Gotoh GE1996T-7, coming 2021

[Crash Dandicoot]

Our prayers have been answered:

Finally! I'm pretty excited, the GE1996T is my absolute go-to for any Floyd guitar. Here's hoping these continue the trend of a quality, inexpensive alternative to the German made variants (that are honestly better units overall).

 

[Robslalaina]

Would these fit into a Lo Pro Edge 7 route? Asking for a friend.

 

[Loomer]

Oh shit yeah!

 

[Bloody_Inferno]

Our prayers have been answered

Understatement.

It's so awesome these are finally happening.

 

[trem licking]

Late as hell, but exciting nonetheless! Now for an 8 variant, too (hahahaha yeeeaaaaah right)

 

[Dumple Stilzkin]

Eventually my lo pro 7 on my RG7620 needs to be replaced. Is this a direct swap?

 

[MaxOfMetal]

ITT: Folks asking if a bridge that doesn't exist yet will swap into thier guitar.

Until we get a drawing or measurements, all bets are off.

Hold on fellas.

 

[Crash Dandicoot]

@Robstonin @Dumple Stilzkin Like Max said, it's not even in production yet. I'm sure you could e-mail Gotoh and ask but until then, how are any of us to know?

 

[odibrom]

Eventually my lo pro 7 on my RG7620 needs to be replaced. Is this a direct swap?

... get a new LoPro, they aren't hard to find nor to order on your local Ibanez supplier...

 

[Dumple Stilzkin]

... get a new LoPro, they aren't hard to find nor to order on your local Ibanez supplier...

For the 350-400$, I’m just going to simmer and see what these will cost.

 

[Viginez]

Eventually my lo pro 7 on my RG7620 needs to be replaced. Is this a direct swap?

you will miss the low profile of the lo pro, why change it for something else?

 

[Dumple Stilzkin]

I like Gotoh tremolos and I actually like my tremolos a little higher than the lo pro

 

[cip 123]

This is amazing! I rate the 6 string versions over the real Floyd, and it’s cheaper too!

 

[odibrom]

For the 350-400$, I’m just going to simmer and see what these will cost.

2nd hand market are a little less... and they pop up regularly... I know I've bought one about 10 years ago because the base place of one in one of my guitars had broken due to a gigbag slip from my shoulder. When I opened the bag, the base plate was broken at the bottom knife. I managed to buy one with exactly the same finish (cosmo black or whatever color that is) by 250€, maybe 300€ (I can't remember, but it wasn't more than this)... but again, this was about 10 or 11 years ago...

 

[Phlegethon]

Hope Gotoh sells these hand over fist. Their tuners are solid, so expect these will work just as well. This is making me wonder if I could retrofit one into my S770, the ZR trem with its special snowflake bearings gives me cause for concern. Not too sure that getting parts for it would be doable by the time something might decide to implode.

 

[MaxOfMetal]

2nd hand market are a little less... and they pop up regularly... I know I've bought one about 10 years ago because the base place of one in one of my guitars had broken due to a gigbag slip from my shoulder. When I opened the bag, the base plate was broken at the bottom knife. I managed to buy one with exactly the same finish (cosmo black or whatever color that is) by 250€, maybe 300€ (I can't remember, but it wasn't more than this)... but again, this was about 10 or 11 years ago...

Much different market now.

That was back when used RG7620s were plentiful and going for under $500 regularly. The only way to really make good money off of them was parting out, so Lo-Pro 7s were common used.

But that's not the case anymore. Not only are there fewer RG7620s on the open market, they're much older so the bridges aren't in nearly as good of shape.

There aren't any used bridges on Reverb now, and even used 7s are ~$400 on eBay.

A full new kit unit is $450 when in stock.

 

[MaxOfMetal]

Hope Gotoh sells these hand over fist. Their tuners are solid, so expect these will work just as well. This is making me wonder if I could retrofit one into my S770, the ZR trem with its special snowflake bearings gives me cause for concern. Not too sure that getting parts for it would be doable by the time something might decide to implode.

Nothing is a direct fit for the ZR. But it's fine, the bearings, if lubricated, will last a lifetime.

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

I'm guessing these are gonna be made to the same dimensions as the Floyd Rose 7-string, like the 6-string 1996 is to the FR 6 string? That's also judging by the string clamp screw lengths, which are longer than the old Schaller/TRS screw clamp screws. Guessing these won't be a direct replacement for a lot of LFR/(Lo-)TRS 7-string bridges.

 

[Crash Dandicoot]

@HeHasTheJazzHands Not sure if it'll be a 1:1, even the 6-string Gotoh to a Floyd route isn't exactly perfect in my experience - especially when you bore the stud insert holes and install the god-tier locking ones that come with the GE1996T. They can sometimes (depending on how the guitar was initially routed, not everyone or every guitar hits the exact same tolerances every time) have very light interference issues with the low E saddle touching the top of the stud. Very easy fix with minimal filing, but worth noting.

On the topic of longer sting lock screws, I need to get a few sets for a couple Gotoh swaps I've done recently and it looks like AllParts old part number is discontinued. Dang.

 

[Cole Justesen]

Finally! This is beyond awesome!!!

Cole