Stetsbar
Encyclopedia
Bridge (instrument)
A bridge is a device for supporting the strings on a stringed instrument and transmitting the vibration of those strings to some other structural component of the instrument in order to transfer the sound to the surrounding air.- Explanation :...
system for the electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
developed by Eric Stets during the late ‘80s and patented in 1995. The system was originally designed to offer an extremely stable tremolo system that could be retro fitted to “stop-tail” guitars such as the Gibson Les Paul
Gibson Les Paul
The Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
without the need to make any permanent modifications to the recipient guitar.
Since its introduction, other mounts for the system have been introduced to enable a wide variety of guitars to be accommodated.
Principle of operation
When actuated by moving the tremolo arm
Tremolo arm
A whammy bar, tremolo arm/bar, or vibrato arm/bar is a component of a guitar, used to add vibrato to the sound by changing the tension of the strings, typically at the bridge or tailpiece...
up or down, the bridge operates with a linear motion in the same plane as the strings of the guitar. A Tune-O-Matic
Tune-o-matic
Tune-o-matic is a name of fixed bridge design for electric guitars. It was designed by Ted McCarty and introduced in the Gibson Les Paul Custom guitar in 1954. In 1955, it was used on the Gibson Les Paul Gold Top...
style bridge is mounted on the bridge plate which also holds the string anchor block. The bridge plate moves over a pair of roller bearings installed in the base plate of the unit. Thus, the bridge and string anchors move as one, eliminating any friction over the bridge saddles.
Another advantage of the surface mounting of all components is that no additional holes or routs are needed to the guitar to fit the unit. This is especially nice if you upgrade to a similar guitar (e.g. from an Epiphone Les Paul
Epiphone Les Paul
The Epiphone Les Paul is a line of solid body electric guitars produced by Epiphone as a more modestly priced version of the famous Gibson Les Paul. Epiphone is a subsidiary of the Gibson Guitar Corporation and manufactures the Les Paul and other budget models at a lower cost in Asia. Visually and...
to a Gibson Les Paul
Gibson Les Paul
The Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
), as you can move the tremolo from the old guitar to the new without losing any functionality/value of either guitar, since its original bridge/tailpiece can be put back on.
The Stetsbar also has the added benefit of staying in tune better than a Floyd Rose in the incidence of a string break. Unlike a Floyd Rose system, it isn't dependent on string tension to keep in in place so the loss of pull from a broken string won't affect your tuning.
Available models
Available models are:
- Stop Tail - designed to fit to guitars that have a stop tail bridge assembly such as the Gibson Guitar's Les Paul, Gibson SGGibson SGAt the launch of the SG in 1961, Gibson offered four variants of the SG; the SG Junior , the SG Special, the SG Standard, and the top-of-the-line SG Custom. However, Gibson's current core variants as of 2010 are the SG Standard and the SG Special...
, Gibson ES-335Gibson ES-335The Gibson ES-335 is the world's first commercial thinline arched-top semi-acoustic electric guitar. Released by the Gibson Guitar Corporation as part of its ES series in 1958, it is neither hollow nor solid; instead, a solid wood block runs through the center of its body...
and other similar models. Mounting to the guitar is achieved by using the existing threaded stop tail bushings. The latest Pro II base plate design replaced the rounded base plate with a rectangular design. - T-Style – with a base plate designed to replace a Fender TelecasterFender TelecasterThe Fender Telecaster, colloquially known as the Tele , is typically a dual-pickup, solid-body electric guitar made by Fender.Its simple yet effective design and revolutionary sound broke ground and set trends in electric guitar manufacturing and popular music...
or similar guitar’s “ashtray” bridge. This base plate allows for the remounting of the guitars diagonal bridge pickups and offers both three and four screw hole fitting points that are found on the various T-Style makes and models. - Hard Tail – a base plate mount for those guitars that have a 5 hole hard tail mount point such as certain models of Fender StratocasterFender StratocasterThe Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
s and Fender Telecasters. - OEM – a mount designed specifically for guitar builders who will build around the unit. This features a minimal base plate almost completely hidden under the main bridge plate and normally counter-sunk into the top of the guitar by a few millimetres.
Other Variations - some units are fitted with various makes of piezo pickup saddle or graphite
Graphite
The mineral graphite is one of the allotropes of carbon. It was named by Abraham Gottlob Werner in 1789 from the Ancient Greek γράφω , "to draw/write", for its use in pencils, where it is commonly called lead . Unlike diamond , graphite is an electrical conductor, a semimetal...
bridges dependent upon requirement.
Notable users
Amongst the professional users of the Stetsbar are artists such as Jan AkkermanJan Akkerman
Jan Akkerman is a Dutch guitarist. Akkerman is a distinctive guitarist, constantly experimenting with new equipment and guitars. Akkerman's distinctive guitar sound is characterised by his pioneering use of volume swells which produce a smooth, fluty, sustained tone, and other complex techniques...
, formally of Focus, Snowy White
Snowy White
Snowy White is an English guitarist, known for having played with Thin Lizzy and with Pink Floyd and, more recently, for Roger Waters'...
(who tours extensively with Roger Waters
Roger Waters
George Roger Waters is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. He was a founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, serving as bassist and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter...
and other members of Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
), Randy Bachman
Randy Bachman
Randolph Charles "Randy" Bachman, OC, OM is a Canadian musician best known as lead guitarist, songwriter and a founding member for both the 1960s–70s rock band The Guess Who, and the 1970s rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive...
, Elliott Randall
Elliott Randall
Elliott Randall is an American guitarist, most known for being a session musician with popular artists. Randall has played the well-known guitar solos from Steely Dan's hit "Reelin' in the Years" and Fame. Legendary Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page has reputedly said that Randall's solo on...
, Mike Chain as well as many US, UK and European session guitarists.