Supervee Bladerunner

Started by aliensporebomb, January 13, 2012, 08:28:01 PM

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mbenigni

#25
QuoteI just ordered my second Bladerunner, ( this one for the GC1), or I would have waited and ordered with the Babics saddles. I really like those.

Exactly my plan.  And agreed, a black option would be really cool!

aliensporebomb

Ah yes, black:







I'm telling you, any strat I get from now on will have one of these on it.  It makes it so much more fun to play.
My music projects online at http://www.aliensporebomb.com/

GK Devices:  Roland VG-99, Boss GP-10, Boss SY-1000.

datsunrobbie

Looking forward to the bladerunner with ghost saddles. I'm running string saver saddles on my two most used guitars and never break strings on them. Both have internal GKs installed, but I'd like the ability to mix piezo and magnetic pickups when I'm not using the GK.

aliensporebomb

Quote from:  merman93
Two  things I just realized from the pic of your Roland Ready Strat,... The G1 does not come with the plastic overlay describing s1/s2 and mix switches.

Oh, and I should have went with the Gold SuperVee on my G1 like on your Strat. I have the Gold on my deluxe Mexie but I already had Gold hardware, so Gold SuperVee and Gold Tuners were necessary anyway. I see it would have looked great anyway,.. Dang!!

It's just a translucent plastic overlay and there's a parts number listed on it in very small numbers if anyone wanted to try and order it from Fender: 051517



It's designed to be removable so it wouldn't be that hard to remove it and set it aside if you wanted.
My music projects online at http://www.aliensporebomb.com/

GK Devices:  Roland VG-99, Boss GP-10, Boss SY-1000.

musicman65

That overlay is BUTT UGLY  ;D  It would be gone the first day.

bd

aliensporebomb

#30
Quote from: musicman65 on April 21, 2012, 11:02:44 AM
That overlay is BUTT UGLY  ;D  It would be gone the first day.

bd

Yep.  It will go but I had it there for a bit just to get familiar with "the new matrix of strat operation" as seen by Roland.  Better?


My music projects online at http://www.aliensporebomb.com/

GK Devices:  Roland VG-99, Boss GP-10, Boss SY-1000.

aliensporebomb

One more bladerunner update: this guitar came with a graphite nut on it.  The other strat I had would sometimes bind a little at the G string with tremelo action so I'd sometimes "prepare" it by pushing down on the G string prior to playing or recording.  This graphite nut is a heck of a lot more slippery.  This is the best performing non-locking trem I've ever encountered now.
My music projects online at http://www.aliensporebomb.com/

GK Devices:  Roland VG-99, Boss GP-10, Boss SY-1000.

aliensporebomb

#32
Where did you get this item?  I will probably do this.  Heck, I'll probably do it today if I can.

Merman:  I bet you could put a bladerunner on that G-505 - there was some kind of facebook contest where the Super Vee people wanted to see bladerunner trems on non-Fender instruments.  You could be a shoe-in.
My music projects online at http://www.aliensporebomb.com/

GK Devices:  Roland VG-99, Boss GP-10, Boss SY-1000.

Elantric

#33
Strat deluxe string trees here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fender-Strat-Guitar-US-Standard-String-Tree-Guides-/140743040790?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item20c4f05f16#ht_3640wt_951




Myself, I find staggered height locking tuners work better for me, i removed the string trees on most of my strats and installed graphtech Nuts years ago and that solved most of my tuning problems.


aliensporebomb

#34
Well it's done:



That was easy.  And cheap  Between the bladerunner, new string guide and graphite nut I'm about as in tune as could be expected to be for a non-locking system.
My music projects online at http://www.aliensporebomb.com/

GK Devices:  Roland VG-99, Boss GP-10, Boss SY-1000.

musicman65

Quote from: Elantric on April 29, 2012, 09:15:45 AM

Myself, I find staggered height locking tuners work better for me, i removed the string trees on most of my strats and installed graphtech Nuts years ago and that solved most of my tuning problems.

+1 on no trees, staggered height locking tuners and graphite nuts.

