigsby-worthy and I LOVE Compton bridges.
 

BoneDigger

Member
Joined
May 8, 2014
Messages
211
Reaction score
27
Do you happen to know the fret board radius or post measurement? Those Specials look awesome. I considered getting one but for now I'm going to stick with the P90s.
 

Walter Broes

Enlightened Member
Joined
Jun 13, 2005
Messages
5,892
Reaction score
1,962
Location
Antwerp, Belgium
I'm not a big fan of straight bar bridges (and that's what a Compton is - it's not really compensated, it's a straight bar that sits at an angle), you can never really get intonation quite right.
I've been doing just fine with tune-a-matic bridges on all my Bigsby-equipped guitars, it's just a matter of setting the guitar up and tweaking everything just a little bit.
 

BoneDigger

Member
Joined
May 8, 2014
Messages
211
Reaction score
27
I have an ABM2400 roller bridge already, so I'm going to try it out for a bit before I spend the money on a Compton. I might just like the roller bridge better!
 

GAD

Reverential Morlock
Über-Morlock
Joined
Feb 11, 2009
Messages
22,594
Reaction score
17,815
Location
NJ (The nice part)
Guild Total
112
Walter's the man with this stuff, but I love my Comptons. :) I'm also famously uncaring about super-accurate intonation with Bigsby-equipped guitars. Hell, I played guitar for 10 years before I even knew what intonation was. :cool:
 

Guildadelphia

Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2015
Messages
310
Reaction score
10
I've had no complaints with the stock MIK TOM style bridge that came on my NS X175B. It may not be the best made TOM type bridge out there but at least it came out of box with the correct radius (9.5") to match the fretboard (something Gretsch wasn't bothered with for many years on their Brian Setzer models). A little clear nail polish on the saddle retainer wire and no rattles either.
 

DThomasC

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2014
Messages
1,283
Reaction score
187
Location
Finger Lakes, New York, USA
Put me in the camp of people whose ham fisted style makes it pointless to worry too much about achieving perfect compensation. But, it wouldn't be hard to make a solid bridge that is at least closer than a straight bar. Look at the Mojoaxe wraptail bridges.
 

Walter Broes

Enlightened Member
Joined
Jun 13, 2005
Messages
5,892
Reaction score
1,962
Location
Antwerp, Belgium
The "I don't care much about intonation" argument sorta kinda works if most of your playing is by yourself, or in a bass/drums/guitar trio. But add another guitar, or keyboards, and you're in trouble.
 
Joined
Jun 26, 2020
Messages
8
Reaction score
0
Have any of you added a Compton to your x175b? Just wondering how you liked it? I have a steel (hollow) one on my Gretsch G5420t and it really took that guitar up a level!

If you did add one, do you remember what the specs were? FB radius? Width? They come with either 2.9 or 3.0 inch spacing.
I have a Compton on my X175. I believe it’s made my guitar come alive. However, I only installed it recently and haven’t had a chance to gig with it. I confess that I’m a bit nervous about gigging with a floating bridge.
 
Joined
Jun 26, 2020
Messages
8
Reaction score
0
Further to the above, I am, somewhat picky about intonation and my Compton intonates just fine. About the same as a tele three barrel. Not perfect....but good enough for rock n’ roll. Incidentally, I’m using .010s.
 

BoneDigger

Member
Joined
May 8, 2014
Messages
211
Reaction score
27
Do you guys know what dimensions and radius you ordered? Also, I would assume stainless would be the better overall, but opinions on metal type?
 

dbirchett

Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2006
Messages
938
Reaction score
90
What tone are you trying to achieve. Aluminum will give you a sharper, more biting sound. Copper or Brass a warmer sound. Stainless is in between and is probably the most versatile. I use Tru-Arc but the principle is the same.
 

Walter Broes

Enlightened Member
Joined
Jun 13, 2005
Messages
5,892
Reaction score
1,962
Location
Antwerp, Belgium
I don't get the big backlash against tune-a-matic bridges. I've used them for over 20 years, they're cheap, they sound great, and they work fine, and you can actually intonate your guitar.
 

kakerlak

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2009
Messages
2,354
Reaction score
128
Location
Oklahoma
I don't get the big backlash against tune-a-matic bridges. I've used them for over 20 years, they're cheap, they sound great, and they work fine, and you can actually intonate your guitar.
Same. My only gripe on ABRs is they tend to collapse over time and then you're fighting D/G buzz vs playability. But I think they have a nice, lively sound and, with saddle flipping, I don't think I've ever run out of adjustment range -- certainly never on a floater, at least.
 
Joined
Jun 26, 2020
Messages
8
Reaction score
0
Have any of you added a Compton to your x175b? Just wondering how you liked it? I have a steel (hollow) one on my Gretsch G5420t and it really took that guitar up a level!

If you did add one, do you remember what the specs were? FB radius? Width? They come with either 2.9 or 3.0 inch spacing.
Darn, I threw out all the stuff from Compton. Send email a buzz. They are very helpful.
 
Top