Hi. I'm new to the forum - just got a 2003 6119. It's unplayed and has been sitting in it's case all this time after changing hands a couple of times. I'm in love.

Anyhow, I anticipated getting a Compton once I finally got my first Gretsch and now I'm not sure which one to get. I'm not interested in making it brighter or darker, I just want to get rid of the rattle-trap bridge and improve the aesthetic a bit. If it improves anything else, that would be great.

So I don't need this guitar any brighter than it is now - unless that extra brightness isn't harsh. And certainly don't want it darker.

How does stainless sound? Or copper? Brass? Geez, I can't tell much difference in the sound samples.

Hi. I'm new to the forum - just got a 2003 6119. It's unplayed and has been sitting in it's case all this time after changing hands a couple of times. I'm in love.

Anyhow, I anticipated getting a Compton once I finally got my first Gretsch and now I'm not sure which one to get. I'm not interested in making it brighter or darker, I just want to get rid of the rattle-trap bridge and improve the aesthetic a bit. If it improves anything else, that would be great.

So I don't need this guitar any brighter than it is now - unless that extra brightness isn't harsh. And certainly don't want it darker.

How does stainless sound? Or copper? Brass? Geez, I can't tell much difference in the sound samples.

Copper, brass and aluminum are all fairly soft, fairly warm sounding. Stainless is a bit brighter and Titanium really livens up the party but is in no way harsh.

I use titanium on all but one of my Compton-equipped guitars. My Country Club has a brass Compton but my Duo Jet and 6120 N have titanium bridges. The sounds samples were recorded on my 6120 N so it has had literally all Compton materials mounted and to my ear the titanium was the winner. I also have a 6120 DC which currently has a stainless bridge but I already have the titanium bridge for it. I plan to record some back to back tests when I make the swap.

Hi stevo, welcome to the forum! I have tried Stainless, Brass and Titanium. To my ears (and everyones ears are different) I think that Brass is the warmest sound, Stainless is brightest, and Titanium is the most neutral (and unfortunately the most expensive). You also have the added choice of a "tone chamber" version of each which has a machined slot underneath the bridge. Once again, there are different opinions on the tone chamber versions. I prefer them because I perceive better individual note definition within a chord. Other forum members prefer the solid versions. It is an individual preference based on many factors including heavy or light playing style, type of pickups, resonance characteristics of the guitar, type of music, clean or dirty etc.etc.... I hope I have helped, rather than confuse you further. You will get many other recommendations and opinions from other forum members as well. Whichever one you choose, you will get the twin benefits of better playing action because of the fretboard radius matching the bridge radius, and increased sustain.

I found the chambered titanium to be closest to the TOM bridge. I too like the tone of the stock bridge, just not the rattles. Stainless made the plain strings too harsh sounding.

OK - so the comparison between the Comptons is about what I would expect.

Here is what I'm getting out of this so far:

- stainless can make the plain strings harsh
- titanium is the best sound
- brass is warm

If the brass is warm, does it do anything to the highs? Roll anything off, or just warm it up compared to the TOM?

OK - so the comparison between the Comptons is about what I would expect.

Here is what I'm getting out of this so far:

- stainless can make the plain strings harsh
- titanium is the best sound
- brass is warm

If the brass is warm, does it do anything to the highs? Roll anything off, or just warm it up compared to the TOM?

It all comes down to transfer of string energy. The bridge doesn't create any sound but it does transfer energy/sound/vibration from the strings. That being said, I don't think that any of them would be characteristically harsh. Stainless transfers high overtones very efficiently and is going to preserve the brightness of the upper strings. It's not harsh, but it is the brightest of anything with the exception of titanium.

Brass favors lower frequencies and, IMHO, some highs are lost. That doesn't mean that it sounds muted or dark but it is not as bright as some other materials. It reminds me, to some extent, of a wooden bridge, perhaps ebony. I use brass on the Country Club because that is the guitar I would use for Jazz.

Titanium, again IMHO, seems to preserve the entire sonic spectrum very efficiently, highs are preserved nicely but lower frequencies come trough nicely as well and maintain their definition. To my ear the titanium sounds more complex and colorful. It's not harsh in any way, the sound is very balanced and very interesting. I noticed this the first time I played a guitar with a titanium bridge which was a G5122 that Wayne Compton owned. He had built a titanium bridge sort of as an experiment and put it on his own axe. I bought one for my Duo Jet soon thereafter.

