Hey there m4rk0, I wish I could give you a straight answer, but the only experience I have is this, I bought both the .125 and the .175 Hipshot Hardtail bridges, so I had them both on hand during my build. So heres what I know.....
They are both absolutely Identical except one has a thicker base plate, obviously the .175 is the thicker base plate meaning the saddles sit higher.........
Warmoth had said their only option for using the Hipshot hardtail (or at least the one they recomended to me) was to get "just the 3/16th string thru holes drilled", (this is a standard option in the bridge route choices).
The reason being is the saddle spacing is very narrow, compared to other bridges, NOTE: (nothing weird or odd looking should you decide to use it, as a matter of fact I like that I have about 1/8 th inch string clearance on each E string and the edge of the fretboard.)
Im also noticing more and more bridges are being made with these same saddle spacing specs........So hopefully it will become a standard route down the road.
I bored the 3/16th string thru holes on my body out to 15/64ths and still had to needle file the 2 outside E string thru holes inward even more, though all that wouldn't have been necessary, as you can get the strings to clear before you drill em out that much, but because Im such an anal freak about certain details.
I wanted my strings to be absolutely clear of wood or any contact other than at the necessary points of Ferrule and saddle, so on mine theres absolutely nothing but String and Steel.
Note: I want to mention I worked up to the 15/64th's bit size, I didn't just yank out the 15/64's and say ahh this will work...no I drilled with a progressively larger bit, so as not to tear any wood or finish.........
I also like higher action than alot of people, and have played like that my whole life, so alot of guys may be able to use the .125 and I noticed thats the model most places sell, but I pick hard and like my strings to ring completely clear of the frets no matter where on the neck I play.
I really don't see how people are able to set up thier guitars with anything but the closest of string / fret action and probably super flat boards as well with the .125, thats why I used the .175, I like to have some bend in my neck and high strings so like I said maybe you can use it.
As far as tone and sustain.......hmmmm, probably subjective as far as the bridge plate thickness goes, though it feels good knowing I have a nice thick slab of solid brass securing my strings to the body........but; it is immperative for the string angle over the saddles to be enough that the strings vibrate and ring clear, so If the plate is too high and the saddles have to be set too low, you may not get the strings sitting on the saddles properly or they may be rubbing on the plate near the string holes at the bottom of the saddle, which could cause string breakage?????? on the other hand if the plate is too low and the saddles cant be adjusted to where you want ???????????
If you do end up putting the Hipshot on I would be interested in knowing how it turns out, also when I put the .125 on my guitar I knew in 5 seconds with out even putting strings on that it wasn't going to allow me enough saddle height adjustment.
well good luck, its a great bridge I feel, and other than when I called Hipshot to order my .175 model direct from them and chatted with the only girl working and got the impression that this place is someones garage...hahahaahahaha.......Im surprised more people don't use em, or offer routes for em????????? baffles me???????
But then again I love Carl Martin pedals, and most people I talk to have never even heard one????????? another mind boggler??????
probably just created more confusion than answers.....hahahahahahaha.........
