So as some of you know I play 12 strings that have trems on them. As such the search for a better trem system is something I am very much interested in. So far the best solution for me has been to mod a fender strat style unit with different saddles. It takes some machining to make it work and it does work well. BUT.....
It's a lot of work to make one.
It takes two bridges to make one. (dano hardtail 12 and aftermarket chinese trem that has a taller lip on the back where the intonation adjustment screws are)
It requires the guitar in question be permanently modified.
I was in touch with amorphous during his shakedown of this trem and was extremely disappointed when it didn't work. It looks so cool! and the concept seems like it could have been easily modded for more strings. 12's have the tension of a 6 with heavier gauge strings though, so a no go here.
My only foray onto a non fender stly that has worked so far was a bigsby.
Take one was to just add more anchor points so it worked with 12. Kinda worked but it was not so dramatic with the wiggles.
Take 2 was to add a sleeve around the bar on the B5 where the strings anchor. a little better. but still not perfect.
this is the start of take 3.
Bigsby B6 with the chet atkins arm. I plan on adding a larger sleeve and changing the orientation of where the strings anchor to give it the most range possible. I figure the different stlyle arm will allow me to change how much room it has before it hits the guitar as well.
With that said, as I started getting what I will need to do this, I had the idea of using gears to increase the range of play and having the axle rest on ball bearings to make it a much smoother operating system. This is completely theoretical at this point but the idea is to make something that will work with any tension, any string guage work on any guitar with no permanent modification.
Currently I lack the tools to make this so it may be a while before it becomes a reality but if anyone is a machinist, and thinks they can help, hit me up. I think I may be on to something here.
