A Guitar And Gear Support Forum

So, I just got this today. I'm having some issues with it, and I posted those in another post. I bought their roller bridge for a tele that is supposed to work with their Extrem vibrato. More issues their too. I had to reposition one of the tuners, it was crooked. Not a biggie, but in my 50+ years of playing and buying guitars, this was the first guitar I ever had to do that to. I haven't even plugged it in yet. Trying to figure out what I'm gonna do about the bridge height issue. It's about 1/4" high!!! I didn't notice that until I got the 4th string on. They say the neck will need to be shimmed, but I'm not gonna shim it 1/4' inch. That is extreme in my opinion. The body is 3 piece, but you don't notice that from the from of the guitar. So, here is my guitar.

I like the guitar! I do recall reading somewhere that their X-trem typicall required neck shimming. Is the bridge piece removable from the plate? Wondering if it can be swapped with a lower profile roller bridge? Also it couldn't hurt to try shimming - look at the Tosicam 3pc wood shims on amazon for like $10.

Thanks for your comments.

I was thinking of shimming, but the bridge raises the strings a 1/4". Yes the bridge does come off the studs, but I looked at a few Wilkinson roller bridges that I have, and they are about the same size. I'm just gonna send it back. I filed down the existing ashtray too work.



I just have to wait for a diamond hole saw set to arrive to extract the broken screws for the Extrem Vibrato. Three of the heads broke off. One when installing, and the other 2 when trying to take them out. Never had that happen b4, and I have installed a few Bigsbys.

Broken screws are always a nightmare, even with a screw extractor. More than one screw? That sure sounds like they just supplied the cheapest screws they could source. Sorry to hear it.

Got it fixed. I'll post the results in another post.

HNGD!

I like the grain. It looks like a light Ash body.

Rob, it is ash. I love the grain too. I'm a sucker for a natural body finish.

Now that I have fixed the broken screw issue, I spent a couple of hours playing today, I am in love. I love the tone of the guitar. I have held off getting a Tele because I'm not a single coil guy. This one has humbuckers and I love it! The sustain is ridiculous! And the tone is amazing. Definitely glad I bought it. This one will most likely be my last. At 71 I have enough guitars.

This is the guitar after completion. I scalloped the original bridge (ashtray) and put it back on.





I any of you are interested to see the process of fixing the broken screws, the link is below.

viewtopic.php?f=76&t=4740&p=53963#p53963

Thanks for the detailed writeup! Glad you like the guitar - I am fond of my Xaviere, but I do hear mixed reviews of their quality, which fits with what you say about the bridge height weirdness and the broken screws.