What did you do to your Epiphone today?

[Raiyn]

Truss rod was way too loose – and it's always a relief (no pun intended) when you first adjust it and find that everything works ok.

If the truss rod doesn't work, I don't waste my time. Send it back from whence it came.

 

[SouthPaul71]

Thank you very much ! I'm going to try that !
You wouldn"t have its exact reference number by any chance?

It’s a Schaller GTM Nashville Tune-o-matic

​

 

[RadioFM74]

If the truss rod doesn't work, I don't waste my time. Send it back from whence it came.

Sorry if I was not clear. It was the very first setup I did to this guitar and I found that the truss rod works perfectly. To my relief! (pun intended this time). As you say, if the TR does not work then you do have a problem!

 

[Raiyn]

Or is that why the Beatles had nylon saddles on their Casinos ? And if so, where could I find a metric iteration? I can only find either one with M8 threads (I'm pretty sure I need M4) or one that is built to imperial measurements for vintage Casinos or ES-330...

My semi / hollow body aversion is starting to bite me perhaps... Are you saying that the CC has the small post "Nashville" style bridge instead of a metric?

If that's the case, let me wipe the egg off my face and direct you towards https://tonepros.com/product-category/bridges/

For the record, you can find TonePros products out there cheaper than what they have them listed for.

I bought a TP6R (which I'd recommend for a non metric) for a project for less than $50 and the TP site has them listed at $87.00 to $92.75

 

[BlueSquirrel]

My semi / hollow body aversion is starting to bite me perhaps... Are you saying that the CC has the small post "Nashville" style bridge instead of a metric?

If that's the case, let me wipe the egg off my face and direct you towards https://tonepros.com/product-category/bridges/

For the record, you can find TonePros products out there cheaper than what they have them listed for.

I bought a TP6R (which I'd recommend for a non metric) for a project for less than $50 and the TP site has them listed at $87.00 to $92.75

I imagined it was metric.
It definitely has small posts (and the original studs felt very wobbly in the original inserts). The Gotoh GE10B-NI bridge that I got feels less wobbly in the inserts, but it definitely was not snug either.
Could I have gotten the wrong bridge?
Here is what it looks like on my guitar :

 

[BlueSquirrel]

Here is the packaging of the Gotoh bridge.

 

[BlueSquirrel]

And here is the original Epiphone bridge :

 

[BlueSquirrel]

As you can see, the studs (or posts? I'm not sure of the word here) are very thin. They are 4 mm wide. They are supposed to fit into some sort of inserts or bushings (they are not going directly into the wood). Those inserts / bushings are slightly too large, that is why I resorted to Teflon tape (I wrapped it twice).

 

[BlueSquirrel]

I've just put on the GHS strings. They sound and feel great.
On top of that, the buzzing has stopped ! Maybe the 52 gauge was making the top vibrate so much that it made the saddles rattle ?
It's hard to tell with full hollowbody guitars.

 

[Raiyn]

Ok, what you have there is an "Inch Standard" bridge as opposed to a Metric. The irony being they're both actually metric. 4mm posts 74mm apart....

Metrics are much fatter posts.

Those inserts / bushings are slightly too large, that is why I resorted to Teflon tape (I wrapped it twice).

There's a bit of engineered slop built in - so that's normal.
That teflon situation is also why I suggested the TonePros with their grub screws that tighten against the posts.

On top of that, the buzzing has stopped ! Maybe the 52 gauge was making the top vibrate so much that it made the saddles rattle ?

Wire retained bridges are infamous for buzzing. The one I had on my G400 was horrible.

 

[BlueSquirrel]

Ok, what you have there is an "Inch Standard" bridge as opposed to a Metric. The irony being they're both actually metric. 4mm posts 74mm apart....

Metrics are much fatter posts.

There's a bit of engineered slop built in - so that's normal.
That teflon situation is also why I suggested the TonePros with their grub screws that tighten against the posts.


Wire retained bridges are infamous for buzzing. The one I had on my G400 was horrible.

Well the original Epiphone bridge had one. There was rattling coming from the saddles (one on particular was very, very loose. It moved vertically and it leaned forward / backward which made setting intonation a complicated task) and there possibly was also buzzing from the retainer wire.

As to the Gotoh bridge I've gone for, it doesn't have a retainer bridge and its saddles are a lot less loose. They can't lean forward or backward. That makes adjusting intonation easier.

However if you do the "tap" test (you tap on the saddles vertically), you get a slight noise. I crammed tiny pieces of paper under the saddles to dampen their noise. So far, so good... but if I could remove the saddles for good, I would replace the bits of paper with a thin layer of foam.

I think I'll still look for Tonepros or Schaller in the future. Tonepros are super expensive where I live, but I light come across a second-hand one.

Thank you soooo much to all of you for teaching me about bridges, especially about "Nashville" and "Inch Standard" ! Without your help, I would definitely buy the wrong one.

 

[Raiyn]

Thank you soooo much to all of you for teaching me about bridges, especially about "Nashville" and "Inch Standard" ! Without your help, I would definitely buy the wrong one.

ABR or ABR-1 = Skinny (4mm) posts directly into wood "Inch / USA Standard" First TOM design implemented.

