[BigBazz]

I just purchased a new Lo-Pro Edge to replace the tired old one on my 1994 Jem 7V, noticed there are quite a few little differences between the old and new version. Nothing especially interesting but I thought it was worth a comparison for the sake of "why not".

The knife edges, knife edge retainer and trem arm socket are black rather than gold, and the patent line is gone (since it expired so no longer needs to be there).

The sustain block appears to be a different material. The sustain block on the Original Edge in my Jem 777 30th is the same as the 1990s Lo-Pro (left) pictured here with the dull appearance rather than a shine. The knife edges seem to be shaped slightly differently to how the old Lo-Pro was, though it's hard to see in the pictures and due to excessive wear you'd not really be able to tell anyway.

Also some tiny differences like the string block screws, and the ends of the fine tuner rods.

 

[JsXLine6]

Yeah there's some small noteable differences with the original edge as well. One of my guitars has a 1987 orignal edge that is in like new condition... and i have a js24p with the new manufacturered edge. Some slight differences... like the trem arm hole is raised in the old ones, where the new ones are flush. Or the saddles are not polished chrome on the new one but look a little more satin.

 

[JsXLine6]

what kind if cash are those lo-pro bridges going for now?

 

[BigBazz]

what kind if cash are those lo-pro bridges going for now?

That was £237 from Thomann, which was the cheapest by quite a bit (£280 most places). I could have saved some if I didn't get a gold replacement though. It's really not cheap but what can you do, Floyd Roses are super expensive in the UK too, but at least you can get a Schaller Lockmeister (which is the same thing) for considerably less.

 

[JsXLine6]

Yeah that is expensive. But it is worth it for sure. Out of the 4 guitars i have with locking trems i like the edge the best, then the gotoh ge1996t, and then my schaller. For the money though, you can't beat the gotoh. That thing feels great! And they go for about $110-$130 USD. Much nicer feeling than my schaller.

I think i may get a lo-pro when ever the original edge wears out. But given how long it took for yours to wear out, that may be quite some time.

 

[BigBazz]

Yeah that is expensive. But it is worth it for sure. Out of the 4 guitars i have with locking trems i like the edge the best, then the gotoh ge1996t, and then my schaller. For the money though, you can't beat the gotoh. That thing feels great! And they go for about $110-$130 USD. Much nicer feeling than my schaller.

I think i may get a lo-pro when ever the original edge wears out. But given how long it took for yours to wear out, that may be quite some time.

Yeah the Gotoh 1996 is awesome and I usually recommend it as the best value trem out there, my buddy replaced the trem on his old Jackson with one last year and is full of praise for it. With my Ibanez guitars though I have to go with an Edge bridge, because the guitars just don't look right with anything else. I love the Edge bridges but I don't really have any real preference, Floyd Rose is just as good for me. My first Floyd Rose was the old Schaller design (with the thick cast base plate and the insert knife edges) on a Fender Strat, I replaced that with a Floyd Rose Pro at the end of 2018 that I got for cheap in a clearance sale (£80, down from £330 or so).. And I have my 2 current Ibanez's, one with the Lo-Pro and the other with an Original Edge (from 2017).

They are all great, all have their strengths and weaknesses. My one gripe with Ibanez bridges is the low quality pot metal sustain block they have (though my new Lo-Pro above seems to differ to the old ones?). Gotoh 1996, Schaller Lockmeister and all the Floyd Rose bridges come with brass blocks. I was trying to figure out what the Floyd sustain blocks were made of a little while back, did some research suggesting it was a chrome coated brass and thought "that doesn't sound right"... So I went to inspect my bridge and looking into the spring retainer screw holes I could see it was brass after all, strange why Floyd Rose don't advertise that.

 

[JsXLine6]

I agree about the brass. My 540r has that 1987 bridge in it, i replaced the block with brass because the springs kept flying out when using the trem. The block was awful. It was before they started to use that flat metal bar to keep the springs in. super nice upgrade. Unfortunately the block is a bit thicker, so i lose a little pull back, but not enough to make me want to get something else. I still need to do that upgrade on the js24p, though i may get a different block so the trem feels the same.

 

[Luke Duke]

I agree about the brass. My 540r has that 1987 bridge in it, i replaced the block with brass because the springs kept flying out when using the trem. The block was awful. It was before they started to use that flat metal bar to keep the springs in. super nice upgrade. Unfortunately the block is a bit thicker, so i lose a little pull back, but not enough to make me want to get something else. I still need to do that upgrade on the js24p, though i may get a different block so the trem feels the same.

Did you notice a tonal difference going to brass...and more metal of course.M?

Luke

 

[JsXLine6]

Honestly i put a different neck on the guitar at the same time so there was a noticeable change in tone, but it could be for both reasons. But i do have a large brass block on a custom guitar. Body is mahogany, neck is all maple. It made a change to the lower midrange that was welcomed. It warmed it up a bit.