Swope Descendant Vibrato
- marqueemoon
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 7449
- Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2016 9:37 pm
- Location: Seattle
Swope Descendant Vibrato
They just posted a picture of a prototype on Instagram and are showing it at Summer NAMM. Anybody here get some hands-on time with this?
- BoringPostcards
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 7165
- Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2009 8:50 am
- Location: Newfoundland
Re: Swope Descendant Vibrato
saw a pic on Zuckerbook. Looks interesting.
Det er mig der holder traeerne sammen.
- oid
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 834
- Joined: Sat Feb 10, 2018 8:19 pm
Re: Swope Descendant Vibrato
Looks like hell for string changes, perhaps they are keyhole with strings installed from the front?
Logic gates based on billiard-ball computer designs have also been made to operate using live soldier crabs of the species Mictyris guinotae in place of the billiard balls.
- hwestman
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 494
- Joined: Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:42 am
- Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Re: Swope Descendant Vibrato
Do you have a link?
- marqueemoon
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 7449
- Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2016 9:37 pm
- Location: Seattle
Re: Swope Descendant Vibrato
- 601210
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 1021
- Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2008 3:55 am
Re: Swope Descendant Vibrato
Oh, cool. I guess the key selling point is higher break angle on a vintage vibrato position.
I wonder if they'll sell these or just have them on their guitars?
I wish someone would make vibrato plates in brushed metal (or even nickel) that didn't cost the whole rest of my guitar.
I wonder if they'll sell these or just have them on their guitars?
I wish someone would make vibrato plates in brushed metal (or even nickel) that didn't cost the whole rest of my guitar.
- hwestman
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 494
- Joined: Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:42 am
- Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Re: Swope Descendant Vibrato
Thanks!!!marqueemoon wrote: ↑Thu Jun 28, 2018 4:49 amLet’s see if this works.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BkdhiailWJD ... fnzavt4gna
- BoringPostcards
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 7165
- Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2009 8:50 am
- Location: Newfoundland
Re: Swope Descendant Vibrato
Is this thing going to require a deeper route?
Det er mig der holder traeerne sammen.
- antisymmetric
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 3613
- Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 11:32 pm
- Location: New Zealand
Re: Swope Descendant Vibrato
Looks like someone's been thinking- if you're after more break angle at the bridge, this could be the thing. The guts all look to have been pushed down lower for added break angle, and the knife plate screws moved from underneath strings to between them. I've played around with a stock trem and done the beginnings of this- spaced the knife plate down a few mm for more break angle and installed countersunk knife plate screws for string clearance (the screw change by itself is so simple and the trem has been in production since 1958- way to go Fender! ), but this Swope trem looks to be taking things to a new level (IMO of course). Really pleased to see this, cheers for posting!
Watching the corners turn corners
- El Reclusa
- PAT PEND
- Posts: 46
- Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2010 6:05 pm
Re: Swope Descendant Vibrato
I've mostly been offline the last few days and missed this, but this looks rad.
- antisymmetric
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 3613
- Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 11:32 pm
- Location: New Zealand
Re: Swope Descendant Vibrato
Looking at it again, I think I get the Descendant name- the clearance slots get longer toward the bass side, so maybe the string anchor points "descend" in that direction. Could be to keep the strings more in tune with each other throughout the trem's travel..
Watching the corners turn corners
- 601210
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 1021
- Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2008 3:55 am
Re: Swope Descendant Vibrato
I think they confirmed in the Instagram post that the difference in slot length is purely cosmetic as a play on the name.antisymmetric wrote: ↑Thu Jun 28, 2018 5:11 pmLooking at it again, I think I get the Descendant name- the clearance slots get longer toward the bass side, so maybe the string anchor points "descend" in that direction. Could be to keep the strings more in tune with each other throughout the trem's travel..
- Kent
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 741
- Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2007 2:56 am
- Location: Vienna, Austria
- Contact:
Re: Swope Descendant Vibrato
The only possible practical purpose would be due to the accommodation of the increasing thickness of the string guages. However, one could just make them all equally long and solve the problem. It’s a cosmetic appointment.
I’ll take a look at the unit in a few hours and report back if there is anything worthy of mention.
I’ll take a look at the unit in a few hours and report back if there is anything worthy of mention.
Last edited by Kent on Sat Jun 30, 2018 12:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
- scottydanger
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 270
- Joined: Wed Jul 03, 2013 7:06 am
- Location: Nashville, TN
Re: Swope Descendant Vibrato
Going to get my hands on this tomorrow, can't wait!
- Kent
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 741
- Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2007 2:56 am
- Location: Vienna, Austria
- Contact:
Re: Swope Descendant Vibrato
I managed to talk to the creator about the unit and have a play with it.
It is literally the only one in existence. He finished it late Thursday and then flew out for the show. Patent application was filed the same week.
I guess what everyone wants to know is whether it is a drop-in replacement for a Fender unit. The answer is “Yes, it was designed that way.”
The bridge is a Staytrem. He’s happy with those but might have a look into bridges as well but thinks that the Mastery and Staytrem are currently sufficient.
It feels great and he aimed for a ‘50s JM feel.
I got the impression that he is on the fence as to whether it will be released as a standalone product.
I took some pictures but I don’t have a service so.... well, the current one on Instagram will suffice.
It is literally the only one in existence. He finished it late Thursday and then flew out for the show. Patent application was filed the same week.
I guess what everyone wants to know is whether it is a drop-in replacement for a Fender unit. The answer is “Yes, it was designed that way.”
The bridge is a Staytrem. He’s happy with those but might have a look into bridges as well but thinks that the Mastery and Staytrem are currently sufficient.
It feels great and he aimed for a ‘50s JM feel.
I got the impression that he is on the fence as to whether it will be released as a standalone product.
I took some pictures but I don’t have a service so.... well, the current one on Instagram will suffice.
Last edited by Kent on Tue Jul 03, 2018 1:22 am, edited 1 time in total.