The best non-locking trem ever made (before the bladerunner) was the designed by Floyd Rose Strat Deluxe Locking tremolo. It has locking saddles but no fine tuners. It eliminates the length of string over the saddle into the block so there is NO WAY for the bridge to induce tuning issues. Its a two post system and return to zero has never really been the biggest issue with most trems anyways. Friction over the saddles and through the block are the biggest issue.
The no trees, staggered locking tuners, graphite nut solves 99% of the issues on the other end.

Now I am perplexed how the Bladerunner solves the string drag behind the saddle issue...apparently it does.

For the sake of science, could someone do a test for me? Please follow this simple test to see if it exhibits string drag at the brudge:

1. Lube up the nut and tree if not stock. Tune to pitch with a reliable tuner. Do not play any lead notes with bends.

2. Give the trem a few good dives, check tuning, correct, repeat until it returns in tune. The dives will allow tension changes while tuning to equalize on both sides of the nut and saddle.

3. Play an open G chord....should be in tune. Now, at the 3rd fret G string pick and BEND a note up a full step or more. BEND HARD. This will increase the tension during the bend on the entire string, ball to tuner, then return to normal when done. DO NOT WANG YET.

4. Play an open G chord again....how does it sound? The G string should be flat. This is an indication that the tension is not equalizing due to friction on the nut, saddles, bridge plate hole, and trem block.

5. Bump the trem arm down (gentle dive) and the tuning returns.

If it goes out of tune, its probably binding at the saddle. If you want to test for nut binding, while the G string is flat, press down on the G behind the nut a few times. If the bind is on the nut, that will release the tension and the G will return to pitch. If it doesn't change, no issue there. Then, if bumping the trem causes return to pitch, its the bridge. Lubing bridge contact points will help but its temporary.

The Fender Strat Deluxe Locking trem eleminates 99% of that behavior...the other 1% is at the nut. It would be great news to know the Bladerunner fixes it to. Thanks to anyone who will try this test.

Double-Locking trems make these issues go away...but do add extra hardware and maybe a few hassles if you don't love 'em.

bd



Player99

Could a bladerunner be installed on a JTV69?


Elantric

#37
QuoteCould a bladerunner be installed on a JTV69?

Why?

I see the principal benefit of the Bladerunner design is to establish a knife edge pivot point for the bridge with less friction than the 6 screws used on vintage Strat Bridges.

The JTV-69 already has a good stable knife edge pivot system for its tremolo. And the exclusive major design of all Tyler Variax guitars is to support the piezo bridge saddles in the best possible manner, which I feel they achieved very well.

I feel the JTV-69 bridge is vastly superior to the Wilkinson / RMC bridge on the Godin LGXT - because the JTV bridge has the absolute minimum string length behind the bridge and the JTV-69 bridge maintains downward pressure on the Piezo saddles, even during tremolo dive bomb use - a rare occurrence with piezo tremolo guitars.

Try these dive bomb tremolo  antics with a Godin LGXT and your G sting will stop making sound mid- travel.

aliensporebomb

Merman93:  I went to guitar center about 10 minutes away and bought a set of two.  That way if I get another strat I can use the second one on that.  It was $5 I think.  Cheap and it looks a little nicer than the old design.
My music projects online at http://www.aliensporebomb.com/

GK Devices:  Roland VG-99, Boss GP-10, Boss SY-1000.

aliensporebomb

From where did you obtain these tuners for less than $90?
My music projects online at http://www.aliensporebomb.com/

GK Devices:  Roland VG-99, Boss GP-10, Boss SY-1000.

Elantric

QuoteFrom where did you obtain these tuners for less than $90?

$65 here:
http://www.bestguitarparts.com/guitar-part-review/594/Hipshot_6_inline_Locking_Tuners.htm
Hipshot 6 inline Locking Tuners (GT0044)
Newly arrived!!!

Right handed. Staggered height tuners. 18:1 gear ratio. Fits 25/64" (10mm) tuner holes.

