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Possible tune o matic bridge problem

Discussion in 'Hardware, Setup & Repair [BG]' started by redeirik, Apr 23, 2012.

  1. Apr 23, 2012 #1
    redeirik

    redeirik

    May 12, 2010
    Naples, Italy
    Hi everybody,

    Like the title says I might have a problem with the bridge. I bought a Les Paul bass Oversized. Few days ago I looked at the bass side of bridge and noticed that it is kinda curved towards neck side. The bridge has its bolts outside the body. Maybe it was that way before and I simply didn't noticed it.
    Any help would be much appreciated.

    http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?a...=attach&attach_rel_module=post&attach_id=7799

    http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?a...=attach&attach_rel_module=post&attach_id=7800
     
  2. Apr 23, 2012 #2
    mongo2

    mongo2

    Feb 17, 2008
    Da Shaw
    Looks to me like the curvature of the top prevents bridge bushings from being pressed further into the body.
     
  3. Apr 23, 2012 #3
    redeirik

    redeirik

    May 12, 2010
    Naples, Italy
    Yes, that's right. But is it normal? Could it be a defect mounting? I've never seen other Les Paul basses for comparison. Anyway I don't see the problem in Gibson official photos:

    http://images.gibson.com/Files/368af26e-19fe-4e05-a4c9-223f2db9d540.jpg
     
  4. Jun 14, 2012 #4
    R0T0R

    R0T0R

    Oct 25, 2010
    I don’t think you have a problem there. It's an aesthetic choice made by the Gibson. It’s either 1 or 2

    1 Keep the top of the tail stop and bridge on the same plane with the fret board.
    2 Drill the bushings at an angle so the flanges go flush with the top

    With # 1 you see the knurling on the back slope of the top. With # 2 you would have you hardware coming out of the guitar at an angle less than 90 degrees to top dead center. It might not matter for the tail but if the tune O matic was canted you could have string breakage issues or just not like the way it looks in general.

    What they could have done was mill the top down to flat pads at those four points. It would make the bushings flush and accomplish #1 as well. The trade off would be, the arched top as a whole might not look as good with 4 flats milled at those points breaking up the lines.

    So I don’t think you have defect from Gibson. It just the choice they make when making those two aesthetic choices. They can’t do both, so they choose.

    JR