New Compton Bridge for a New Gretsch Owner

[roelm]

Hey y’all -
I’ve been reading through quite a few threads and put a lot of your wisdom to use. I’m the proud new owner of a brass Compton special bridge for my new 5230t in Cadillac Green. I was actually in the market for a humbucking split coil Swiss knife type of guitar and picked one of these up at a local store and immediately realized there was something very very cool happening in this machine. The blacktops, chambered body, shorter scale, slightly thinner neck all added up and here I am. Loving it. Thanks everyone

 

[Synchro]

I love that bridge. You bought that from Wayne Compton?

 

[audept]

Welcome to the forum, @roelm ! Compton bridges are great!

 

[section2]

Welcome! That's a beautiful guitar, and a very cool bridge.

 

[roelm]

I love that bridge. You bought that from Wayne Compton?

I sure did. I sent him a message and went back and forth a bit about my guitar and what I’m looking for and he recommended this one in particular. It was either brass or aluminum, so I went with brass.

 

[wildeman]

Looks great, i need a couple, I'll have to hit him up.

 

[michelb]

Welcome and gratz on the awesome gear

 

[Jeff67]

Welcome!

 

[thunder58]

Beautiful guitar . Welcome to the forum

 

[stiv]

Nice. That's a mod that I'd like to do on my 5220 too, one of these days.

 

[Gregor]

Welcome to GT. Congrats on your choice of guitar and bridge. No tuning problems now.

 

[schwarzerHund]

Love the Cadillac Green! I've got the same model in black & love it. That Compton bridge is sweet- may have to look into something similar for mine down the road. Congrats- and enjoy!

 

[JC higgy]

Welcome aboard!

 

[roelm]

Quick update. The Compton special bridge was a perfect drop in replacement and the pignose volume knob went on without issue (haha). I did have to open up the three way toggle and adjust it so the pickups engage consistently but that may be another upgrade later on. I also have one of those squishy reverend springs on the way to see how I like it.
Does anyone have any tips for the bridge height adjustment? Just curious. I like the height just fine but I like to know how to adjust my instruments and I’m guessing I would release the tension of the strings and use the…thumbwheels? Flat edge screwdriver? Thanks for all the support y’all.

 

[section2]

Looks good! To adjust the bridge, you just turn the thumbwheels. You can do it without loosening the strings, though you might want to back them off a bit if you're raising the bridge significantly.

You're going to love the Reverend spring. I have a Reverend soft spring on one of my Gretsches, and Brick's Super Squishy Springs on the others. (They're quite similar.) Every Bigsby should have one.

 

[roelm]

Looks good! To adjust the bridge, you just turn the thumbwheels. You can do it without loosening the strings, though you might want to back them off a bit if you're raising the bridge significantly.

You're going to love the Reverend spring. I have a Reverend soft spring on one of my Gretsches, and Brick's Super Squishy Springs on the others. (They're quite similar.) Every Bigsby should have one.

You were 100% correct. The Reverend spring is a really good upgrade. This was the final upgrade for now and I have to say - this is a VERY good gigging guitar now. I’m not sure it’ll topple the EJ rosewood strat but it’ll be riding alongside. And really … they’re very different animals.

 

[O Riley]

Beautiful guitar. Looks cool with the brass Compton.
As for adjusting, I did everything myself, but in the long run,
I ended up going to our local pro shop and couldn't be happier.

I was having a fret dress to begin with an thought, let's do it.

 

[TomK]

I also put a Aluminum bridge in my 5230t and it solved a lot issues with the Bigsby. It dropped right in and intonation was very good. I think the Reverend spring is next for me. Congrats on that beautiful green Gretsch.

 

[cvr31]

I've got Comptons on my two Gretsch guitars. They're great bridges.

 

[mrfixitmi]

@roelm
Welcome to the forum, and excellent choice on that beautiful guitar, and awesome upgrades. I have five Comptons and love how they improve the sound transfer and the note separation.

That Cadillac Green is timeless, every time I open the case to see my Cadillac Green it brings a smile to my face.