Tune-o-matic

"ABR-1" style Tune-o-matic bridge with thumbwheel adjustment and a stopbar
"Nashville" style Tune-o-matic with "strings through the body" construction (without a stopbar) and screw slots facing away from the neck

Tune-o-matic (also abbreviated to TOM) is the name of a fixed or floating bridge design for electric guitars. It was designed by Ted McCarty (Gibson Guitar Corporation president) and introduced on the Gibson Super 400 guitar in 1953 and the Les Paul Custom the following year.[1] In 1955, it was used on the Gibson Les Paul Gold Top. It was gradually accepted as a standard on almost all Gibson electric guitars, replacing the previous wrap-around bridge design, except on the budget series.[2]

  1. ^ "Gibson USA: Gibson Les Paul Standard Electric Guitar Facts and Pictures". Archived from the original on January 27, 2009.
  2. ^ Tune-o-matic guide on Jag-stang.com site