[TI4-1009]

Reaching for the brass ring- as usual.

I upgraded my bridge to the new WD/Kluson version milled from a steel chunk. Pretty similar to the older one (cast?)- visually. Some design and manufacturing differences. It doesn't fit on the old studs (hole size) but the new studs do screw into the old bushings so I didn't have to do any drilling or relocating- stud-to-stud distance is the same.

Also put on a new tailpiece from Robert Rusch. I wanted a taller tailpiece to try and get away from the strings on the back of the bridge thing. It's better, but still not all the way there. Full 3/8" tall- and a beautiful, massive hunk of brass. Compare to the old tailpiece- thin brass and wood riser. Makes it look like a toy. And I didn't like the string slots on the back of the old bridge- the thin brass was starting to lift in places.







I've also added the larger, better-shaped brass jack plate that Andrew Olsen made for me. I drilled the holes and installed. And upgraded to the larger strap buttons that Waldo found on ebay.



The last thing I did took a lot of weeping and gnashing of teeth, but I finally bit the bullet and did it. I added a "floyd rose" style string tree to the headstock. My Phiga has a pretty shallow headstock angle- only a few degrees. It was OK with the supplied tuners, but I wanted the Schallers which have a longer shaft. With that geometry there was very little break angle over the nut and I had trouble with buzzing and (at least perceived) tone loss from almost no break angle of string over nut. The other option was to add spacers under the headstock so the tuner shaft didn't sit so high above the face of the headstock. So I went full monty and added the tree. Function over aesthetics- and adjustable. Sounds better now. After I get up the nerve to do the engraving at the 24th fret I should be about finished... yeah, right....

[Searing75]

Looking good! I also have a Phiga. A Bolt. It is nice, and I changed out the bridge to a Kluson harmonica bridge. Same problem here with the strings resting on the back of the bridge. Tail piece is not high enough, or too close to the bridge. Does not seem to effect tone. The neck is very thick, but feels good on my arthritic fingers for some reason.

Chris

[softmachine72]

Kluson's rule I could not be happier with their products. On The tailpiece the wood riser has to be fit to the action you will be playing. Even the tail piece you have could be blocked up a bit.