2Tek bridges, where for art though?

Discussion:

(too old to reply)

fred

2003-09-07 16:05:31 UTC

Hi folks -- I'm toying with the idea of building my first guitar, an
electric. I've read good things about the 2tek bridge (meaning two
guitarists I admire like them for sustain.) I can't seem to find the
bridges for sale anywhere though. Is the company out of business? Are
the bridges not to be found anymore? Any info appreciated.
Thx, Fred
(if emailing directly, remove spamless from addy)

David Eastwood

2003-09-07 18:12:55 UTC

Permalink

Post by fred
Hi folks -- I'm toying with the idea of building my first guitar, an
electric. I've read good things about the 2tek bridge (meaning two
guitarists I admire like them for sustain.) I can't seem to find the
bridges for sale anywhere though. Is the company out of business? Are
the bridges not to be found anymore? Any info appreciated.
Thx, Fred
(if emailing directly, remove spamless from addy)

As far as I know, they are out of business. Carvin had them as an
option for a while - I suppose there's an outside chance they may
still have one on the shelf somewhere. There was one on eBay last
month, which went for $150:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2552805220&category=41407

Cheers,
David
------------------------------------------------------
David Eastwood - ***@mchsi.com

fred

2003-09-07 19:04:51 UTC

Permalink

Post by David Eastwood

As far as I know, they are out of business. Carvin had them as an
option for a while - I suppose there's an outside chance they may
still have one on the shelf somewhere. There was one on eBay last
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2552805220&category=41407
Cheers,
David
------------------------------------------------------

Thanks, David. At least I know what they look like now. Too bad they
went out of biz. I found one post indicating that they had trouble
finding a replacement manufacturer after their previous shop couldn't
handle the work anymore due to winning a big Boeing contract. What a shame.

Mike Dotson

2003-09-07 20:42:42 UTC

Permalink

Anyone here ever build with a 2Tec? If the idea worked so well I can't imagine
why somebody else hasn't run with it, for that matter there are scores of
machine shops out there working short hours and laying people off that would be
happy to make them.

Mike
http://www.MaricopaGuitarCo.com

fred

2003-09-07 21:29:56 UTC

Permalink

Post by Mike Dotson
Anyone here ever build with a 2Tec? If the idea worked so well I can't imagine
why somebody else hasn't run with it, for that matter there are scores of
machine shops out there working short hours and laying people off that would be
happy to make them.
Mike
http://www.MaricopaGuitarCo.com

I'm going to have to try to research that. It sure seems like a better
mousetrap, or at least a popular niche moustrap. There has to be
anoteher reason other than a lack of machining facilities to explain why
they aren't being made.

Paul Buerk

2003-09-08 02:12:43 UTC

Permalink

I did a google search and came up with Boogie Body guitars, but didn't find
a working link. Could be my computer, though.

Post by fred

Clifford Heath

2003-09-08 02:38:07 UTC

Permalink

It sure seems like a better mousetrap, or at least a popular niche moustrap.

Can anyone describe what's special about it? I.e. what does it actually
do (as opposed to what does it sound like)?

fred

2003-09-08 13:13:52 UTC

Permalink

Post by Clifford Heath

It sure seems like a better mousetrap, or at least a popular niche moustrap.

Can anyone describe what's special about it? I.e. what does it actually
do (as opposed to what does it sound like)?

I think it was all to do with transference (is that a word?) of string
energy to the body, in search of greater and greater sustain. If you
look at the picture of the one that was on eBay, you'll see this solid
lump of metal, which required a very precise hole to be routed into
the body, presumably to make contact all the way around. Biggest
drawbacks that I could see are the cost and the need for a body of a
certain thickness.
Given that no-one can agree on what combination of woods, neck joint,
pickups, strings and hardware provide the 'best' combination in an
electric guitar, the 2tek looks to me like too much engineering
chasing an undefinable problem.
Cheers,
David
------------------------------------------------------

I seem to remember reading that it also isolates each string, I presume
so vibrations from one string don't cancel another. Sonny Landreth and
Mike Keneally have guitars with this bridge.

Colin Evans

2003-09-09 18:21:48 UTC

Permalink

About 6 years ago I had a custom guitar built by a friend in Canada. To give
you a little background info, it's a BC Rich Bich style guitar, neck-thru,
with curly maple neck, mahogany body wings, and cocobolo on top of the
mahogany. It's also got a Duncan JB Bridge in the neck, and a Duncan
Distortion in the bridge, with a 1Meg volume pot and a 3-way switch (at the
time I was into very high gain distortion). Anyway, with that said, I have
to say that I'm very UN-happy with the 2-TEK. The guitar has a lot of dead
spots and a distinct lack of sustain. The craftsmanship of the guitar is
top-notch, so that's why I don't suspect the builder. I guess it could be
any number of things with the guitar and my particular setup, but over the
years I've noticed that it just doesn't hold notes like it should and like
the guitar that I built sustains. So I have put the blame on the 2-TEK.
Unfortunately, I have never played another 2-TEK equipped guitar, so I don't
have anything to compare my problems with. If anyone is the in the
Chicago/Milwaukee area they are more than welcome to come over to my place
to check out the guitar and play it for themselves :-) The bridge that I
used on my last build was a Schaller Roller bridge:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Guitar,_electric/Schaller_Non-tremolo_Roller_Bridges.html

It's very adjustable, and it feels very solid. Anyway, good luck to you in
your 2-TEK quest...I just wanted to chime in with my
experiences/observations.

-Colin