OH SH***! Bridge coming off on US L-2500 too!

Nikoubis · #1 04-08-2008, 10:18 AM

Can someone tell me how many screws are supposed to be holding the bridge in place on US L-2500's? I tried to string through the bridge with my new GHS flats and well... deja vu! My own pics are to follow later on, I hope.

filter · #2 04-08-2008, 12:56 PM

I have a tribby L-2500 and I only see 2.

**Chef** · #3 04-08-2008, 02:02 PM

I believe there's only two screws on the USA version I moved to when my Trib bridge pulled out.
Call Chris Robosan at G&L customer service. He fixed my trib by drilling, doweling, and re-screwing.

I only string thru the body now.

Nikoubis · #4 04-08-2008, 04:02 PM

UPDATE!

When my hands stopped shaking, I decided to give the whole thing another go. I took off the strings and checked the bridge. The screws seemed to have gone straight up, taking no wood with them, fortunately. I put the bridge back in place and tightened the screws as much as it got. Then I restrung the E-G strings through the body. Given that I had cut them for through-the-bridge stringing, the number of wraps around the post is less than ideal, but still enough. The break angle is a little steep at the E string, but nothing too serious. The B string could not go through the body, so it went through the bridge. I intonated the bass and played for a little while and everything seems to be holding up fine, as the tension from the E-G strings is pressing the bridge down, instead of pulling it up. Obviously I'll never even think of going through the bridge again.

The ghs flats sound very nice btw. Pretty midrangey, but they do a nice job bringing out the growl, while taming the highs of the MFD's. I think they will be staying on for a while.

**Chef** · #5 04-08-2008, 04:14 PM

Given the big mass of the bridge that' routed into the body, I suppose this is "ok," but now you have "only the strings" holding the bridge on.

If it were me-and it's not, obviously-I'd call G&L customer service and ask for some help.

Drillng and doweling is not a hard job, you could get it done locally as well.

Nikoubis · #6 04-08-2008, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chef

Given the big mass of the bridge that' routed into the body, I suppose this is "ok," but now you have "only the strings" holding the bridge on.

If it were me-and it's not, obviously-I'd call G&L customer service and ask for some help.

Drillng and doweling is not a hard job, you could get it done locally as well.

I know the solution is somewhat temporary, though I think I've tightened the screws enough to "help" the strings a little. I checked and the store I got the bass from also happens to be an authorized service center, according to the local disributor's webpage. I'll take the bass there in a couple of days to get it checked out. I've seen the guy there work on my brother's guitars and he knows his stuff well. Thanks for the advice!

**Chef** · #7 04-08-2008, 04:53 PM

Oh shoot, didn't see you were in greece; sorry...

Nikoubis · #8 04-08-2008, 05:02 PM

No problem; as I said, I'm getting the bass checked out by someone who has fixed much worse problems than this. I'll let you guys know how it went within the week, hopefully.

Mytola · #9 04-08-2008, 05:14 PM

Hope it works out fine for you, as I'm sure it will! I'm stringing my Tribute L2500 through the body with all strings since day one, especially because of the thread you linked to in the first post.

BrentSimons · #10 04-09-2008, 07:42 AM

Sorry to hear about your bass man. I would think G&L would look into this for some sort of bridge design change. At least more screws securing the bridge. Didn't they stop the string through bridge option on the tribute L2500's?
B

DavePlaysBass · #11 04-10-2008, 07:27 PM

Put some tooth picks in the screw holes and call it good.

rok51 · #12 04-11-2008, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavePlaysBass

Put some tooth picks in the screw holes and call it good.

It's always worked for me. A whole lot easier than drilling/dowelling as well. I usually add some carpenter's glue and call it a day.

Kim

rok51 · #13 04-11-2008, 09:40 AM

Just looked at my Indonesian Tributes...'problem' solved: G&L put four more screws into the body-using what had been the 'string-thru' holes.
Works for me!

Kim

Essential · #14 04-11-2008, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rok51

Just looked at my Indonesian Tributes...'problem' solved: G&L put four more screws into the body-using what had been the 'string-thru' holes.
Works for me!

Kim

Wasn't the four string always like that?

And it's the five string that's problematic?

Or am I confused?

rok51 · #15 04-12-2008, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Essential

Wasn't the four string always like that?

And it's the five string that's problematic?

Or am I confused?

Could very well be-I just have a pair of fours, and honestly don't know about the fivers. That said, IMHO, it sure would be a brain fart to revert to just two screws on a fiver after using six on the four.

Kim

ljazz · #16 04-12-2008, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rok51

Could very well be-I just have a pair of fours, and honestly don't know about the fivers. That said, IMHO, it sure would be a brain fart to revert to just two screws on a fiver after using six on the four.

Kim

Amen

saxofunk · #17 04-12-2008, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Essential

Wasn't the four string always like that?

And it's the five string that's problematic?

Or am I confused?

My four string Korean SB-2 is like that. Six screws total on the bridge, no string-through option.

Call me crazy but if one had a 5er and really really wanted to string through the bridge one could dowel through the string-through holes in the body and screw the string-through holes of the bridge. A lot of effort, but if my fav strings didn't string through body well, I would consider it.

**Chef** · #18 04-12-2008, 12:03 PM

No reason to go to all that trouble, if you wanna bolt the bridge down thru the string thru holes, just use machine screws, and put nuts and lock washers in the ferrules.

DavePlaysBass · #19 04-12-2008, 02:14 PM

What kind of wood is this one (basswood or ash?)

saxofunk · #20 04-12-2008, 03:37 PM

Well, that would work.

Or, if you have a few minutes to kill and a tap and die set you could tap threads in the the ferrules and run machine screws directly into them. Thread on a second nut or a drop of Locktite for good measure, and there you go. But that would be overkill, now, wouldn't it?