help tailpiece & bridge lespaul

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the crush 36

the crush 36

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I need help! I have 2 les Paul classics my bridge is worn out on one, I would like to get a replacement but they offer so many different kinds, I wanted a new string wrap around tailpiece and new bridge to go with that does anyone know what type or style are direct replacement! thanks!
 
If it's an early Classic, it'll have an ABR-1 bridge. But, there's a ton of Classics out there with the Nashville bridge. Best way to verify what you got is to look underneath the threaded thumbscrews and see where the posts go into the body. If the posts screw into a metal insert, the bridge is a Nashville. If they screw directly into the wood, the bridge is an ABR-1.

As for wrapping the strings around the tailpiece, you don't need a special tailpiece for that. Just lower the stock tailpiece all the way down to the guitar's top, and then load the strings from the front to the back. This is commonly known as top-wrapping.

Here's an example of Nashville bridge (notice the metal insert under the thumbscrew) with a lowered & top-wrapped tailpiece...

bridge.jpg
 
BackCrack":17syjex1 said:
If it's an early Classic, it'll have an ABR-1 bridge. But, there's a ton of Classics out there with the Nashville bridge. Best way to verify what you got is to look underneath the threaded thumbscrews and see where the posts go into the body. If the posts screw into a metal insert, the bridge is a Nashville. If they screw directly into the wood, the bridge is an ABR-1.

As for wrapping the strings around the tailpiece, you don't need a special tailpiece for that. Just lower the stock tailpiece all the way down to the guitar's top, and then load the strings from the front to the back. This is commonly known as top-wrapping.

Here's an example of Nashville bridge (notice the metal insert under the thumbscrew) with a lowered & top-wrapped tailpiece...

bridge.jpg

Hey thanks a lot I'm pretty sure my bridge is the abr-1 & that's how I wrap my strings now around tailpiece but wanted to upgraded tailpiece along with new bridge if possible, I was looking at the type of bridge that's stays in place when strings are removed but unsure if it will fit and I'm just looking for a direct replacement, thanks a lot for the info!!!
 
the crush 36":2g207tn1 said:
...I was looking at the type of bridge that's stays in place when strings are removed but unsure if it will fit and I'm just looking for a direct replacement...
Gotcha.

One option is the Tone Pros ABR-1 (and I think there's a few others) that has the side screws that tighten into the studs.

Another option is an old school trick...use a standard ABR-1 but with 6/32 machine screws for the studs, and leave the heads on the screws. Once you set the desired string height with the the thumbscrews, hold them still as you screw down the posts. The screw heads clamp down on the ABR-1, pushing it against the thumbscrews. It ain't going anywhere. Might even notice a slight bump is sustain. ;)
 
the crush 36":1vvlo20k said:
BackCrack":1vvlo20k said:
If it's an early Classic, it'll have an ABR-1 bridge. But, there's a ton of Classics out there with the Nashville bridge. Best way to verify what you got is to look underneath the threaded thumbscrews and see where the posts go into the body. If the posts screw into a metal insert, the bridge is a Nashville. If they screw directly into the wood, the bridge is an ABR-1.

As for wrapping the strings around the tailpiece, you don't need a special tailpiece for that. Just lower the stock tailpiece all the way down to the guitar's top, and then load the strings from the front to the back. This is commonly known as top-wrapping.

Here's an example of Nashville bridge (notice the metal insert under the thumbscrew) with a lowered & top-wrapped tailpiece...

bridge.jpg

Hey thanks a lot I'm pretty sure my bridge is the abr-1 & that's how I wrap my strings now around tailpiece but wanted to upgraded tailpiece along with new bridge if possible, I was looking at the type of bridge that's stays in place when strings are removed but unsure if it will fit and I'm just looking for a direct replacement, thanks a lot for the info!!!

Hey backcrack can I use something like this together or just use standard tailpiece with a new bridge??
 
That first bridge has to be used with collared posts, like the posts that are used with a standard tailpiece. That means drilling out the old ABR-1 post holes and installing threaded bushings. That second bridge is a Nashville, which also means you'd have to drill out the holes for the threaded bushings. My advice is just go back with a standard ABR-1. If you want the bridge to be locked down, what I posted above is the way to go. Additionally, there's another old school lock down method you can use, but it only locks the studs in place and not the bridge. Using a second thumbwheel, you tighten it up against the guitar's top.

I know some players that use both the double-thumbwheels and the machine screws with their ABR-1's and they love the results. Also, a few of them use screws that are 1/4" longer than the old studs. You do have to make the holes 1/4" deeper with a drill for this, but it increases metal-to-wood coupling that they say is a very noticeable difference. The two Les Paul forums have named this the mapleflame mod, named after the guy with the forum handle "mapleflame" that initially spread the word about this...but using slightly longer studs is an old school ABR-1 mod that's been around for decades.

Nothing funner than guitar tweakin!
 
I just had a tech put the tone pros featherlight bridge and tail piece on my LP. It's very nice..
 
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