How hard is it to add a Vibrola to a ‘61 Standard?

[Guithartic]

I’m thinking of getting a Gibson SG ‘61 Standard locally at a good price, but it’s the one with no Vibrola. Can I just buy a Lyre-type Vibrola (preferably used) and attach it?

If so, what differences would there be between one that I add the Vibrola and one that comes stock with the Vibrola?

Thanks guys and gals.

 

[ShootMeStraight]

Sorry I know this isn't much help but you could easily add a Bigsby.

 

[MR D]

I’m thinking of getting a Gibson SG ‘61 Standard locally at a good price, but it’s the one with no Vibrola. Can I just buy a Lyre-type Vibrola (preferably used) and attach it?

If so, what differences would there be between one that I add the Vibrola and one that comes stock with the Vibrola?

Thanks guys and gals.

IDK about that, BUT you could add a Duesenberg Les Trem II for $100, +/- $20, and just attach it to the stop-tail posts (Drop-in replacement). I have done that to quite a few guitars (all GIBSON solid-body electrics) w/no problems what-so-ever.

BUT, if you are after the look of the Maestro/Lyre type vibrola I wouldn't even know where to get one besides REVERB(?).

Adding the Maestro/Lyre vibrola shouldn't be too tough a job......but but but I have never attempted it.......

HHHMMM !

 

[Buffalo B]

I have thought about it but would practice on an old special i have first i am chicken lol

 

[Gibbo SG]

The only difficulty will be that of reassigning the ground wire which is attached to one of the anchor bolts that are inset into the guitar's body where the tie bar attaches. You'll need to drill a hole from where the Vibrola attaches, near the strap button, to the control cavity. I just wouldn't. It's better just to save up and get something that's already got the Vibrola installed.

 

[papagayo]

If yo want a genuine Gibson Vibrola have a look to Crazyparts : https://www.crazyparts.de/tremolos--vibrolas/vibrolas-aged/maestro-vibrolas-new/

 

[aFishell]

I’m thinking of getting a Gibson SG ‘61 Standard locally at a good price, but it’s the one with no Vibrola. Can I just buy a Lyre-type Vibrola (preferably used) and attach it?

If so, what differences would there be between one that I add the Vibrola and one that comes stock with the Vibrola?

Thanks guys and gals.

Had a 69 Standard with vibrola and it sucked. Some love them but to me it was worthless, use it once and then retune. Leave it alone. I took time to get used to it but must have heavy hands. Had a Hamer with a Kramer and it worked good.

 

[iluvchiclets]

It's not hard to do - there are only four screws that mount it to the body (or maybe 6...it's been a while since I've peeked under the chrome cover.)
The tedious part was aligning the Vibrola with the bridge and body - making sure it was dead centered before drilling those holes!

I have about 6 All-Parts Vibrolas that I was going to add to each of my SGs at one time, they just make an SG look special and correct. I'd love to see vibrolas on all SGs!

**However, the first one I did use on an epiphone, changed the sustain qualities of the guitar. I was shocked at how different the guitar behaved after the stop-bar was removed and the Vibrola added. It was an Epiphone SG400 (which I still own) and it went from a superb, tight, perfectly calibrated SG to a kind of dead, wolf-toned, lifeless guitar.

I found a lack of sustain, dead notes (or wolf-tones) appeared on the neck, and the general liveliness of the guitar disappeared. By the time I finally gave up and returned the stop-bar, I immediately found the guitar to spring back to life. Something to keep in mind...

I've kept those Vibrolas all these years,as I want to mount them with double sided tape on my Gibson SG collection for purely cosmetic reasons. (As I said earlier, they look amazing on SGs, Firebird, and 355s...) But because Gibsons use nitro finishes I am worried the tape will marr or damage the finishes.

Sigh...what to do!?

Anyhow, proceed carefully and have fun!

 

[e-man]

I don't think it's a "too difficult" project.

Here's a kinda short post of mine about my installation.

