“A game-changer? In some ways, absolutely”: Steadfast Stopbar review

What is it?

When Floyd Rose commercially introduced his double-locking bridge-and-nut system at the dawn of the ’80s, it was a genuine game-changer thanks to its ingenious locking design that kept strings remarkably stable under heavy abuse.

So, what the hell does Floyd Rose have to do with the Steadfast Stopbar tailpiece I’m reviewing here? Well, for starters, Floyd Rose’s original invention showed guitarists that locking down the strings is key to tuning stability — whether behind the nut or at the bridge. Steadfast takes that same basic concept and flips it on its head, locking the strings in reverse at the stopbar tailpiece — particularly on guitars equipped with the traditional TOM-style bridge design.

Is the Steadfast Stopbar a game-changer? In some ways, absolutely — but it ultimately comes down to how you prefer to keep your strings locked in place and whether using a tool to secure them is a method you find comfortable and convenient.

Specs

• Price: From $99 to $169 | £73.48 to £125.43 | €85.78 to €146.44
• Type: String-locking stop bar tailpiece with locking set screws
• Origin: USA
• Material: CNC-machined billet 6061 aluminum
• Configurations (finishes): Faded (Silver anodized; $99), Studio (semi-polished Nickel; $104), Pro (Black anodized; $109), Standard (polished Nickel; $129), and Custom (24K Gold-plated; $169 as reviewed). Other configurations include Cerakote and Custom Shop finishes.
• Contact: steadfaststopbar.com

Build quality, usability and sounds

The Steadfast Stop Bar looks exactly like, well, your typical Gibson-style stop bar tailpiece — except for a few ingenious details and, more importantly, a build that seems like it could last forever. It’s a direct drop-in replacement for a standard stop bar, but instead of the usual die-cast zinc alloy, Steadfast uses CNC-machined billet 6061 aluminum, resulting in an exceptionally lightweight, corrosion-resistant tailpiece that, according to Steadfast, can also provide a tonal upgrade. There’s a range of colors, finishes, and Custom Shop configurations to suit almost any top-mount stop bar-equipped guitar. Here I'm testing out the 24kt gold-plated Custom version.

The Steadfast retains the familiar string-entry and -exit points of a conventional stop bar, but is essentially engineered in reverse to accommodate its locking system. Six top-mounted holes house stainless-steel set screws that clamp the strings in place using the included 2.5mm hex wrench. (The Pro and Faded versions use black-oxide-coated steel set screws.) Their flat bottoms and rounded edges securely clamp the strings without digging into or cutting them, while their corrosion resistance ensures long-term durability.

The reason I used the Floyd Rose reference at the beginning of this review is that I’d always cut the ball ends off strings to lock the plain ends into the bridge saddles — until a guitar-tech friend showed me a simple hack: leave the ball ends intact, anchor them at the tuning posts, and feed the opposite ends into the bridge, eliminating an unnecessary step.

That same principle is at the heart of the Steadfast Stopbar. You thread the ball ends into the tuning posts, align the strings toward the tailpiece, and feed the loose ends through the Steadfast. Once you pull them through, simply tighten the set screws to lock everything in place. Essentially, the Steadfast turns the stop bar into a locking nut— only in reverse. By anchoring the ball ends at the tuning posts, you reduce string drift and slippage from excess winds, allowing you to tune up faster and maintain better tuning stability. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but trust me, it works.

One particularly clever design detail is the Steadfast tailpiece’s downward-sloped rear edge, which angles toward the body, so that when you cut the excess string wire, it keeps the trimmed string ends safely tucked downwards and away from slicing open your picking hand.

So, let’s get to it: how did the Steadfast work out for me? I outfitted my Gibson Les Paul Custom with the Steadfast Stopbar Custom, which looks almost identical to my original tailpiece save for the six locking holes on top. Swapping tailpieces is a little tricky at first because there are no strings to hold the Steadfast in place, but once the first string is installed, changing strings becomes a breeze.

I installed a fresh set, pulled the strings through, locked them down, stretched them, and trimmed the excess. The low E slipped and slackened considerably during its first few stretches, but I suspect the string was still seating at the ball end rather than slipping at the set screw. It’s a little unnerving to think those small screws can do the job, but boy, they securely lock all six strings in place.

Once everything was stretched and tuned to pitch, the guitar stayed remarkably in tune. Even more surprising, I could hear a tonal difference. The Les Paul sounded more lively and felt springier, and the entire restringing process took just a few minutes.

A couple of things are worth mentioning. I love Steadfast’s approach because I’ve never been a fan of locking tuners, especially on Gibson-style guitars. I don’t think they hold tuning any better, and I believe the added bulk and protruding locking wheel contribute to neck dive. Also, with Steadfast, you can easily reinstall the original stop bar if it’s not for you. Break a string? You can still restring conventionally using the ball end at the stop bar.

And yes, top wrappers, you can absolutely top-wrap with the Steadfast — it just takes some string maneuvering. Steadfast’s owner and designer does it himself, and a dedicated top-wrap version is in the works. I’ve seen it, and it looks pretty damn cool.

Verdict

Verdict: ★★★★★

I’d considered swapping my standard tuners for locking ones, but not anymore. Instead, I swapped the stock stopbar for the Steadfast, and now my guitar plays better than ever and stays perfectly in tune. I have a feeling you’re going to start seeing Steadfast tailpieces on plenty of professional players’ guitars. It’s that good. Right now, it’s on my main stage guitar, and it ain’t coming off.

Guitar World verdict: If you have a guitar with a stop bar tailpiece, the Steadfast changes everything. You get a locking system that keeps your strings secure while preserving the original look of your prized instrument. Its rock-solid design makes string changes quick and keeps tuning remarkably stable, much like a locking tremolo.

Hands-on videos

Steadfast Designs

Steadfast Stop Bar Installation - Fast, Easy, No-Wind Stringing - YouTube

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