WHY WERE THE SPEEDLOADER BRIDGES
AND STRINGS DEVELOPED?
In 1991, I started developing what eventually evolved into SpeedLoader bridges and
SpeedLoader strings. My goal was to eliminate the need for the use of Allen-wrenches and
wire-cutters to change strings on my Original and Pro Tremolo bridges and design a fixed
bridge with similar advantages. The SpeedLoader bridges and strings have accomplished
this goal.
The first thing I’d like to show you are the SpeedLoader strings, because the magic of this
tuning system is in the strings.
SpeedLoader strings are made with one bullet applied to each end. SpeedLoader strings
are made to within .002 of one inch in length, and every string has its own precision length.
This precision allows you to change a string and return to perfect tune in seconds.
Some of you might ask… “What about the string stretching?” so I’d like to take a moment
and clear up some things about string stretching.
There are two reasons string stretching is necessary on guitars. First, the strings must be
deformed or bent around the tuning key to follow the curvature of the tuning key post. The
second reason for string stretching is to deform the string to bend over the bridge and nut.
The more string you wind around the tuning key post the more “stretching” the string
requires to make the string wrap tightly around its post. The amount of deformation at the
bridge depends on the type of bridge you have on your guitar.
Guitars with SpeedLoader bridges don’t need tuning keys, so the aggressive pulling or
stretching is unnecessary. In fact, if you pull too hard on the strings you may actually
damage them. I’ll try to explain why.
A steel string has an elastic range like a rubber band. This means that it can be stretched
like a rubber band, and, like a rubber band, it becomes thinner as it is stretched. When
released the string, or rubber band, returns to its original width, unless it has been stretched
too far. If a rubber band is stretched too far, it breaks. However, if a steel string is over-
stretched, it becomes permanently thinner somewhere along its length, and thus the string
is a little bit longer, and therefore lower in pitch, than it was before it was over-stretched.
Having thinner places along the string length can cause the string to vibrate erratically and
sound out of tune.
The point I’m trying to make is, when you change strings, don’t stretch them aggressively.
I recommend that you press down on the strings just in front of the bridge saddles and
just in front of the nut. Then give each string one or two medium hard pulls and just play
the guitar from there. That’s all the seating the strings need.