I went the economy route with my 5120 and got the solid aluminum.
Not much different than the tunomatic to my ears as far as lows vs highs, etc.
Maybe a little more sustain, but negligible.
Definitely more individual string definition with full six string chords, less muddy, more twangy and Fendery.
And no rattles!

Oooohhh - I'm so conflicted now. Thought I wanted the stainless, now seeing all the sunshine about Ti. And then some folks swear by brass.

How do you intonate the CCB on a fixed post like the Corvette?
How well does it intonate vs. the TOM?
What's the radius on the TOM anyhow?!

chris

Oooohhh - I'm so conflicted now. Thought I wanted the stainless, now seeing all the sunshine about Ti. And then some folks swear by brass.

And some of us swear by stainless!

How's that for muddying the waters?!

I went with stainless on my 5120 and have no regrets.

Ultimately, I don't think you'll "dislike" any of them. My son just mounted a solid stainless steel bridge on his Caddy Green Duo Jet, and the thing sounds amazing! Spanky. He loves it. I think the stainless brings out the wonderments of the dynasonic pups better than the stock bridge (those things are medieval!). So there's that. Good luck.

I have them on many Corvette models and others with fixed bridge studs. Works just great and intonation is spot on. Just installed one on a friends Gibson SG with no issues.
Pop's

I have them on many Corvette models and others with fixed bridge studs. Works just great and intonation is spot on. Just installed one on a friends Gibson SG with no issues.
Pop's

Hi Pop's, I have an SG and I've been thinking about this as well. Do you have any pics that you could post here or PM to me?

I put stainless on my '03 Tenny and LOVED it. Nice balance of low end and chime and tons of sustain. I was very pleased.

One note: MEASURE YOUR BRIDGE SPACING VERY CAREFULLY!! Mine was not 2.9" or 3.0" but more like 2.945" and it did not fit the posts properly. This can cause a big headache which can be avoided with proper measuring.

I'll double check that - thanks for asking. I'm going by millimeters by the way. I have no clue how to measure "2.945 inches" without a caliper. And I don't have one these days. Hmmm. Home Depot might have a serviceable one.

I got a SS Compton for my 6120. I like it, but I put the aluminum bridge back on recently.
I think I like the aluminum better with the Filtertrons. On my Jet, I think the SS sounds better with the Dynas.

I'm very happy with the stainless steel, though I have nothing to compare it to except the original rocking bar (big improvement there). Intonation is fine.

audept: I contacted Nic and asked him to send me a picture. I will post it here if he does that for me.
Wayne (Pop's)

audept: Here is a picture of the SG with a SS Compton.
20868

I put stainless on my '03 Tenny and LOVED it. Nice balance of low end and chime and tons of sustain. I was very pleased.

One note: MEASURE YOUR BRIDGE SPACING VERY CAREFULLY!! Mine was not 2.9" or 3.0" but more like 2.945" and it did not fit the posts properly. This can cause a big headache which can be avoided with proper measuring.

Sorry, what is a "Tenny"?

I measured my 6122 and as I recall it was a little off from 2.9" (can't remember which direction", but I thought the Comptons were only available in 2.9" or 3.0" so I ordered the 2.9". I hope it fits.

audept: I contacted Nic and asked him to send me a picture. I will post it here if he does that for me.
Wayne (Pop's)

audept: Here is a picture of the SG with a SS Compton.
20868

Thanks so much Pop's. It looks like the bridge base on my SG has 2.9" hole spacing and the hole diameter measures the same as my other Comptons. The string spacing appears to be a bit less than 2" (probably 1 & 15/16") Can you confirm if Nick's string spacing is similar?

audept: Off the top of my head I think it was 2" center of E to center of E strings. If that looks like your strings land over the pickup poles, that is important in my thinking anyway.
The bridge is a 2.9" post spacing with 12" radius.
Pop's

tguen63: It sounds like the 2.9 is what you want for post spacing.

Sorry, what is a "Tenny"?
One bigger than a "Niney". :)

Ok, it refers to a Tennessee Rose or in vintage terms, a Tennesseean.

Thanks Pop's. I will recheck the measurements tonight when I have more accurate measuring tools available.

I'll double check that - thanks for asking. I'm going by millimeters by the way. I have no clue how to measure "2.945 inches" without a caliper. And I don't have one these days. Hmmm. Home Depot might have a serviceable one.
2.9" = 73.6mm ~74mm
2.95" = 74.9mm ~75mm
3" = 76.2mm ~76mm

I checked mine too with a metric rule and it was pretty obvious that I was between 73.6mm and 76.2mm