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Synchro · May 14th, 2009, 12:19 AM

Today I equipped a second guitar with a Compton bridge, my 6120 N. This guitar has a factory pinned bridge and had a very long-travel variant of the Adjustomatic from the factory. No problems to report. Everything went smoothly and with EXL 110s the guitar intonates well. This is the guitar I will most likely take to the jam BTW. After installing the bridge I gave it a good tryout, evreything from warm Jazz to ultra-twangy Country. The new bridge improves upon the sustain characteristics of the guitar and lends new authority to the sound. It looks good on there too. Maybe we can get some good pics at the jam session.

workknot · May 14th, 2009, 07:16 AM

Synchro: Thanks for the update. It is good to hear the pinned bridge is not a problem for the Compton Bridge. There will be a large display at the jam for the bridges and several guitars setup with them already installed for players to test.
Pop's
www.comptonbridges.com

Jukebox · May 14th, 2009, 07:28 AM

Sound good Mark!

patrickjcrum · May 14th, 2009, 11:07 AM

Hey Pops,
I've been following this bridge thing and have a couple questions. Hopefully it's not redundant, but if it is, I apologize.
I have a 5120 that I use 12.s on. (0.012, 0.016, 0.024w, 0.032w, 0.042w, 0.052)
I have it set up perfectly and pinned in place. I've noticed that most folks are using 10's and have no issue with intonation. Do you think that it will intonate ok with 12's without me having to move the bridge?
Also, what is the difference with the different materials? Is brass warmer, aluminum brighter, etc?
Thanks in advance!

Pat

workknot · May 14th, 2009, 11:22 AM

Pat: The pinned bridge with the wound 3rd string may not intonate perfectly. There is another member here that did put one on with a wound 3rd and said it was not off enough on the wound 3rd to be noticeable.
Stainless seems the brightest, then Aluminum, Brass and Copper are warmer sounding.
On most 5120's, the fretboard is 12" radius and the bridge stud spacing is 2.9" center to center. To be on the safe side though I recommend measuring the stud space and your fretboard radius.
Thanks for you interest in my bridges.
Pop's
www.comptonbridges.com

DevilYouKnow · May 14th, 2009, 11:23 AM

Man oh man. Pics and a more detailed report should follow this weekend but Pop's Compton Compensated Bridges are fantastic. Mine arrived yesterday afternoon. I had dinner plans so I didn't get it on my guitar until late in the evening but I DID play it. For quite some time. The '62 Guild Starfire II previously had a rosewood bridge. Now it has sustain for days, a little more spank and looks rocking.

Get this, the rosewood bridge and base seemed lower than my 5120 or other hollowbodies so I sent the whole assembly to Compton. My bridge had a few chpped/cracked edges on the treble side (it's 47 years old) - Compton made me a new base (looks great; definite keeper; will sand it to mate soon and THANK YOU!). How nice. Overall mega improvement in tone and appearance. Like I said, pics are forthcoming. But for now, thank you. One heck of a product you got there. My guild has never sounded so good. Can't wait to take it to the studio and plug it in.

workknot · May 14th, 2009, 02:08 PM

DevilYouKnow: Good to hear those results and that the cocobolo wood bridge base was to your liking. That is some amazing wood. When you sand it, there is a natural oil in the wood that makes it just shine. I have made a few bridges with it for older archtop acoustics and it has some very resonant qualities. I only have a few scraps of it left. Can't wait to see the pics'. Thanks.
Pop's