ONE and Vintage ONE share the KMS Tune-O-Matic platform but make two separate product choices visible: the bridge-body material and the saddle architecture. The correct bridge is selected in three steps — choose ONE or Vintage ONE, choose 50, V or 2, then confirm the actual mounting system.
ONE uses CNC-machined C36000 H02 brass. Vintage ONE uses a vacuum die-cast ZAMAK body blank followed by precision CNC machining. The 50, V and 2 suffixes describe saddle and mounting architecture, not quality levels.
In Brief
- ONE = C36000 H02 brass body; Vintage ONE = vacuum die-cast ZAMAK body with CNC finishing.
- 50 uses Fat-Flat 50s saddles; V uses finished V-shaped contacts; 2 combines V+ saddles with positive bridge locking.
- 50 and V are available for 6-32 or M4 direct posts; 2 requires 6-32.
- KMS Conversion Posts can create the required 6-32 upper mounting on suitable 7 mm or 12 mm bushing-mounted guitars.
- 74 mm post-center spacing, 52 mm overall string spacing and nominal 12-inch radius.
Product Overview
Choice | Direction |
ONE | CNC-machined C36000 H02 brass · greater body, authority, sustain and low-end weight |
Vintage ONE | Vacuum die-cast ZAMAK + CNC finishing · more open, lively and vintage-oriented response |
50 | Fat-Flat 50s saddles · broad traditional contact · guitar-specific slotting |
V | Finished V-shaped contacts · defined guidance · no conventional slot filing |
2 | V+ low-friction saddles + conical bridge locking · 6-32 only |
The product name therefore combines two independent decisions. ONE or Vintage ONE defines the body-material direction; 50, V or 2 defines how the strings contact the bridge and, in the 2 platform, how the bridge locks to the posts.
Choosing ONE or Vintage ONE
The first decision is the bridge-body material.
ONE | Vintage ONE | |
Body material | C36000 H02 brass | Vacuum die-cast ZAMAK, then CNC-machined |
Broad tonal direction | Body · authority · harmonic density · sustain · low-end weight | Openness · liveliness · easier response · warm vintage-style definition |
Useful starting point | When the guitar feels thin, light or lacks authority | When the guitar already has body but feels dense, congested or too heavy |
ONE — C36000 Brass
ONE is CNC-machined from solid C36000 H02 brass. The brass platform is the more substantial direction: strong note foundation, body, low-end authority and dense harmonic development.
Vintage ONE — ZAMAK
Vintage ONE deliberately retains the vintage-oriented ZAMAK body-material principle, but starts from a controlled vacuum die-cast blank and then CNC-machines the function-critical geometry. It is selected for a more open, responsive and vintage-style behavior without giving up KMS dimensional precision.
Neither family is a quality tier. The choice is about the response of the guitar.
Choosing 50, V or 2
After the body material, choose the saddle and mounting architecture.
50 — Fat-Flat 50s
The 50 platform uses Fat-Flat 50s saddles with broad string support and traditional guitar-specific slotting. Choose it when the traditional contact principle and maximum control over permanent string placement are desired.
V — Finished V Contacts
The V platform uses finished V-shaped contacts. The strings center themselves within the V geometry, allowing common gauge changes without cutting conventional gauge-specific slots. The V contact also provides a defined lateral string path.
2 — V+ and Bridge Locking
The 2 platform combines V+ low-friction saddles with the proprietary KMS conical locking system. It secures the bridge positively to 6-32 posts while retaining individual intonation and the V-based string contact.
The 2 platform is the dedicated choice when bridge locking and moving-string performance — for example with a Bigsby-style vibrato — are central. It is available only for 6-32 mounting.
KMS Tune-O-Matic Architecture
Across both body materials, the ONE platform keeps the compact ABR-1-style format while replacing several weak points of traditional construction.
Key features include:
- Six individually intonated strings.
- Side-inserted 4-40 UNC intonation screws.
