Bridge preferences?
I currently have a bar bridge on my Gretsch 6120. I love the sustain and tone I get from it, but the intonation issues, plus the fact that it sits up a bit higher than I like have made me search for an alternative. So far, I've narrowed my search to the Gretsch Adjustomatic, a Tune-o-matic, or possibly on of those Tone-o-matic bridges. Anyone have any preferences as far as bridges on a Gretch??

Hi, I'm new to the forum and noticed that your post is dated May 30th and you have no replies. I'm still trying to narrow my choice of Gretsch models and possible intonation problems with the rocking bar bridge concerns me. EVERY guitar I've had or now have that doesn't allow for individual string adjustment has intonation problems. Does your Gretsch have a zero fret? Wondering if this helps intonation. Hopefully someone knowledgeable will jump in here with some advice.

Hey Bigsby... Yeah, the forum is a bit slow from time to time. The intonation issues are fairly minor. For some reason if you use heavier strings (I use 11's), and you line the Bar where the 2 E's are intonated, the other strings are really close! The Adjustomatic is cool. It doesn't have the wire retainer, like the classic TOM bridge, so no buzzing. Those Tone-O-Matics are supposed to be sweet! My 6120 has a zero fret. Not sure if it affects to intonation. I emailed TV with a question about what he suggests. He suggested a Gotoh TOM with brass saddles. Can't remember the part number but Allparts carries it. Might try to pick up one of those. It's amazing how much of a difference the bridge actually makes on a hollowbody!

sroux - Thanks for the info, keep us posted on what direction you take. I use 11s too so that's good. Chet Atkins could hear perfect pitch and he played axes with various straight bridges for many years - his intonation always sounded perfect to me. There are several pictures in his book "Me and My guitars" that show what look to be tuning devices similar to a violin's fine tuners attached to each individual string between the the bridge and the Bigsby. These devices aren't mentioned in the text or captions. Does anybody know about these? Signing off for now, BigsbyMan

That's probably a Tone Twister vibrato. It fit behind the bridge, and would allow you to bend the string. I looked for a picture of one, but the Gretchpages is kind of funky right now, and I couldn't log in. I'll see if I dig one up. You're right about the Bar bridge being good enough for Chet. My only real problem with the Bar, is the fact that it feels like it sits up a bit higher than say a TOM does. Might be imagining it, I've never measured, but it sure feels like it. I do like the simplicity of the bridge though.