You bet we do.  We have detailed installation videos and downloadable screw templates on our installation page here.

Most likely.  The KSM Foundation is an excellent replacement for most bridge systems. Obviously not all bridges are bolted down with the same screw pattern so you may need to drill a couple extra holes. Visit our installation page to download the screw template.

Not many people give this much thought, but like many other guitar techs, I have given this much thought. Why do some players change out their tuning keys and pickups in the quest for perfection but completely disregard their bridge? Let’s look at the tuning keys. Sure they are very important, but they do one job and that is to loosen and tighten the string. And yes, they better do it well or the instrument is going to go out of tune. The bridge is also responsible for the tuning of the instrument and the bridge provides intonation that is critical for that tuning.

Now let’s look at the pickups. A pickup can alter your sound from thin and tinny to fat and distorted and anywhere in between on the sound spectrum. But without a good solid anchor that attaches the strings to the body, that sound is going to be degraded. Energy from that vibrating string is going to be sucked into the vibrating parts on a bad bridge and not picked up by your pickup.

What about the nut? Players often change those out to bone or graphite. The nut is the other anchor for your strings and is very important, but it just sits there. The nut holds your strings up to the proper height and separates the strings by the proper distances from each other as well as the edges of the fretboard. A bridge must do all of those things, but it should also adjust to the proper positions and hold them in place solidly.

And think about all of those strings that are breaking at your bridge. How many break at the nut? Almost all string breaks occur at the bridge, so the angle at which the strings lay over the bridge saddle is very important. The saddle should not create kinks both for string health and sound health.

Body materials can be thought of as important parts, and many variations have been used; from the fine, beautiful Honduran mahogany of a Les Paul to the slabs of Masonite used on a Danelectro. Every instrument body has its own sound, but that sound can’t come through strongly unless the strings are attached through a rock-solid connection at the bridge.

So I argue and contend that of all the important components of an electric guitar and bass, the bridge holds them all together. What do you think?

Just like everything else in the market place, price reflects costs. To manufacture the KSM Foundation bridge the machining has to be so precise that the thickness of the anodizing or nickel plating has to be accounted for so that the bridge functions properly.  The individual parts must move with out binding or sticking and yet have no gaps so that there is as much sound and feel transferred into the instrument as can be possible.

Just for fun take a drawing of the KSM Foundation bridge to your local machinist and ask him how much it will cost to have him make one for you.

Prior to the new generation bridge you should drill the two outside holes. The bridge will line up with most Fender screw patterns for the center three screws, then the two outer side screws can be drilled to add stability and security by having fresh attachment areas. If you feel uncomfortable with this process please contact a qualified guitar or bass repair person. There are also helpful installation videos on the KSM guitars YouTube channel. View the KSM Bass Bridge installation video here.

Here is a list of basses we know the bridge will work on without drilling holes. This list is constantly being updated. Please let us know if you have any updates. Currently we have confirmed that the following instruments can have their bridge directly replaced with the KSM Foundation.

Fender: Jazz Bass (excludes American Standard, and Deluxe)
Precision Bass (excludes American Standard, and Deluxe)
Dimension Bass
Jaguar Bass
Short Scale Mustang Bass
All Squire basses except the Bronco model.

Schecter:
Baron H
Diamond - J Plus
Diamond - P Plus
Omen Extreme 4
Omen 4
Stiletto Extreme

Ibanez:
Talman Bass TMB 300 and TMB 100
Black Eagle 2609 B
GSR 200
GSR 100 EX

Tune Guitar Technology:
Bassmaniac TBJ42

There are also helpful installation videos on the KSM guitars YouTube channel. View the KSM Bass Bridge installation video here.

There are many configurations of screw patterns and string through options out there and we have found many possibilities can be achieved with the design we have developed.

The situation concerning the American Standard can be solved by centering the A string through body hole, with the bridge hole for that string. This will allow the other sting holes to have enough string hole area to have the string pass through, although not completely centered on the other string holes. All new mounting holes will need to be drilled. Or if you choose to not use the string through option just line up the regular mounting screws.