Fixed Bridge Tone Comparison: Hipshot Ibby FP vs. stock Ibanez FP

[@chocolatecookie8571]

This is the second video I watched where a comparison was made between an Ibanez bridge and a Hipshot bridge. In the other video I liked the stock Ibanez bridge much more than the Hipshot. And in this video, while the bridges are different models, again I like the Ibanez bridge more than the Hipshot. I don't know why Hipshot is so popular. I had a Hipshot tremelo bridge and it was horrible. And the fixed bridges of Hipshot I don't like as well.

[@CT79chroma]

I don't have experiences of other Hipshot bridges than this one, I bought this one as this one is a direct replacement to Ibanez folded plate bridge. I love Ibanez Gibraltar bridges and would never replace those but the original bridge that this RG7321 had, was awful. Originally it had long and sharp height adjustment screws that hurt the palm of my hand. I shortened those by filing them but still the bridge did not feel good and stable. After the replacement the tonal difference is pretty subtle but the feel that Hipshot brought is superior compared to the original.

[@chocolatecookie8571]

@@CT79chroma oh yeah, I see. Yeah, comfortwise and material then the Hipshot is better as you experienced it. But from sound perspective as I hear it behind my laptop the Ibanez bridge sounds better.

[@CT79chroma]

@@chocolatecookie8571 yeah, tone thing is so much about personal preferences - I thought it is nice to make this kind of comparison video so that if someone is thinking about swapping the bridge, they get more information how it affects the tone

[@faiz1705]

can i just check that the stock Ibanez bridge is the F106 bridge ?

[@CT79chroma]

Can't be F106 as that one is six strings model bridge.

[@cassalinson]

Hipshot sounds surely better, more clear, open and superior sustain, but are the strings brand new on both tests?

[@CT79chroma]

Yeah, I agree! Yes, strings need to be brand new (and exactly same brand and cauge) always when doing any kind of tone comparison.

[@eddiem4868]

Do you have a link to the hipshot you used?

[@CT79chroma]

Yes, it is this one: hipshotproducts.com/collections/guitar-bridges/products/7-string-ibby-fp-guitar-bridge?variant=28341690760 Note that in mine the saddle pieces are a bit different shape (more round) as Hipshot sent me wrong ones initially. The ones that I have in bridge now are also from Hipshot but from a different model.

I think you may have picked harder on the clean Ibanez examples, or softer on the Hipshot examples.

[@CT79chroma]

That is always possible but surely tried to do it exactly the same / as consistent as possible. I can only say that I did my best.

[@Sc3neShit]

Do Gotoh vs Hipshot tuners.

[@CT79chroma]

@@Sc3neShit can’t do as I don’t have Hipshot tuners

[@Sc3neShit]

Just order it, I need to know which tuners sounds better.

[@CT79chroma]

@@Sc3neShit I don’t need Hipshot tuners, for me the Gotoh locking ones are absolutely the best. I don’t think tuners affect tone much. Tuners affect the tuning feel and stability but most likely not on the tone.

[@Sc3neShit]

10 months ago I thought Gotoh tuners was the best tuners. A guy swapped to Hipshot tuners on an 8-string Ibanez guitar, I said; “Why did you swap these tuners instead of Gotoh?” He responded: “I like Hipshot tuners though.”. A Reddit user; “Try Hipshot® tuners, Why: Because It’s my favorite tuners company & better than Gotoh®.”, He responded: “Yeah won't be buying gotohs again. I they were loose when I was restringing and went to tighten them, but the knob rolled right off. Was just trying to get a matching replacement so I could sell the guitar but I found one!”, & he deleted the video.

[@CT79chroma]

@@Sc3neShit I have Gotoh’s on 4 of my 7 string Ibanez guitars. Never had any problems with them and to my taste they are much better looking ones than what Hipshot has.

[@overcomeevil433]

hmm it seems like a hipshot sounds a little better

[@CT79chroma]

Yeah, I was surprised that it affected tone quite a bit