About Rico Martinez Expertise I can answer just about any question on the repair and maintenance of electric guitars and acoustic guitars including intonation, tuning, tonal characteristics, electronics, finishes, hardware, technique, etc.
Experience Thirty years playing guitar. I was also a guitar salesman and repair person at a very popular store, working with a master luthier who taught me the standards of repair. I've been working with guitars most of my life and my repairs have run the gamut from simple to complex body rebuilding and refinish.
Education/Credentials On-the-job training. My college degree isn't related to guitar, but communication, which should be a qualification for answering a question in proper English!
Question hey i was looking to buy the ibanez xiphos xpt700.... but i dont like the edge 3 bridge... in my few years of experience, not one of the edge 3 bridges ive used have stayed in tune over a day, and the finish from most of them has worn out within 6 months to a year of using the guitar... can you suggest a bridge (original floyd or edge pro or whatever) that i can use instead of it? i do not want to go into the hassle of routing the body (or even sanding it... the finish on the guitar is awesome and i am not willing to spoil it in any way) for the new bridge to fit in.
Answer Hello Jayesh,
I'm not a fan of the Edge 3 bridge either, but I have a good friend who swears by them. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.
I don't know of anything that will fit without routing, other than Edge tremolos.
A good routing can take you a long way, though. The finish can be touched up inside and you're good to go. Sometimes it's worth it to get a bridge that you really like. Keep in mind that you'll be replacing the mounting studs as well.
A good technician can figure it out for you for free. They should NOT charge you to look at the guitar and tell you what will fit and what won't.
My favorite Floyd Rose bridge is the Schaller. I've had one for 18 years and it's still my favorite.
