G&L 2500 bridge pulls off the body...!!!

**Chef** · #1 06-11-2006, 11:37 AM

Went to pull my 2500 Tribute out of the case for practice time, and the bridge has pulled off the body. String thru bridge, just one screw on each end of the bridge holding it on. It was strung thru the bridge, not thru the body. Both screws pulled out, leaving the bridge dangling on the strings...???? What do I do now? I bought it used about 8 months ago...dang!

lpdeluxe · #2 06-11-2006, 01:04 PM

I just changed out the 2-piece bridge on my '51P RI for a 4-piece American Deluxe (quick swap, direct replacement, everything lined up, thanks) and was faced with the "should I string through the bridge or the body" dilemma. After a little thought ("the string through the bridge tries to pull it up, the strings through the body tries to pull it down") I strung it through the body.

My L2000 doesn't have the string-through-body option, sorry to say.

**Chef** · #3 06-11-2006, 03:53 PM

kinda blurry as I couldn't find macro on my camera...you can see the wood that pulled out on the screw threads.

BurningSkies · #4 06-11-2006, 04:15 PM

Wow.

That sucks.

I've never seen anything quite like it. I'm guessing its time to have the holes doweled and the bridge re-mounted? Have you tried to contact G&L yet?

**Chef** · #5 06-11-2006, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

Wow.

That sucks.

I've never seen anything quite like it. I'm guessing its time to have the holes doweled and the bridge re-mounted? Have you tried to contact G&L yet?

I'll phone first thing tomorrow, you can be sure. Yeah, I bought it used, but that's a really huge defect. I hope they stand behind it.

joeyl · #6 06-11-2006, 07:52 PM

hmm, I notice that the screws are in the middle of the bridge, not at the end where the strings go in, this may aggravate the pull on the bridge.

The Golden Boy · #7 06-11-2006, 08:37 PM

My L-2000 bridge has a total of 6 screws securing it to the body, as well as a "tongue" that fits into a rout in the body.

Mon Rominee · #8 06-11-2006, 08:59 PM

Wow...that's a whole lot of sucky in one spot right there...never seen that. The Tributes don't have a 6 screw bridge? That's funked up man.

Definitely a defect, OR, the previous owner torqued the crap outta the 2 screws, weakenning the wood in the process.

Either way, I hope you get a quick and happy resolve to this.

Wow.

Ron

**Chef** · #9 06-12-2006, 05:44 AM

Ron: G&L's with "string thru body" option have the bridge held on by two screws. The strings go thru where the other screws used to live. I never thought of it being a problem til now...

joeyl · #10 06-12-2006, 08:38 AM

hey man, I just thought of something, why not put a bolt and nut through the through-body holes. that would hold the bridge down very nicely, and you can have as many bolts as you have strings

**Chef** · #11 06-12-2006, 10:55 AM

On this bass there are no screws missing. There are 5 holes for the string thru body option that lead thru the body to ferrules in the back. There are also 5 holes in the bridge for a string thru bridge option. Why in the world G&L would put holes in the bridge if this was going to be the end result I can't speak to. No screws have been removed from this bass.
On both my 1981's, with no string thru the body option, yes, there are additional screws holding the bridge on. Not in this case with the string thru body option.
One could argue, and rightly so probably, that this might not have happened when strung thru the body. But, again, why are there string thru bridge holes if they're not meant to be used? There's nothing in the owners manual that would indicate that this should be avoided due to the disastrous results that followed...

From the G&L website:
"G&L Saddle Lock with player's choice of string through bridge or body configurations; chrome-plated brass saddles"

**Chef** · #12 06-12-2006, 11:05 AM

I did speak to G&L customer service and sent them the pic, and I hope to hear back from them soon.

**Rodent** · #13 06-12-2006, 12:13 PM

watching this one to see what options are for your next step ...

all the best,

R

**Chef** · #14 06-12-2006, 02:05 PM

Both my 1981 L2000E and 1981 L1000 are set up this way...BUT! they only have string thru the bridge as on option-as does yours in this case. Apparently to add the string thru body option, G&L opted not to use these mounting screws anymore...

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Golden Boy

My L-2000 bridge has a total of 6 screws securing it to the body, as well as a "tongue" that fits into a rout in the body.

**Chef** · #15 06-12-2006, 02:09 PM

I think this option became available around 1997? or so? I'm not sure if it runs the whole bass model line...I've sure never heard of this happening before...
It looks like a "5 string only option" when flipping thru the current models on the website...

avast_bass · #16 06-14-2006, 06:35 AM

just out of interest, was this bass in standard tuning?

the only time ive seen anything like it from a 'quality' bass was when someone had strung thru-bridge and tuned up to AGFA (why? i dont know!)

**Chef** · #17 06-14-2006, 07:07 AM

Yep, standard tuning.
I called G&L service Monday and spoke to the guy there, sent hi the pics. He said he'd get back to me.
No word back yet.

PB+J · #18 06-14-2006, 07:18 AM

It's ugly but it's not a big deal. To do the job right, you'd

A: drill out the existing holes to a slightly larger diameter
B: cut plugs (not dowels) of that same diameter using a plug cutter
c: Glue the plugs into the new holes
D: drill new holes for the screws

Alternatively, you could

A:drill out the existing holes
B:get ahold of some threaded inserts () of the right size
C: get new bridge screws to fit the threaded inserts

Either of these would make an invisible permanent fix

You could also drill the holes and buy a dowel to fit, and use the dowel for a plug. The problem with that is that you'd be screwing into end grain, which is bad at holding screws. That's why finding a plug cutter of the right diameter is good

A fast and dirty repair would be to fill the existing holes with wood and glue--like by inserting a toothpick or two--and then driving the screws back in

To do this right you'd want a drill press

Bassic83 · #19 06-14-2006, 07:22 AM

If it's any consolation, the same company handles both BBE and G&L. I just got my BBE BMax back after having some stuff done on it, they were really great at their Customer Service. I would expect no less from the G&L side.

**Chef** · #20 06-14-2006, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassic83

If it's any consolation, the same company handles both BBE and G&L. I just got my BBE BMax back after having some stuff done on it, they were really great at their Customer Service. I would expect no less from the G&L side.

I knew that, and I've had great experiences with BBE...