mosrite-type vibrato unit found on eBay

SpaceTimC

Joined: Apr 18, 2015
Posts: 189
Bay Area, CA
United States

Posted on Apr 26 2017 10:17 PM

Does anyone have any experience with this vibrato unit I found on eBay?

Mosrite-esque Vibrato

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FritzCat

Joined: Sep 11, 2007
Posts: 668
Sonoma, CA
9 Security Pins

Posted on Apr 26 2017 11:42 PM

They're not horrible, actually a good deal for the money. Anything specific you want to know?

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SpaceTimC

Joined: Apr 18, 2015
Posts: 189
Bay Area, CA
United States

Posted on Apr 26 2017 11:47 PM

I just want to get a sense if this'll be a waste of 80 bucks or not. Does it have a good feel? Will it stand up to moderate/surf music use?

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FritzCat

Joined: Sep 11, 2007
Posts: 668
Sonoma, CA
9 Security Pins

Posted on Apr 27 2017 08:29 AM

It's great for surf music! You just need to be very precise about where you mount it to insure a straight string path over the bridge.

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CrazyAces

Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4052
Nashville, TN.
3 News Pins

Posted on Apr 27 2017 10:29 AM

It's a solid unit, nice, sensitive action.
It sits a bit higher on the face of the guitar though so you need to have a healthy amount of neck angle or be willing and able to recess the unit into the body a little.
We beat the hell out of them. Stay in tune great.
Both guitars in the video below are equipped with them.

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http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic

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JObeast

Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
Turkmenistan

Posted on Apr 27 2017 01:05 PM

I got one of these a couple years ago for $70 to install on a custom build of mine. It's excellent, very stable with a great feel. Very good chrome finish and no rattles. Actually better than the 1990s Kurokomu "Excellent" tailpiece that came on my Mosrite.

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Squink Out!

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SpaceTimC

Joined: Apr 18, 2015
Posts: 189
Bay Area, CA
United States

Posted on Apr 27 2017 04:38 PM

Thanks,everyone! Looks like I'm making a purchase after payday!

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CrazyAces

Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4052
Nashville, TN.
3 News Pins

Posted on Apr 27 2017 05:21 PM

SpaceTimC wrote:

Thanks,everyone! Looks like I'm making a purchase after payday!

Let us know how your install goes.
Hope it works out great!

Cheers,
Jeff

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http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic

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Chippertheripper

Joined: Mar 11, 2011
Posts: 819
Semass
1 Security Pin

Posted on Apr 27 2017 06:32 PM

you need to shim the arm with any plastic or nylon washers to get it to stay in place?

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CrazyAces

Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4052
Nashville, TN.
3 News Pins

Posted on Apr 27 2017 07:34 PM

Chippertheripper wrote:

you need to shim the arm with any plastic or nylon washers to get it to stay in place?

We haven't had to do this yet with this particular vibrato which is another cool thing.
My original Mark I vibrato....that's another story and needs a few minutes on the bench.

Cheers,
Jeff

—

http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic

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eddiekatcher

Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2764
Atlanta, GA
1 News Pin

Posted on Apr 27 2017 09:49 PM

JO,

Beating the Kurokumo vibrato unit wouldn't be too hard. Mine was made with the needle bearings running on a shaft that wasn't hardened..... They were supposedly made by one of the big time hardware manufacturers who should have known better. You couldn't keep in in tune on a bet.

I ended up pulling my apart and spinning my shaft down in the lathe, taking off jus a smudge of metal (and the bearing tracks) and then re-assmebling it. It stays in tune MUCH better now and when it acts up again, I replace the shaft with hardened drill rod.

ed

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Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps?

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SpaceTimC

Joined: Apr 18, 2015
Posts: 189
Bay Area, CA
United States

Posted on May 01 2017 11:22 PM

Ok, so the unit arrived in the mail. Seems solid and feels solid. Looking at the back, though, the string-through holes are not in line. What kind of problems will this cause?

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The Reverbivores - we're local favorites!

Last edited: May 01, 2017 23:22:51

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FritzCat

Joined: Sep 11, 2007
Posts: 668
Sonoma, CA
9 Security Pins

Posted on May 02 2017 12:09 AM

The original Mosrite units are like that too, so I wouldn't worry too much.

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Gilette

Joined: May 04, 2014
Posts: 734
Montserrat

Posted on May 02 2017 01:39 AM

SpaceTimC wrote:

Ok, so the unit arrived in the mail. Seems solid and feels solid. Looking at the back, though, the string-through holes are not in line. What kind of problems will this cause?

The offset holes compensate string tension, so the guitar stays 'in tune' while dropping the bar.

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james14000

Joined: Apr 14, 2015
Posts: 148
Greece

Posted on May 02 2017 07:39 AM

I got from ebay a cheap Bigsby-style tremolo that stays in tune fine.Just keep the spring oiled.

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https://www.youtube.com/user/jamess1400

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SpaceTimC

Joined: Apr 18, 2015
Posts: 189
Bay Area, CA
United States

Posted on May 02 2017 12:05 PM

Thanks again, everyone!

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The Reverbivores - we're local favorites!

