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Stoptail bridge

4-types of Hard-tail & 2-types of Vibratos on Les Paul
[hard-tail] Stopbar tailpiece with Tune-O-Matic bridge (born 1953)[1]
[hard-tail] Wraparound stopbar bridge /tailpiece (1953–)[2]
[hard-tail]
Wraparound type, Badass bridge /tailpiece
[hard-tail]
Wraparound type, Trapeze bridge /tailpiece (1952-53)[3]
[vibrato tailpiece] Bigsby with Tune-O-Matic bridge
[vibrato system] Floyd Rose
Typical stoptail bridge with Tune-o-matic and stopbar
Tune-o-matic with "strings through the body" construction (without stopbar)

A stoptail bridge (sometimes also called a stopbar bridge) used on a solid body electric guitar or archtop guitar is a specialized kind of fixed hard-tail bridge. Hard-tail bridged guitars use different bridges from those guitars fitted with vibrato systems (which are also known as tremolo arms or whammy bars).

  1. ^ Burrows 2015, p. 51, Before the Tune-O-Matic.
    "First used in 1953, the Tune-o-matic fixed bridge unit was the invention of Gibson's then president, Ted McCarty, and it was designed to provide height adjustability and individual string intonation. In Conjunction with the fixed tailpiece, it quickly became established as Gibson's standard bridge on all but the cheapest solidbody electric."
  2. ^ Burrows 2015, p. 51, Over and Under.
    "During 1953, the trapeze bridge was replaced altogether with a "wrap-around stop bar". This looks similar to a standard Gibson tailpiece only it has integrated saddles with compensated alignment."
  3. ^ Burrows 2015, p. 50-51, Over and Under.
    "The original bridge used on the 1952 Goldtop was a trapeze [bridge] design which screwed to the base of the body and was only adjustable in overall height and length." ["wrap-under" design (1952) and "wrap-over" design (1952-1953)]