Answers, filed properly.
Everything we've actually been asked, kept — organised like a parts catalogue, not buried in an accordion nobody opens.
Orders & Shop
Will I be hit with a tariff bill when it arrives in the USA?
No - tariffs are pre-paid before sending, so there should be no surprise bills once the parcel arrives. A Tariff and Shipping Fee of $25 per bridge is applied at checkout to cover this cost.
Why do I have to pay for postage to the USA?
We charge a $25 fee for shipping to the USA. This covers the tariff, packing and postage — we absorb a real portion of that cost ourselves.
What if I order multiple bridges?
When you add 3 bridges to the shopping bag, a 10% discount will be applied at checkout.
We have batch pricing quantities beyond that - please fill out the form on our Builders and Trade page and we will get back to you with our best price.
Can I order brass saddles separately?
Not at the moment. We're focused on the complete bridge rather than individual parts (taxes, export rules and logistics make small-parts sales impractical), and our brass saddle stock is allocated to the bridges we're already building.
I already have a Tuffset. Can I turn it into a Fixie?
No — though it looks similar, the Fixie is a genuinely different design (its own chassis, saddles and posts). Swapping parts between an Original and a Fixie isn't possible.
About the Fixie
Why a fixed-post bridge?
Some players prefer the chassis to stay put - a robust strumming technique can knock a rocking bridge off-axis, some guitars have a break angle that makes rocking unstable, and some players simply prefer the more direct, hardtail-type attack and longer sustain a fixed chassis gives.
How does it hold intonation?
With perfect precision. Posts, chassis and saddles lock together as one rigid structure - and on the Fixie, that rigidity extends into your guitar body itself via CoreClamp, so the whole system resonates as one.
Is the tuning stable? Honest answer
Very. If you're constantly on the whammy bar and want the absolute maximum tuning stability under heavy vibrato, the rocking Original edges it - a high-friction rocking saddle only needs enough friction to prevent slippage, which is achievable; a fixed-post design needs zero friction, which isn't quite achievable.
Our PVD coatings get as close to zero as anything on the market. For almost all players in almost all situations, you won't believe how well the Fixie holds tune even under big divebombs.
What are the saddles made of? What's the difference?
All Fixie saddles are milled from billet Stainless Steel. They are then coated in a choice of:
Black Ice - our best-performing coating, up to 4x more slippery than the Hard Chrome competitors use, applied by physical vapour deposition (cleaner than electroplating, no microfracture risk, up to 5x more durable than Hard Chrome).
Chrome Frost - a Chromium Nitride PVD coating with a vintage-correct chrome look. Not quite Black Ice's numbers, but still comfortably ahead of Hard Chrome. Will be absolutely fine for the majority of players.
Where are the springs?
There aren't any. Every adjustment locks rigidly into position rather than depending on springs. The result is a clean, loud, natural voice with no fizzing or rattling.
Do I have to lock the strings to the bridge?
No. The first install step is locking the Core Clamps into your guitar's thimbles - after that, every adjustment locks independently, and you never need to touch the bridge itself when changing strings.
What's it made from?
CNC milled from billet 303/304 stainless steel — nothing stamped, folded or cast. The brass Core Clamp sleeves are milled from solid Bell Brass and will develop a natural patina over time, just like vintage brass. Made in the UK.
What comes in the box?
Your Tuffset Fixie, every tool you need, a few spares, and a fully illustrated installation guide.
About the Original
Why a rocking bridge?
A rocking bridge lets harmonics grow and shrink proportionally with the string's speaking length under vibrato — a huge part of what makes an authentic Offset vibrato feel and sound the way it does.
How does it hold intonation?
Two things do the work: a 60° string slot engineered to grip the string and eliminate slippage, and every component locking rigidly to the chassis so nothing can drift. It resonates and functions as a single piece.
Is the tuning stable? Tested
Extremely — with enough friction to prevent slippage, it returns precisely to neutral every time. In testing, our high-friction saddle needed over 3x the force to induce a slip compared to a standard barrel saddle.
Where are the springs?
There aren't any — every adjustment locks rigidly rather than relying on springs, for a clean, loud voice with no fizz or rattle.
Do I have to lock the strings to the bridge?
No — the adjustable components lock together, but the strings themselves don't need locking. Change strings one at a time if you're worried about shifting the neutral axis.
What's it made from?
CNC milled from billet 303/304 stainless steel, nothing stamped, folded or cast. Brass saddle versions are milled from billet Bell Brass and patina naturally over time. Made in the UK.
What comes in the box?
Your Original, every tool you need, a few spares, and a fully illustrated installation guide.
Pricing, Returns & Shipping
Can you ship to my country?
Free, fully insured shipping to the UK, Canada, Europe and Australia. The USA is $25 (pre-paid tariffs included). Everywhere else is a flat $15.
Can you ship it faster?
Express shipping (3-4 business days) is available as an add-on to Europe. Free economy runs 7-10 business days; USA shipping runs 6-7 business days. Express isn't currently available to the USA.
Which currency will I be charged in?
USD, GBP or EUR depending on your region — everywhere else is charged in USD, converted to your local currency at checkout.
Will I have to pay customs or import charges?
You're responsible for any customs, duties or import fees in your own country — check your local rules. USA orders have tariffs pre-paid through our shipping fee. UK orders in £GBP already include VAT. We can't mark an order as a "gift" — full value and tracking are required on all shipments.
Do you have alternate payment methods?
Currently debit or credit card via Shopify only. We're looking at other options for the future.
What's your returns policy?
Not happy for any reason, within 14 days of delivery? Send it back for a full refund.
Compatibility & Installation
Will it fit my guitar?
If your bridge sits in thimbles (hollow metal cups in the body) and lifts straight out when you slacken the strings, it'll fit. If your bridge adjusts on thumbwheels with threaded body inserts, it won't fit yet - but that's on our roadmap.
Will I have to modify my guitar?
No - both the Original and Fixie drop straight into your existing thimbles, fully reversible.
How do I make adjustments?
The box includes a fully illustrated installation guide covering everything. Read it in full on the Installation Guide page.
Does it take long to install? 15 min
About fifteen minutes.
Is it the right radius for my neck?
The saddles adjust individually, so any neck radius from 5" to 22" is covered — vintage, compound, or flat shredder profiles all included.
Which thimbles should I use for a new build?
Both standard thimble types work with every Tuffset bridge: 9.5mm (Standard, USA-spec) and 8.95mm (Import), spaced 73mm (2-7/8") apart centre to centre. Import thimbles fit a different route than USA-spec, so match the type to your body prep.
What's Coming
Will you make a vibrato unit?
Yes - it's in development, engineered to retrofit a standard Offset vibrato cavity but very different in design. Expect a compressive spring, no string lock, and a focus on atmospheric sound, floating vintage-style action, wide pitch range, and set-and-forget stability. And no knocks!
Does it work for Bass VI?
Yes. The Original is available in a WideBoy version for Bass VI / baritone; the Fixie is Bass VI compatible out of the box. Both handle up to 120-gauge strings, fully intonatable.
Are there other materials or finishes available?
The Original comes in stainless or brass saddles. The Fixie comes in Black Ice or Chrome Frost PVD coatings. We're always experimenting - tell us what you'd like to see.
Do you offer a discount for luthiers and techs?
Yes - batch orders of 3 or more get a 10% discount automatically at checkout.
If you want larger quantities than that, please fill out the application on the page below and we will contact you with pricing.
Builders & Trade
Can you make one for Tune-o-Matic?
It's on the roadmap - for TOM/AOM Offset players and beyond, keeping the same locking system, adjustability, clear sound and signature tuning stability.