- Individual retaining clips for every intonation screw instead of one shared retainer wire.
- Precision-matched saddle openings and increased usable intonation travel.
- Brass posts and thumbwheels.
The individually retained screw architecture keeps each saddle independently serviceable and removes the shared retainer wire as a potential loose component.
Mounting and Conversion
Mounting must be identified from the actual hardware, not from guitar model or production year alone.
Direct Posts
ONE 50, Vintage ONE 50, ONE V and Vintage ONE V are available for:
- 6-32 direct posts
- M4 direct posts
ONE 2 and Vintage ONE 2 require 6-32 because the conical locking system is designed around that post geometry.
KMS Conversion Posts
For suitable bushing-mounted guitars, KMS Conversion Posts can create a 6-32 upper mounting while replacing the original inserts.
Conversion | Lower press-fit section | Upper thread |
7 mm class | Ø 7.2 mm × 14 mm depth | 6-32 UNC · 14 mm threaded height |
12 mm class | Ø 12.2 mm × 18.5 mm depth | 6-32 UNC · 14 mm threaded height |
The conversion posts are one-piece C36000 brass components. The 7 mm and 12 mm names describe the approximate original bushing/body-hole classes, not a guarantee that every bridge using a visually similar insert will fit.
Finishes and Options
Principal bridge-body finish directions include:
- Electrolytic nickel
- 24k gold
- Aged nickel
- Aged 24k gold
Optional CRYO treatment is a separate material-conditioning choice and does not change bridge geometry, saddle architecture or mounting compatibility.
Technical Specifications
Feature | Specification |
Body dimensions | Approximately 85 × 11 × 11 mm |
Total height with saddles | Approximately 15.1 mm |
Post-center spacing | 74 mm / 2-29/32 in |
Overall / individual string spacing | 52 mm / 10.4 mm |
Nominal radius | 12 in |
Intonation screws | 4-40 UNC · side-inserted · individually clip-retained |
Reference weight | ONE brass: approx. 65 g · Vintage ONE ZAMAK: approx. 55 g |
50 / V mounting | 6-32 or M4 direct-post versions |
2 mounting | 6-32 only |
A nominal 74 mm post spacing is not enough to establish compatibility. Post thread, post-head diameter, body inserts, bridge height, string spacing and scale position must also match the guitar.
Installation and Setup
Installation depends on whether the guitar already uses compatible direct posts or requires KMS Conversion Posts. The bridge must then be aligned, set to the correct action and fully intonated; the 2 platform is locked only after the correct mechanical position has been established.
For the complete procedure, see:
ONE and Vintage ONE Installation Guide →
FAQ
Is ONE better than Vintage ONE?
No. They are two deliberately different body-material directions. ONE brass is the more substantial, authoritative direction; Vintage ONE ZAMAK is the more open and vintage-oriented direction.
Are 50, V and 2 quality levels?
No. They describe different saddle and mounting architectures.
Do V saddles need to be filed for the string gauge?
No. The V geometry is the finished string contact. Conventional slot filing defeats its purpose.
When should I choose the 50 platform?
Choose 50 when traditional guitar-specific slotting, broad saddle contact and permanent control over the string path are priorities.
When should I choose ONE 2 or Vintage ONE 2?
Choose the 2 platform when positive bridge locking and V+ low-friction string contact are important, especially in moving-string applications such as Bigsby-style use. The guitar must provide, or be correctly converted to, 6-32 mounting.
Will a 74 mm Tune-O-Matic automatically fit?
No. Post spacing is only one parameter. Thread type, inserts, post-head geometry, required height and string spacing must also be checked.
Can KMS Conversion Posts make ONE 2 fit a Nashville- or metric-style guitar?
Potentially, when the actual body-hole class matches the correct 7 mm or 12 mm KMS conversion. The guitar should be measured rather than identified from model name alone.
Does ONE use a traditional shared ABR-1 retainer wire?
No. Each 4-40 intonation screw is retained individually by its own clip.