Question Question about the new Floating bridge on the Axis Tribute/Luke Sledge

[ZeroFivefour]

I love the bridge. I was wondering if it is possible to get one from Gotoh, (assuming they make it), or EBMM to put on another guitar?

Cheers,

Tom

 

[kimonostereo]

Not sure if EBMM will sell you one directly. They recently changed to these newer style trems when the Axis tributes came out.

You can still get the Gotoh Floyd's many places. AllParts has them:
Gotoh Locking Tremolo Chrome | Allparts.com

If you're talking about the original Luke I Floyd trem... those are long gone. The saddles are different.

 

[ZeroFivefour]

Kimono,

Once again, you have helped me out. Thanks again.
Really appreciate it.

Tom

 

[acwild]

The Tribute's have a floating bridge?

 

[ZeroFivefour]

The Tribute's have a floating bridge?

acwild,

I see how my thread title is completely misleading. Sorry for the confusion.

The bridge itself can float, not sure if you can set it up on an axis like that however.
But the tribute bridge looks identical to the one on my Luke sledge which floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee. =)

Cheers,

Tom

 

[dibart77]

Both the Axis Tributes, all new Axis's, the Classic Reissue Silhouettes, and the Reissue Luke I all use the new EBMM Floyd licensed trem and the new chrome trem studs. The trem is identical on all these guitars. However, on the Silhouettes and the Luke I Reissue, the trem is routed underneath so it can float (per the original specs of these guitars). The Axis is NOT routed -- thus it is "down-only" (per the original specs of the EVH).

The new trem is NOT made by Gotoh.

-J

​

 

[ZeroFivefour]

Both the Axis Tributes, all new Axis's, the Classic Reissue Silhouettes, and the Reissue Luke I all use the new EBMM Floyd licensed trem and the new chrome trem studs. The trem is identical on all these guitars. However, on the Silhouettes and the Luke I Reissue, the trem is routed underneath so it can float (per the original specs of these guitars). The Axis is NOT routed -- thus it is "down-only" (per the original specs of the EVH).

The new trem is NOT made by Gotoh.

-J

​

dibart77,

That is both great and bad news as I absolutely love the bridge and would love to add it to other guitars of mine.

I doubt EBMM are going to sell it and I don't blame them one bit either, ...(without a guitar attached to it of course). LOL
The bridge is amazing.

Are you at liberty to reveal who makes the bridges by any chance?

Thanks,

Tom

 

[dibart77]

dibart77,

That is both great and bad news as I absolutely love the bridge and would love to add it to other guitars of mine.

I doubt EBMM are going to sell it and I don't blame them one bit either, ...(without a guitar attached to it of course). LOL
The bridge is amazing.

Are you at liberty to reveal who makes the bridges by any chance?

Thanks,

Tom

Hey Tom:

This is an interesting thread!

I would suggest you call Customer Service and ask them if they will sell you a bridge... Can't hurt to ask.

HOWEVER: The new Floyd uses different studs/posts. Looking at it, I would THINK the new trem would NOT work with the old black studs. Which means you'd need to replace the studs. However, the new studs appear to be smaller in diameter than the old ones. Which means you can't screw them into your body unless you fill the existing stud holes (with a dowel or something?) and then re-drill for the new studs. I haven't actually tried any of this, mind you, nor have I actually measured the diameter of the old and new studs, nor have I attempted to use a new Floyd with the old studs. So I might be totally wrong. But I'd suggest you do your homework before buying a new Floyd from CS.

I have no idea who manufactures the new bridge for EBMM, but I know for sure it's not Gotoh because two people from EBMM told me so. But I didn't ask who the new manufacturer is.

Now, my bigger question: I'm curious as to what it is you prefer on the new Floyd than the old one? Personally, I don't like the new Floyd as much as the old ones. Only thing I like is that the trem arm pops out. But otherwise I prefer the old ones. Interested to hear your POV and why you prefer the new ones?

-Jeff

​

 

[ZeroFivefour]

Hey Tom:

This is an interesting thread!

I would suggest you call Customer Service and ask them if they will sell you a bridge... Can't hurt to ask.

