Gibson experts: Replacement part suggestions needed!

[Jakem]

Hi,

I had a NGDx2 this week and I thought I'd ask some suggestion regarding replacement parts for my Gibson LP Custom and Flying V. Both are black and I was thinking black HW would look killer on both! This would mean replacing TOMs, tuners and some other parts as well. I want the new parts to be direct fits without having to drill new holes for tuners etc. So please share Your experiences or suggestions regarding following stuff.

For LP Custom:
-Tonepros LPM04: anyone changed this to their Gibson LPs? Other options?
-Gibson branded Grover tuners or Grover Rotomatic 502BC (direct fit without re-drill? Latter ones are locking so could be nice. Experiences?

For Flying V:
-Kluson SD90SLB/M: All black vintage style tuners are hard to come by it seems. Klusons look good but would look even better with oval shaped tuning knobs... other options?
-Tonepros LPM04: same bridge to this as for LPC

Thanks!

 

[acalaf]

I have a few les pauls. I changed the stock bridge and tailpiece to a tonepros set and found the sound to be thinner and stiffer than the stock set. I did not like the change in the long run so I went back to stock and am happy again. In my opinion, this bridge-tailbridge set up adds non harmonic frequencies to the sound that can't be dialed out. While initially this might seem like a good addition to the sound spectrum, it became irritating to my ears.

As for the grovers, I would not recommend them at all. I had them and went back to klusons. They will keep your guitar in tune, yes, but they change the resonance of the guitar and accentuate the low mids, as opposed to the klusons that accentuate higher mids. This has to do with their weight. They simply add too much weight to the headstock. If you want to get the classic les paul sound with the upper mid cut, I would go, sperzel or gotoh locking, which are both much lighter in weight. This will keep the look of the grovers but the sound of the klusons. and your guitar will stay in tune.

Obviously just my opinion.

 

[Jakem]

I have a few les pauls. I changed the stock bridge and tailpiece to a tonepros set and found the sound to be thinner and stiffer than the stock set. I did not like the change in the long run so I went back to stock and am happy again. In my opinion, this bridge-tailbridge set up adds non harmonic frequencies to the sound that can't be dialed out. While initially this might seem like a good addition to the sound spectrum, it became irritating to my ears.

As for the grovers, I would not recommend them at all. I had them and went back to klusons. They will keep your guitar in tune, yes, but they change the resonance of the guitar and accentuate the low mids, as opposed to the klusons that accentuate higher mids. This has to do with their weight. They simply add too much weight to the headstock. If you want to get the classic les paul sound with the upper mid cut, I would go, sperzel or gotoh locking, which are both much lighter in weight. This will keep the look of the grovers but the sound of the klusons. and your guitar will stay in tune.

Obviously just my opinion.

Very interesting!

 

[50MkII]

I like your moniker. I always thought that YJM album was so underrated. I think it was the production and engineering that damaged that album unfortunately. FWIW, I saw him that year in SF (it was not the first or last time I did) and that was one of the most off the charts guitar performances I have seen. One of the most intense shows I have seen.
I know you do not have it listed, and I have not made comparisons against what you have listed, but I replaced the stock Gibson bridge and tailpiece on my 2005 or 08? black flying V ('67 RI style) with a Callaham bridge and have it installed to this date. What the previous poster reported about thinning of tone, etc. with changing out from stock I can hear and understand. However, with the Callaham, it does not thin the tone of that instrument. Notes bloom more, notes better definition, the foundation or center of the note, if you will, is a more focused, present, and solid. Look on their site for a fuller description. It is one of the times where a manufacturer and supplier description I have found to be pretty much spot on. I also changed out the stock 498 etc pups and have had a slightly modded SD '59, Rolph '58 VP PAF, and currently my favorite with this axe, Tom Holmes PAF's. It is also undergoing more work to meet my likes but that's off topic. I recently got a Gibson '13 SG with stock Tone Pros Kluson Deluxe style tuners on it and I think stock Tone Pros bridge (might be wrong) that I am considering replacing with Gibson's historic bridge. Undecided what to go with. Different materials and '61 vs 70's era SG tone is the question. HTH Good luck!

 

[sg guy]

-I like all black hardware as well-

-don't buy any of the "made in China" $6.99-(for a bridge and tail piece)-crap, I like heavy metal, I get the heaviest hardware I can find-(well, that's black)-

-MASS = SUSTAIN-

-I love what the heavier locking GROVER's due for the tone-

-I guess it's all just a matter of the tone your wanting to hear-

 

[Jakem]

Thanks for the comments! It is interesting to hear that the tonepros bridge is possibly thinning out the tone. I need to do some more research regarding these parts.

 

[bartmcartman]

My experience with tone pros on my standard are that when the bridge allen screws are locked down my tone gets tighter and brighter. If I back the screws away from the post it gets warmer and a thicker. I belive the tonepros are probably very similar to the stock Gibson parts with a hole drilled and an allen screw added. If that's the case you could just back the screws out if you don't like the added brightness and clarity.

 

[Jakem]

My experience with tone pros on my standard are that when the bridge allen screws are locked down my tone gets tighter and brighter. If I back the screws away from the post it gets warmer and a thicker. I belive the tonepros are probably very similar to the stock Gibson parts with a hole drilled and an allen screw added. If that's the case you could just back the screws out if you don't like the added brightness and clarity.

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Jakem]

The Tonepros TOM bushings are a lot longer than the Gibson ones. Do the Tonepros TOM bushings fit into the factory drilled holes lengthwise?