Nashville = Skinny (4mm) posts into bushings with a thread diameter of ≈ 5mm "Inch / USA Standard" Refinement of ABR-1 that doesn't stray too far from the original formula - because "tradition" or some

"Metric" = Variant of the Nashville design. Robust 6mm posts with M8 threaded bushings. "Metric / Import Standard"

I'm biased towards the "Metric" design because it's what happens when you're not bound by tradition and actually evolve things naturally.

 

[Darkness]

Could I have gotten the wrong bridge?

The one I had used for my Casino was Gotoh 0167-N
Here is a link to Stewmac, not to buy it there but because they have great measurements.
https://www.stewmac.com/parts-and-h...otoh-tune-o-matic-bridge-with-standard-posts/

 

[Raiyn]

There are two standards. Inch / USA and Metric.
There really aren't 14 different sizes out there. The only time you really run into issues is a specific era of Korean made Epis

The thing folks keep missing is the word standard meaning that if it's "inch" standard all the parts are interchangeable with other inch standard parts, same with "metric" standard.

Epiphone (other than that one Korean model situation that we're not talking about) has a parts bin as does everyone else. The manufacturers are paying third parties to make these bridges and other hardware which is how this happened.

Remember that Squier with the Epiphone bridge? Fender says it was unintentional and we won’t see many more of them

“This is a rare example of that specific part showing up in our production”

www.guitarworld.com

The only way this sort of thing happens is if everyone is using compatible parts. You know, standard. Sometimes, it's literally only the name that changes.

I'm using the exact same metric bridge on my Epi as I am on my Squier. I've also got an Inch standard bridge on hand that will fit a Gibson or a Yamaha.

 

[DHart]

Last couple of days, I finalized the installation of Cavalier FIREBIRD pickups (with CTS pots, Switchcraft switch/jack, and 50's wiring) in my Les Paul Modern - Pelham Blue.

Playing this guitar, it now ranks up there with the best sounding guitars I've ever had (I have 38, very nice, guitars at present). I could not be more thrilled with this guitar/pickup combination! JAZZED!!! There is something very special in vintage-style Firebird pickups.

Epiphone built a really GREAT Les Paul (high production quality, fit, finish, ebony fretboard, locking Grover tuners, asymmetrical neck with heel carve, GraphTech nut)... and then, I believe, I brought it up to an entirely new level. It ranks as one of my most appreciated guitars, at present, and I love nearly ALL of my guitars.

I think Firebird pickups are very much under-appreciated by the guitar community overall - entirely due to the fact that relatively few guitarists have actually had the experience of playing a guitar with Firebird pickups. That is also, in part, due to the fact that adapting a guitar to accept Firebird pickups requires a bit of research (finding/getting pickup trim rings that fit right on the guitar in question) and effort than most guitarists are likely willing to take on. I'm one of those who will pursue a somewhat bothersome project until I NAIL it.

If you wish... take my word for it - Firebird pickups are worth pursuing if you like crisp, clean, detailed, articulate, full-bodied, and sparkly bright hum/noise-free pickups.

 

[Stillsour]

Practiced a bit. I'm trying to learn "Fingerstyle/Travis Picking/Fingerpicking" a bit. I've never messed with it and I'd like to learn.

 

[BlueSquirrel]

Last couple of days, I finalized the installation of Cavalier FIREBIRD pickups (with CTS pots, Switchcraft switch/jack, and 50's wiring) in my Les Paul Modern - Pelham Blue.

Playing this guitar, it now ranks up there with the best sounding guitars I've ever had (I have 38, very nice, guitars at present). I could not be more thrilled with this guitar/pickup combination! JAZZED!!! There is something very special in vintage-style Firebird pickups.

Epiphone built a really GREAT Les Paul (high production quality, fit, finish, ebony fretboard, locking Grover tuners, asymmetrical neck with heel carve, GraphTech nut)... and then, I believe, I brought it up to an entirely new level. It ranks as one of my most appreciated guitars, at present, and I love nearly ALL of my guitars.

I think Firebird pickups are very much under-appreciated by the guitar community overall - entirely due to the fact that relatively few guitarists have actually had the experience of playing a guitar with Firebird pickups. That is also, in part, due to the fact that adapting a guitar to accept Firebird pickups requires a bit of research (finding/getting pickup trim rings that fit right on the guitar in question) and effort than most guitarists are likely willing to take on. I'm one of those who will pursue a somewhat bothersome project until I NAIL it.

If you wish... take my word for it - Firebird pickups are worth pursuing if you like crisp, clean, detailed, articulate, full-bodied, and sparkly bright hum/noise-free pickups.

I believe you and your guitar looks fantastic! Perhaps you could tell us where you got the conversion rings?

 

[syco]

(I have 38, very nice, guitars at present)

PICS !!!

 

[DHart]

I believe you and your guitar looks fantastic! Perhaps you could tell us where you got the conversion rings?

Contact Wayne ar GuitarHeads.net. I sent him specific measurements for mount holes to the guitar, mount holes for the pickup, cut out hole for the pickup, and overall outer dimensions of the rings. He makes them to your specification by custom order out of acrylic. Tell him Don sent you.

 

[DHart]

PICS !!!

I have no pics with them all in one shot. I can't even get them all in one room.