*Left handed available on a special order basis*



aliensporebomb

I really like the shape and size of the tuning keys themselves.  $65?  Some people spend more on a bottle of wine during dinner out.  Nice deal.
My music projects online at http://www.aliensporebomb.com/

GK Devices:  Roland VG-99, Boss GP-10, Boss SY-1000.

rolandvg99

That Bladerunner sure looks good. Got the MagLock and the Tremol-No. Took away the Tremol-No...
To V or not to V: That is the question.

My little Soundcloud corner

mbenigni

I've been hitting the SuperVee website every couple of days waiting for their "Custom Shop" options to come online (even though I know they'll probably email when it happens...)

I found this on their news page, thought it was interesting.  Made me feel a little guilty for my impatience:

http://www.super-vee.com/whats_new.html

GuitarDojo

Quote from: mbenigni on July 13, 2012, 11:16:19 AM
I've been hitting the SuperVee website every couple of days waiting for their "Custom Shop" options to come online (even though I know they'll probably email when it happens...)

I found this on their news page, thought it was interesting.  Made me feel a little guilty for my impatience:

http://www.super-vee.com/whats_new.html
Wow!
Hoping for the best for everyone !

myksara

This thread is brilliliant and i m completely convinced to go for a bladeruner!
Few queries though:
I want this stuff to enhance my roland GC1 strat which is black with maple fingerboard, so would bladerunner be a drop in directly? I m not comfortable with woodwork or electronics DIY
Should i go for the maglok too? Is that also a direct fitting thing?
any locking tuners that are direct drop ins?
i am thinking of going gold..gives a classy look..so i will need to have the bladerunner matching with the tuners too..any recommendations highly appreciated
Guitars: Ibanez Prestige S5470, Ibanez Jem 7v, Ibanez JS2410, PRS SE Custom24, Cort  Ltd G16, Ibanez RG370Ahmz,
MultiFX: Roland GR55, Zoom 1on, BOSS GT00
Loopers: Digitech trio+, Line 6 JM4
MIDI:, MAudio Axiom24 keyboard, Alesis IO Dock with iPad air 2

aliensporebomb

It's very easy - even for someone as inept at woodworking as I am it's a matter of unscrewing and rescrewing the screws holding the existing tremelo in place and detaching the springs in back and reattaching.

I think it took me under 10 minutes to destring, remove the old trem, insert the new and restring and I was back up and ready to go.

The claw that holds the springs is replaceable too - I did that just because it was part of the process but I honestly don't think it's needed.
My music projects online at http://www.aliensporebomb.com/

GK Devices:  Roland VG-99, Boss GP-10, Boss SY-1000.

audiotrax

Does it work with Squires?  Cause I found out the hard way with a nice GFS bridge that the two screw ones are not standard spacing.
Owner of: VG-88, GI-10, Cubase 5, Kontakt, SampleTank, var VSTI's, Roland JV1080.  Strat with GK-2A, two Roland GR500 analog guitar synths

oddguitar

Well, I installed the GK3 on my Fender John Mayer signature Strat which has both a Super Vee Bladerunner and Mag-Lok installed on it (installed and setup to float by the tech at the Super Vee factory) and I encountered the following problem:

There wasn't enough room underneath the strings to accommodate the GK3, even without using any of the spacers.  So what I ended up having to do was raise each of the saddles dramatically in order to have the clearance required.  Of course. This now means that I have very high action, which I'm not thrilled about.  I'm guessing that the Bladerunner sits lower than the traditional Strat bridge, but you folks here seem to not have a problem with it.....any ideas?

Thanks in advance  :)

-oddguitar

Elantric

#49
QuoteThere wasn't enough room underneath the strings to accommodate the GK3, even without using any of the spacers.
Its a common problem
Remove the neck.
Insert a small shim in neck pocket under 21st fret
Reinstall neck.
This increases the height of strings at bridge, to provide clearance for GK-3

This thread covers how to do it
http://www.strat-talk.com/forum/tech-talk/15273-how-shim-neck-step-step-photos.html