Gotoh GE1996T-7 Drop-In For Lo Pro Edge 7?

[7StringsRule]

Between an accidentally completely stripped intonation lock down screw and old wearing knife edges on the Lo Pro 7 on my RG7620, and with the superior specs like brass trem block and screw tightened trem arm of the Gotoh, I’m leaning towards getting it a new bridge at the same time I’m getting it new Duncans.

Of course, the crucial question is, is the Gotoh a drop-in for the Lo Pro? I would assume so since it is for the 6 string versions.

 

[cheapwalkcycles]

Did you end up going through with this replacement? I'm thinking of doing the same on my 7620.

 

[7StringsRule]

Did you end up going through with this replacement? I'm thinking of doing the same on my 7620.

Yes, I ended up doing the swap since the dimensions on paper matched. It fits perfectly fine but I would recommend you swap the Lo Pro posts for the Gotoh ones since the groves seem different, but that's also drop in as well.

 

[mrvomit]

Yes, I ended up doing the swap since the dimensions on paper matched. It fits perfectly fine but I would recommend you swap the Lo Pro posts for the Gotoh ones since the groves seem different, but that's also drop in as well.

I'll add that I 've fitted ge1996t stud-screws directly into rg1527 as threads are the same ( so , edge pro same size than lo pro studs though are not locking , AND same size /threads than ge1996t) .
Though grooves/notch of them is clearly different from originals , the guitar went into far more stability tuningwise .
i'm on the looking for a budget body for a vacant rg7620 neck i have around ( though i have other 3 rg7620 so no rush) , and i would like to know how you like / compare the bridge just for curiosity , though i have plenty of ge1996t in 6 form .
Cause i will go for a 1996t -7 for sure first or late , they are just back ordered here or too expensive atm , summer wil be available again more easily .
If anything , for the 6 strings comparison , the feeling for me is "midway" between an edge and a floyd.
I miss the edge flutter ( well in 7 form does not exist , just lo pro) , but so many benefits like to adjust arm height and so on .
PS: A knowledgeable person could maybe revive your lo pro 7 too , bit finnicky to reshape the edges and sometimes not optimal results either , but worth the trying . Or sell it mentioning it need a bit of maintenance on blades.

 

[7StringsRule]

i'm on the looking for a budget body for a vacant rg7620 neck i have around ( though i have other 3 rg7620 so no rush) , and i would like to know how you like / compare the bridge just for curiosity , though i have plenty of ge1996t in 6 form .

I just took the guitar apart and put the bridge on for testing last week then put it aside and went on a five day vacation. I'm doing a pickup swap to Duncan Black Winters as well and I've yet to get to it. I'll let you know how the trem feels after I finish the mod.

 

[mrvomit]

BW on 7620 , uhm , ok ( dunno if you will like bridge there comparing to originals. And actually , if you did not take them , original neck pu is super good i.m.o. ) . Thank you for keeping me updated , will go thje same route anyway , too curious. I just find black bodies , black bodies everywhere and have already so many lol or i would have already started

 

[7StringsRule]

I'll add that I 've fitted ge1996t stud-screws directly into rg1527 as threads are the same ( so , edge pro same size than lo pro studs though are not locking , AND same size /threads than ge1996t) .
Though grooves/notch of them is clearly different from originals , the guitar went into far more stability tuningwise .
i'm on the looking for a budget body for a vacant rg7620 neck i have around ( though i have other 3 rg7620 so no rush) , and i would like to know how you like / compare the bridge just for curiosity , though i have plenty of ge1996t in 6 form .
Cause i will go for a 1996t -7 for sure first or late , they are just back ordered here or too expensive atm , summer wil be available again more easily .
If anything , for the 6 strings comparison , the feeling for me is "midway" between an edge and a floyd.
I miss the edge flutter ( well in 7 form does not exist , just lo pro) , but so many benefits like to adjust arm height and so on .
PS: A knowledgeable person could maybe revive your lo pro 7 too , bit finnicky to reshape the edges and sometimes not optimal results either , but worth the trying . Or sell it mentioning it need a bit of maintenance on blades.

I’ve put it all together now and the Gotoh is definitely a solid bridge. The Lo Pro 7 clearly has a more low profile feel since it was designed like that, but I actually preferred the feel of the Gotoh over the Lo Pro. I feel like trem action is smoother and it flutters better, but that could very well just be the difference between new and nearly thirty year old parts and a saggy trem arm on the Lo Pro.

I can’t make a completely fair comparison since I’ve never tried a new Lo Pro 7 before, but the GE1996T-7 is a solid trem that I would say is likely on par with a Lo Pro 7 at least.

One thing to note though: if you need to move the saddles back too much on the Gotoh for intonation the string lock screw might stick out of the route and make it so you can’t pull up. I didn’t have an issue with this, but know that you can’t use the full intonation range on the GE1996T-7 in a Lo Pro 7 route.

As for the pickups, the stock pickups sound pretty decent but I’m more of a Duncan guy than Dimarzio and I tried and liked the 6 string Black Winter before. The Black Winters are an improvement over the stock pickups imo.