HOWEVER: The new Floyd uses different studs/posts. Looking at it, I would THINK the new trem would NOT work with the old black studs. Which means you'd need to replace the studs. However, the new studs appear to be smaller in diameter than the old ones. Which means you can't screw them into your body unless you fill the existing stud holes (with a dowel or something?) and then re-drill for the new studs. I haven't actually tried any of this, mind you, nor have I actually measured the diameter of the old and new studs, nor have I attempted to use a new Floyd with the old studs. So I might be totally wrong. But I'd suggest you do your homework before buying a new Floyd from CS.

I have no idea who manufactures the new bridge for EBMM, but I know for sure it's not Gotoh because two people from EBMM told me so. But I didn't ask who the new manufacturer is.

Now, my bigger question: I'm curious as to what it is you prefer on the new Floyd than the old one? Personally, I don't like the new Floyd as much as the old ones. Only thing I like is that the trem arm pops out. But otherwise I prefer the old ones. Interested to hear your POV and why you prefer the new ones?

-Jeff

​

Jeff,

First, thanks for the info on the bridge and customer service.


I have to be honest here. I can not say for certain that I prefer the new bridge to the old one as it has been 8 years since I have owned the original luke 1. I have been playing my 2004 Axis as my Main guitar for the last 8 years, (with the dive-only trem).

I do find that this current bridge exceeded my expectations however. I feel it is extremely responsive and is dialed in perfectly, (for me at least), with regard to spring tension. It is tight enough, but not stiff whatsoever. Subtle input gets you very nice shimmer, and harsh input results in stutter if needed. The Luke sledge stays in tune much-much better than my original Luke 1. Whether or not it is related only to the bridge, if at all, is unknown however. The new bridge also feels very comfortable on the hand while playing.

For the record: I bought my Luke 1 second hand in 1999, and sold it in 2003, I'm not sure what type of abuse, (if any), it had suffered prior to my purchasing it and how that may have contributed to its issues with staying in tune, or whether the tuning issues were directly related only to the bridge, (if at all) for that matter. The new bridge and guitar can take massive amounts of trem input, whether that be subtle or extreme flutter and it seems to stay in tune brilliantly, certainly better than my old Luke 1 did.

I find that the new trem is extremely responsive to subtle input. Again, I am not saying that I like it better or worse than the original, just that I find it to work extremely well with my style. Transitioning back to the luke from 8 years on the axis, having the full floating bridge is of course a whole different ball game. I have continued to own an 87 Ibanez Sabre since 87, so I was not without a floating trem since selling the Luke in 2004, however I predominantly played the axis during this time. If I had both my original luke and the new one I could of course give a better comparison, however that is not the case.

Regarding issues of sustain:

I was going to mention that I find the Luke Sledge as well as the original Luke 1 both sustain brilliantly. I am using entirely different gear than I was using with my original luke 1 so it is fair to say that both bridges had no issues in this category. With my luke 1 original I was using a mesa Triple Rectifier through a rocktron intellifex, wired into a DMC guitar switcher controlling some floor based effects and additional dirt channel by way of a Soldano GTO preamp. All through 4x12 or 2x12 loaded with Vintage 30s. That combo was simply amazing, overkill yes, but amazing.

With my Luke 1 Sledge, I am using a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe with floor based dirt and effects predominantly. Yes it is a down size, but it sure is easier to move. Still using the vintage 30s though. I love the sound of good vintage 30s.

Hope some of that is of interest to you.
Cheers,

Tom

 

[coldsummer]

FWIW, I'd love to replace the vintage style trem on my EBMM's with the JP style trem. Not sure if it would even fit but for me that would be a perfect solution.

 

[Craiguitar]

I have to say the bridge on my '93 Luke 1 still works very well, after all these years it's taken a terrific amount of use & abuse, and the knife edges are severely worn. This seems not to cause any loss in perfomance, so i'm inclined not to worry about it too much. Yes the floating Floyd setup is always going to be seriously high maintenance, especially when changing strings and setting up, but once it's set, the payoff is amazing.

 

[kimonostereo]

I agree with Jeff. I prefer the old Gotoh Floyd that they used to use. Part of it is that it's what I've always known EBMM to use and I've always liked that it gave their guitars a sleeker look than those that used a standard Floyd. I also like the feel a lot more.

I still can't get the trem bar on my Axis Tribute to hang freely the way it does on my EVH EBMM. Can't figure it out at all. Both guitars have a slightly different feel, but both guitars sound great. It's hard to explain.