Scott Henderson Discussion

Dr.Jackle · Joined: 05 Sep 2017 Posts: 6

Hi Scott!

Do you have experience with fixed bridges? You have said that the Fender 6 screw bridge has more bass than Gotoh 510. How about the Gotoh Hardtail bridge that Suhr offers, have you tried it? If you didn't use the bar at all, would you prefer to have fixed bridge in your guitars? Thanks!

Scott Henderson · The Man Joined: 20 May 2004 Posts: 2135

As much as I love the tremolo bridge, it does make the guitar sound smaller. A hardtail bridge will make it sound like you went up a string gauge - maybe two! If I didn't use the bar at all I'd go for the hard tail bridge, but I'd use a Fender because it has the regular bent saddles, which in my opinion sound better than the block saddles Gotoh uses.

Dr.Jackle · Joined: 05 Sep 2017 Posts: 6

Scott Henderson · The Man Joined: 20 May 2004 Posts: 2135

I don't think it's a Fender thing, but different companies use different types of steel so I guess that could be a factor. My experiment was to record notes on my E & B strings with my normal Fender bridge, then put block saddles on those strings and record again. I didn't like what I heard - the block saddles caused a lack of sustain, and also made the notes sound choked and a little smaller. No one has ever told me what block saddles are supposed to accomplish, but I don't think they're doing it.

dizzy · Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 406

I was inspired to deck my trem after reading this. I did it a long time ago but then floated it for years. It really does sound way meatier. Less “airy” but lots more girth. I think people playing clean pop or funk backup parts would like floating more but for blues or jazz decked sounds fuller.
It is a bummer not being able to vibrato both ways though. That is a big part of your style Scott—
Also playing out of a 4x12 it already sounds huge. I play 1x12 ir 2x12 so decking makes more of a difference I think.

Thanasis · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2018 9:11 am Post subject:

Dizzy, did you notice a difference in the string height or the ease of bending? I am asking because I went back and forth with my bro's strat without any measurements but it felt a bit weird having it decked, although as you said, it makes a difference soundwise. It might just be the sight of the weird angle that put me off, but also bending the strings with those tiny frets was impossible when it was decked. It sure felt looser when we went back to floating.

dizzy · Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 406

It is strange Thanasis—

The guy who set my guitar up said it would feel stiffer but to me it is easier to bend. He also put on a 4th spring.
I think your experience is the common one.
It might be that what I am feeling is that I don’t have to go as far to bend.
That is what my friend told me—-when it is floating it is easier to bend but you have to bend farther to get to pitch.
He was able to match my action floating and non floating.