Can anyone tell me if the new Adjustomatic bridge will work on a solidbody old Gretsch, like my Vette and Astro Jet. I think this new bridge was designed for Gretsch archtop hollowbody electric guitars and so the base would not be designed or suited to a flat (un-arched) top. That is what I keep thinking but still would like confirmation.
modern bridge on an old guitar
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- Rated: 18 ↑
Dec 16, 2007 7:18 p.m. DCBirdMan:
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- Rated: 22 ↑
Dec 16, 2007 9:22 p.m. MrAstroJet:
If the post spacing is the same just put it on the old base. Or you can buy a big ol' block o ebony and make your own base.
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- Rated: 8 ↑
Dec 17, 2007 12:18 p.m. lowbrow:
I put a tuneomatuc on my `61 Corvette. Had to drill holes, of course, but it works a treat.
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- Rated: 18 ↑
Dec 17, 2007 4:11 p.m. DCBirdMan:
So I guess the base isn't a good fit... Hey I dig the FT on there.
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- Rated: 47 ↑
Dec 18, 2007 9:49 a.m. dignan:
You could tape a sheet of sandpaper to your bench & flatten the new base.
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- Rated: 28 ↑
Dec 18, 2007 11:29 a.m. troy6120:
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_tools_for:_Bridges/Archtop_Bridge_Fittin...
Check this link out. It appears to be a handy tool.
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- Rated: 18 ↑
Dec 18, 2007 4:23 p.m. DCBirdMan:
Well it will prob. come to doing that. Will let ya know how it turns out.
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- Rated: 3 ↑
Dec 20, 2007 7:42 p.m. Badams:
Man you couldnt pay me enough to use that jig on a good arch top guitar. It looks like a good way to mar the hell out of the top?
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- Rated: 42 ↑
Dec 21, 2007 2:32 p.m. Dan:
A little off the topic...I've used the SMcD jig...it works well with no problems. (for wood bridge bases) Use "sticky" sandpaper ...stick it on your shirt several times to remove some of the stickiness, then to the guitar......also put tape down on the track the wheel travels back and forth on...works great.
I was a little skeptical too...but was impressed after using it.
Beats the heck out of trying to match the bridge base contour to the top of the guitar- manually. I would bet there are quite a few (screwed up) bridge bases lying around (including those in my tool box :-) that were sanded manually.
DCBirdMan: I dont know if you could sand enough off a typical wood base to end up with the right string heights ...might be worthwhile to experiment on this though...
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- Rated: 12 ↑
Dec 21, 2007 11:29 p.m. guitarcapo:
just sand the base flat with sandpaper and a flat surface.
My 1961 Corvette with another drilled in base:
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- Rated: 18 ↑
Dec 22, 2007 12:13 p.m. DCBirdMan:
That is what will prob happen... sanding. Directly mounting a TOM bridge like you have done and is on the new Vettes.. another good idea long as the holes are in the right place. Yer vette looks like a nice hot rod.
Not to nitpick, but wouldn't yours be a '63?
I thought squared off LP Jr style body was '61-'62, and beveled body started in '63, and further that '63 was the only year for 3/3 head stock and beveled body, having gone to 4/2 headstock in '64... as discussed on another thread, maybe the beveled body was to get part of the SG scene, which was just becoming established then.