 

[mrvomit]

I’ve put it all together now and the Gotoh is definitely a solid bridge. The Lo Pro 7 clearly has a more low profile feel since it was designed like that, but I actually preferred the feel of the Gotoh over the Lo Pro. I feel like trem action is smoother and it flutters better, but that could very well just be the difference between new and nearly thirty year old parts and a saggy trem arm on the Lo Pro.

I can’t make a completely fair comparison since I’ve never tried a new Lo Pro 7 before, but the GE1996T-7 is a solid trem that I would say is likely on par with a Lo Pro 7 at least.

One thing to note though: if you need to move the saddles back too much on the Gotoh for intonation the string lock screw might stick out of the route and make it so you can’t pull up. I didn’t have an issue with this, but know that you can’t use the full intonation range on the GE1996T-7 in a Lo Pro 7 route.

As for the pickups, the stock pickups sound pretty decent but I’m more of a Duncan guy than Dimarzio and I tried and liked the 6 string Black Winter before. The Black Winters are an improvement over the stock pickups imo.

i can rapidly help you with back clearance maybe: original floyd lock screws are shorter, and fully compatible.
______________
Flutter(unrelated) : on 6 string i can compare directly

Original edge is THE KING of flutter ,undisputed ;
once you hear that it sets the "benchmark" of what a flutter is and what you heard as "flutter"before , is no more, lolzzz!
lo pro halfway (enough for full flutter sounds on speedy notes ) and just third is gotoh . Edge pro flutters poorly but still a bit (but more precise if you like to play with intonation arm style<playing)-
On 7 i dont have gotoh 1996t, but i have a sort of gotoh 501(vivaldi charvel) which is super flutter, less than edge but more than lo pro 7 and more than edge pro 7 off course.

 

[tedtan]

Yeah, the original Edge and OFR flutter better than the Lo Pro Edge IME, so I’m not surprised you prefer the Gotoh in that regard (though I haven’t used the Gotoh to be able to compare it to the others).

 

[7StringsRule]

i can rapidly help you with back clearance maybe: original floyd lock screws are shorter, and fully compatible.

Thanks for the tip! My intonation setting is currently just enough to not make the 7th string lock screw stick out, but I'll definitely keep this in mind if it becomes an issue in the future with different string gauges.

 

[mrvomit]

Thanks for the tip! My intonation setting is currently just enough to not make the 7th string lock screw stick out, but I'll definitely keep this in mind if it becomes an issue in the future with different string gauges.

Remember to post photos , just for the kid fancy part of our brain we all share .

 

[7StringsRule]

Remember to post photos , just for the kid fancy part of our brain we all share .

Here are the pics

P.S. Don’t buy the Floyd Noiseless springs you see on my guitar. They barely work

 

[mrvomit]

Use the gotoh springs ! they are excellent i even did buy some spares! ( only 1 was a lemon in noise a bit but rest are good, i have 4 or 5 ge1996t 6 strings ) .Only thing they are all hard , but on 7 rarely you need soft springs .
ps:
Maybe you know , but i 've discovered late , so better to tell you too : the arm- height of Gotoh is adjustable ( by simply turning , NICE THING !! all should be like that to compensate for bridge height ..well..) , but to do it you have to be sure the lateral screw is not over-tightened ( it better never be overtightened actually )

 

[7StringsRule]

Use the gotoh springs ! they are excellent i even did buy some spares! ( only 1 was a lemon in noise a bit but rest are good, i have 4 or 5 ge1996t 6 strings ) .Only thing they are all hard , but on 7 rarely you need soft springs .
ps:
Maybe you know , but i 've discovered late , so better to tell you too : the arm- height of Gotoh is adjustable ( by simply turning , NICE THING !! all should be like that to compensate for bridge height ..well..) , but to do it you have to be sure the lateral screw is not over-tightened ( it better never be overtightened actually )

Thanks! I'll give the Gotoh springs a try the next time I change strings.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

I'm curious about replacing my stock Ibby with the Gotoh on my FRG7620 in my Avatar as well, this is super helpful to see in context, so thank you for posting the pic.

I'm also curious about the magnetic wrench holder that you have depicted. Any more info/links on that?

 

[7StringsRule]

I'm curious about replacing my stock Ibby with the Gotoh on my FRG7620 in my Avatar as well, this is super helpful to see in context, so thank you for posting the pic.

I'm also curious about the magnetic wrench holder that you have depicted. Any more info/links on that?

I bought two small magnets and screwed them on. Just thought to show it cuz I was pretty proud of my invention lol

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

I got mine today, direct drop in, but if using heaving lower strings, the intonation point will be further back, so I just might need shorter intonation lock screws. I’ll find out tomorrow night when I go to the workbench with it.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

By the way, any links for shorter Intonation lock screws?

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

Body cavity

 

[Crungy]

By the way, any links for shorter Intonation lock screws?

I'd guess it's an M3, do you have something to check the thread?