PLATINUM SERIES

GTB Wrapover Bridge

GTB

The single cutaway LP style guitar of the early 1950’s utilised a trapeze style bridge, combining the traditional jazz/arch top style tailpiece with a bar bridge that the strings were inserted through, this unit was quite quickly replaced by the stud/tailpiece bridge which remained the standard until it was replaced by the Tuno-matic bridge assembly that added a separate tailpiece to anchor the strings.

Overtime guitar luthiers and players realised that the single combined bridge and tailpiece stud unit was a much better transfer method of string energy into the body of the guitar, and consequently created a more resonant device than the tuno-matic bridge.

The stud bridge however suffered from the inability to be able to intonate the strings properly due to its design style.

REINVENTING THE CLASSIC

Rethinking the original stud bridge/tailpiece design saw a fixed intonation unit being used throughout the 1960’s. This unit was cast with a raised intonation line across the top of the bridge and could be further adjusted via the two grub screws inserted at the rear of each claw of the bridge.

While a great solution for the time the development of a multitude of string gauges and the replacement of the wound G string to a plain G string in many cases meant that the newer developed stud bridge was not fit for purpose.

The GTB bridge tail/tailpiece solves the issues found in the traditional bridge/tailpiece combination and gives greater mass and through body vibration than smaller combination units.

MORE CONTACT, MORE TONE

The Wilkinson GTB utilises a moveable G and B string intonation section similar to that found on our GTB100, this allows the player to intonate the guitar accurately with their preferred string gauge.

Unlike the GTB100 and 200 the GTB features tracks to guide each string perfectly over its intonation point, and also fixes the string more positively in position, this feature combined with the greater mass of the GTB gives better string vibration transfer into the body of the instrument from the increased string contact to the bridge/tailpiece unit.

SPECIFICATION

  • Model GTB

  • Finishes Chrome, Nickel, Black, Gold

  • Body Material Zamak 3

  • Saddle Material Zamak 3

  • String Spacing 10.40mm