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SpaceTimC Joined: Apr 18, 2015 Posts: 189 Bay Area, CA	Posted on Apr 26 2017 10:17 PM Does anyone have any experience with this vibrato unit I found on eBay? Mosrite-esque Vibrato — The Reverbivores - we're local favorites! Top
FritzCat Joined: Sep 11, 2007 Posts: 668 Sonoma, CA	Posted on Apr 26 2017 11:42 PM They're not horrible, actually a good deal for the money. Anything specific you want to know? Top
SpaceTimC Joined: Apr 18, 2015 Posts: 189 Bay Area, CA	Posted on Apr 26 2017 11:47 PM I just want to get a sense if this'll be a waste of 80 bucks or not. Does it have a good feel? Will it stand up to moderate/surf music use? — The Reverbivores - we're local favorites! Top
FritzCat Joined: Sep 11, 2007 Posts: 668 Sonoma, CA	Posted on Apr 27 2017 08:29 AM It's great for surf music! You just need to be very precise about where you mount it to insure a straight string path over the bridge. Top
CrazyAces Joined: Jul 31, 2012 Posts: 4052 Nashville, TN.	Posted on Apr 27 2017 10:29 AM It's a solid unit, nice, sensitive action. It sits a bit higher on the face of the guitar though so you need to have a healthy amount of neck angle or be willing and able to recess the unit into the body a little. We beat the hell out of them. Stay in tune great. Both guitars in the video below are equipped with them. — http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic Top
JObeast Joined: Jul 24, 2012 Posts: 2762 Finknabad, Squinkistan	Posted on Apr 27 2017 01:05 PM I got one of these a couple years ago for $70 to install on a custom build of mine. It's excellent, very stable with a great feel. Very good chrome finish and no rattles. Actually better than the 1990s Kurokomu "Excellent" tailpiece that came on my Mosrite. — Squink Out! Top
SpaceTimC Joined: Apr 18, 2015 Posts: 189 Bay Area, CA	Posted on Apr 27 2017 04:38 PM Thanks,everyone! Looks like I'm making a purchase after payday! — The Reverbivores - we're local favorites! Top
CrazyAces Joined: Jul 31, 2012 Posts: 4052 Nashville, TN.	Posted on Apr 27 2017 05:21 PM SpaceTimC wrote: Thanks,everyone! Looks like I'm making a purchase after payday! Let us know how your install goes. Hope it works out great! Cheers, Jeff — http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic Top
Chippertheripper Joined: Mar 11, 2011 Posts: 819 Semass	Posted on Apr 27 2017 06:32 PM you need to shim the arm with any plastic or nylon washers to get it to stay in place? Top
CrazyAces Joined: Jul 31, 2012 Posts: 4052 Nashville, TN.	Posted on Apr 27 2017 07:34 PM Chippertheripper wrote: you need to shim the arm with any plastic or nylon washers to get it to stay in place? We haven't had to do this yet with this particular vibrato which is another cool thing. My original Mark I vibrato....that's another story and needs a few minutes on the bench. Cheers, Jeff — http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic Top
eddiekatcher Joined: Mar 14, 2006 Posts: 2764 Atlanta, GA	Posted on Apr 27 2017 09:49 PM JO, Beating the Kurokumo vibrato unit wouldn't be too hard. Mine was made with the needle bearings running on a shaft that wasn't hardened..... They were supposedly made by one of the big time hardware manufacturers who should have known better. You couldn't keep in in tune on a bet. I ended up pulling my apart and spinning my shaft down in the lathe, taking off jus a smudge of metal (and the bearing tracks) and then re-assmebling it. It stays in tune MUCH better now and when it acts up again, I replace the shaft with hardened drill rod. ed — Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps? Top
SpaceTimC Joined: Apr 18, 2015 Posts: 189 Bay Area, CA	Posted on May 01 2017 11:22 PM Ok, so the unit arrived in the mail. Seems solid and feels solid. Looking at the back, though, the string-through holes are not in line. What kind of problems will this cause? — The Reverbivores - we're local favorites! Last edited: May 01, 2017 23:22:51 Top
FritzCat Joined: Sep 11, 2007 Posts: 668 Sonoma, CA	Posted on May 02 2017 12:09 AM The original Mosrite units are like that too, so I wouldn't worry too much. Top
Gilette Joined: May 04, 2014 Posts: 734	Posted on May 02 2017 01:39 AM SpaceTimC wrote: Ok, so the unit arrived in the mail. Seems solid and feels solid. Looking at the back, though, the string-through holes are not in line. What kind of problems will this cause? The offset holes compensate string tension, so the guitar stays 'in tune' while dropping the bar. Top
james14000 Joined: Apr 14, 2015 Posts: 148	Posted on May 02 2017 07:39 AM I got from ebay a cheap Bigsby-style tremolo that stays in tune fine.Just keep the spring oiled. — https://www.youtube.com/user/jamess1400 Top
SpaceTimC Joined: Apr 18, 2015 Posts: 189 Bay Area, CA	Posted on May 02 2017 12:05 PM Thanks again, everyone! — The Reverbivores - we're local favorites! Top

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mosrite-type vibrato unit found on eBay