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Can I replace old 'ugly' tailpiece?


jjkrause84

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Posted

Hey guys. Looks like I might be rejoining the club very soon! The only bummer: the 535 in question has one of the older-style hideous tailpieces. Can this be replaced with a tradition G-brand looking one?

Posted

H gets all credit for this ... I just searched for the most recent discussion that answered the question...

H wrote:

I've posted this so many times, I think it should get pinned to the top of this section like the serial number post! :)

Metric bridge
Imperial tailpiece

Gotoh GE101 and GE103 set.

Tonepros LPNM04 set (T3BP bridge, T1ZS tailpiece) - the 'N' in the code denotes nickel.

The same parts fit any Heritage model with a Schaller stop-tail and roller bridge. It's a straightforward swap which will take you all of 20 minutes including removing and reloading strings.

Posted

Hey guys. Looks like I might be rejoining the club very soon! The only bummer: the 535 in question has one of the older-style hideous tailpieces. Can this be replaced with a tradition G-brand looking one?

 

:cray_mini: Why are you calling my guitars ugly???? Don't you think its insensitive to call their tails hideous?

 

med_gallery_790_192_30425.jpgmed_gallery_790_192_32585.jpg

 

 

Next you'll be saying my golf swing is ugly too!!!!

golfer3.gif

Posted

H gets all credit for this ... I just searched for the most recent discussion that answered the question...

H wrote:

I've posted this so many times, I think it should get pinned to the top of this section like the serial number post! :)

 

Metric bridge

Imperial tailpiece

 

Gotoh GE101 and GE103 set.

 

Tonepros LPNM04 set (T3BP bridge, T1ZS tailpiece) - the 'N' in the code denotes nickel.

 

The same parts fit any Heritage model with a Schaller stop-tail and roller bridge. It's a straightforward swap which will take you all of 20 minutes including removing and reloading strings.

 

It might be worthwhile giving H a sticky :tongue1:

 

Thread that is :icon_sunny:

 

This subject comes up every few weeks.

Posted

 

It might be worthwhile giving H a sticky :tongue1:

 

Thread that is :icon_sunny:

 

This subject comes up every few weeks.

It and his instructions for changing pups in a 535.

Posted

H gets all credit for this ... I just searched for the most recent discussion that answered the question...

H wrote:

I've posted this so many times, I think it should get pinned to the top of this section like the serial number post! :)

 

Metric bridge

Imperial tailpiece

 

Gotoh GE101 and GE103 set.

 

Tonepros LPNM04 set (T3BP bridge, T1ZS tailpiece) - the 'N' in the code denotes nickel.

 

The same parts fit any Heritage model with a Schaller stop-tail and roller bridge. It's a straightforward swap which will take you all of 20 minutes including removing and reloading strings.

Hmmm... I replaced mine with Imperial Bridge and Tail Piece. Why would Heritage use metric in the first place? And then why would the use a metric bridge and an imperial tail piece? That doesn't make a bit of sense to me. Like I said imperial bridge/tail piece went on all of my Heritage's that had the Schaller roller bridge/beast tail piece standard.

Posted

The Schaller TP is a well engineered and very functional piece. The Gibson TP6 is almost identical, and not by accident. It makes string changes a bit easier.

 

That said, I like the look of the TonePros better, also.

Posted

Schaller make regular TOM bridges and stopbar tailpieces which are direct replacements - the GTM series. I've managed to get some used ones (Schaller and alsoTonePros) from eBay at very reasonable prices, usually from Gibson Les Pauls which were being upgraded. New ones aren't desperately expensive - Touchstone Tonewoods (they're based in Reigate, so maybe not too far from you) stock them, and I checked with them that they were direct replacements for the SH series (the "ugly" one).

 

On my 150 VSB I just changed the tailpiece for a Schaller stopbar and kept the bridge -

 

544477_471307619609699_9779628_n.jpg

 

while on the 150 Special Goldtop I changed both bridge and tailpiece for Gibson parts (probably made by Schaller!) -

 

563676_471306246276503_17689511_n.jpg

 

I haven't decided where the TonePros bits are going to go...

Posted

Hmmm... I replaced mine with Imperial Bridge and Tail Piece. Why would Heritage use metric in the first place? And then why would the use a metric bridge and an imperial tail piece?

Because that's how Gibson made Les Paul guitars. And we know where Heritage came from, right? :)

Posted

 

It might be worthwhile giving H a sticky :tongue1:

 

Thread that is :icon_sunny:

 

This subject comes up every few weeks.

Hey hey! I get a sticky!! :)

 

Reminds me of 'More tea, Vicar? Sticky bun?' 'No thank you, I've already got one.'

Posted

It and his instructions for changing pups in a 535.

There's an accompanying book - 'How to say &@!?£#% in fifteen languages'.
Posted

Hey guys. Looks like I might be rejoining the club very soon! The only bummer: the 535 in question has one of the older-style hideous tailpieces. Can this be replaced with a tradition G-brand looking one?

JJ, you were always in the club - you don't have to have something to appreciate it. That said, welcome back :)

Posted

JJ, you were always in the club - you don't have to have something to appreciate it. That said, welcome back :)

 

Thanks, buddy. :)

Posted

Looks like mine, JJ :) A beaut and a good price too!

 

Regarding the tailpiece studs, it was a while ago but I seem to remember that the locating 'head' on the stud is smaller for the Schaller tailpiece, necessitating a change.

Posted

Hmmm... I replaced mine with Imperial Bridge and Tail Piece. Why would Heritage use metric in the first place? And then why would the use a metric bridge and an imperial tail piece? That doesn't make a bit of sense to me. Like I said imperial bridge/tail piece went on all of my Heritage's that had the Schaller roller bridge/beast tail piece standard.

 

H's answer is perfectly adequate, I think --that's how Gibson did it. But maybe (just speculation) the explanation of why is that when Gibson shifted from the ABR to the "nashville" bridge, made by schaller, those bridges were metric, while Gibson continued to use imperial tail pieces, producing the odd combination. My speculative 2 cents, of course --although we know Gibson was famous for finding ways to use up old parts, which produced odd combinations and inconsistencies.

 

(The measurements are very close, although I would think the threads of the inserts/posts might be an issue.)

Posted

 

H's answer is perfectly adequate, I think --that's how Gibson did it. But maybe (just speculation) the explanation of why is that when Gibson shifted from the ABR to the "nashville" bridge, made by schaller, those bridges were metric, while Gibson continued to use imperial tail pieces, producing the odd combination. My speculative 2 cents, of course --although we know Gibson was famous for finding ways to use up old parts, which produced odd combinations and inconsistencies.

 

(The measurements are very close, although I would think the threads of the inserts/posts might be an issue.)

Perfectly correct. Schaller invented the Nashville bridge and, being a European country, produced it with Metric sizing.

 

Perfectly correct. Schaller invented the Nashville bridge and, being a European country, produced it with Metric sizing.

European company, not country :)

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