Gotoh vs. TonePro TOM/STP

[anorakDan]

Can any one enlighten me about the differences between these two, other than the set screws? Is the TP made from better materials to warrant such a difference in price?

 

[kboman]

I don't get the TP hype. I have one of these on my Schecter, and it's not better or worse than any other I've used. Slightly worse if anything since the fret slots are way too shallow, even for .010 strings, and the strings are whacked out of the slots at only medium intensity of playing.

Edit: I realise this is not the hardest thing in the world to fix yourself, but to deliver it like that from factory is pretty sloppy.

 

[Kostas]

I think Gotoh manufactures TP products.
I know Gotoh manufactures quality products and they have good pricing. I used their TOM bridge in my WLP, works as it should be.

 

[Patrick from Davis]

I have both, I wanted to try out the Tone Pros.  There is really no notable difference in sound.  The Tone Pros has locking set screws, and is a nice bridge.  It holds together better if you take the strings off, which would be nice for something like if you had a Tonar finished guitar.  But sound wise, I hear no difference between the two.  Well other than the cost...  I believe that both of those are made of zinc as well.  Callaham offers a steel bridge at a significant cost, but I am unsure if it would fit on the Gotoh/Tone Pros 74mm apart posts.
Patrick

Edit:  OK, well the old Gibson ones were Zinc.  Newer ones could be brass or aluminum.  Still, they are not steel...

 

[kboman]

For what it's worth, if I were in the market for a new ToM right now I'd go with either Callaham or one of Graphtech's Resomax bridges. I very rarely have all strings off at the same time so the TP locking feature holds no value to me.

 

[ocguy106]

I don't get the TP hype. I have one of these on my Schecter, and it's not better or worse than any other I've used. Slightly worse if anything since the fret slots are way too shallow, even for .010 strings, and the strings are whacked out of the slots at only medium intensity of playing.

Edit: I realise this is not the hardest thing in the world to fix yourself, but to deliver it like that from factory is pretty sloppy.

I was under the impression they left them shallow on purpose so that you can set them yourself. It would only make sense seeing how they are just about unusable out of the box.

 

[anorakDan]

Thanks for the input, guys!

I love this board.

 

[Jeremiah]

Hmm, I read somewhere (might even have been on here) that the Tone Pros bridge IS the Gotoh TOM - they get them manufactured by Gotoh and just modify them to use the set screws.

I've just checked the Tone Pros bridge on my Schecter Tempest, and it says "Gotoh" on the bottom, so it looks like this could be true.

 

[anorakDan]

I haven't yet owned a TOM/STP setup, so I have to ask, is it really a problem when changing strings? I realize that both are no longer under tension, but can it really be that big of a hassle? I've only ever had to change the whole set at once when I've gotten frustrated and cut off all the strings at once.

And I only did that the one time.

I swear.

 

[Stew]

I haven't yet owned a TOM/STP setup, so I have to ask, is it really a problem when changing strings?

Only for the uninitiated ... it's easy to deal with  :icon_thumright:

 

[Patrick from Davis]

I haven't yet owned a TOM/STP setup, so I have to ask, is it really a problem when changing strings?

Only for the uninitiated ... it's easy to deal with  :icon_thumright:

I have never had a problem with it either.  However, if I were to have a finish on my guitar as jaw dropping as some of the work from Warmoth, or from someone like Tonar, I might pay the extra few bucks for an insurance policy against something stupid happening.  It is not that much in the end, and I would be heartbroken if I was the one that, "Reliced," one of those finishes.  On the other hand, if it was not something like that, I'd get the Gotoh.
Patrick

 

[anorakDan]

Good point, Patrick, and one I hadn't considered. If I were dropping a lot of cash on a kickass finish, the little bit extra for insurance is a pretty good idea.