Vibrato Bridge Idea

[B3Guy]

Ok, maybe I'm incredibly stupid . . . maybe other people are, but why do vibrato bridges need to have a blade fulcrum to work well? Why hasn't anyone built one using a hinge design (like seriously, just a normal old stinkin' hinge like on a door. you know, with a hinge pin and two flaps. one flap bolted to the body, the other holds the saddles and connects to the block.)  :icon_scratch:

Seriously, someone tell me what the problem would be with a precision machined hinge rather than these 6-point and 2-point trems.

 

[Mor Paul]

Less friction?

 

[OzziePete]

Wouldn't a Bigsby trem be best described as a hinged tailpiece with a spring for tension? That's pretty close to what you are thinking about, isn't it?

 

[AutoBat]

that's pretty much what a Boogie Rail replacement trem is (retrofit for a 6 point trem, or could use it new I guess)

 

[Cagey]

Seriously, someone tell me what the problem would be with a precision machined hinge rather than these 6-point and 2-point trems.

Friction and damping. Even the 6 point units have too much of that, which is why all the better units use a two point knife edge fulcrum. It's very simple and inexpensive to manufacture, works well, and is long-wearing.