Gibson SG Harrison Vibrola Mod

I just purchased a 2015 SG Standard and want to fit a maestro vibrola inspired by George Harrison's 64 SG. Anyone have experience doing that? I know the break angle can be an issue, but hoping it won’t make the action unbearable. I purchased a use Maestro Vibrola, but not sure how to make sure...

www.everythingsg.com

hope it helps.

 

[Robinruckus]

I’m thinking of getting a Gibson SG ‘61 Standard locally at a good price, but it’s the one with no Vibrola. Can I just buy a Lyre-type Vibrola (preferably used) and attach it?

If so, what differences would there be between one that I add the Vibrola and one that comes stock with the Vibrola?

Thanks guys and gals.

I wouldn’t do that. You’ve modified it and that will change its market value. If you insist, then have a luthier or dealer do it. And only then if you’re absolutely certain that you are going to keep the guitar for a while. You can get a Les Trem that won’t require any drilling. Maybe sell it and raise proceeds to buy one so equipped. Good luck

 

[PermissionToLand]

It's not hard, just involves drilling some holes, but know that the stopbar holes will be visible.

 

[Guithartic]

IDK about that, BUT you could add a Duesenberg Les Trem II for $100, +/- $20, and just attach it to the stop-tail posts (Drop-in replacement). I have done that to quite a few guitars (all GIBSON solid-body electrics) w/no problems what-so-ever.

BUT, if you are after the look of the Maestro/Lyre type vibrola I wouldn't even know where to get one besides REVERB(?).

Adding the Maestro/Lyre vibrola shouldn't be too tough a job......but but but I have never attempted it.......

HHHMMM !

Thanks. I have a Les Trem II on an SG Standard, but I want to sell that guitar and get the ‘61 with the whole vintage look. I found a Maestro Vibrola for $160 on Reverb but most are about double that.

 

[jk67SG]

Had a 69 Standard with vibrola and it sucked. Some love them but to me it was worthless, use it once and then retune. Leave it alone. I took time to get used to it but must have heavy hands. Had a Hamer with a Kramer and it worked good.

I have a '67 SG Standard with a Maestro (photo on the left) which I bought new in Jan 1968. It was my only guitar for decades, and it paid my way through college. Using the Maestro never detuned it. Much later I was able to afford more than one guitar and I started playing Les Pauls, because the later SG's just didn't sound like my '67, it had a lot more sustain. When I was going to school I was playing the SG 5-6 nights a week most of the time and I never had any issue at all with de-tuning when I used the Maestro, and based on it's design I can't see any reason why it should if it's installed properly and isn't faulty.
After I started playing LPs I appreciated the additional, approximately 1/10", width of my '67 SG (later models adopted about the same spec as LPs). As a result my SG hasn't gotten nearly as much play as my LPs because as I got older my hands got larger and the ends of my fingers flatter and I had to be a lot more careful to not mute adjacent open strings. I have it periodically, and keep it ready to play including regular string changes and checking the tuning, which varies very slightly due to large meteorological variations. After reading your comment about your SG going out of tune I pulled mine out and played it for about 1-1/2 hours today, focusing on using the Maestro a lot, and it still stays in tune according to my ear and my Peterson tuner. (It did go out of tune one time.... when I was sitting on the couch playing it without using the Maestro, the arm was swung aft and was in-between the two seat cushions on my couch and was being engaged... it went right back into tune when I relieved the accidental pressure on it. :-)

 

[Guithartic]

You'll need to drill a hole from where the Vibrola attaches, near the strap button, to the control cavity.

Leave it alone.

I found a lack of sustain, dead notes (or wolf-tones) appeared on the neck, and the general liveliness of the guitar disappeared.

I wouldn’t do that.

know that the stopbar holes will be visible.

When I checked prices of the Marstro vibrolas, I realized buying the guitar and the vibrola would be about the same as getting a used ‘61 Standard with one stock. I’ll probably go that route at some point. It’s not a pressing issue that I have to jump on now.

 

[Robinruckus]

Thanks. I have a Les Trem II on an SG Standard, but I want to sell that guitar and get the ‘61 with the whole vintage look. I found a Maestro Vibrola for $160 on Reverb but most are about double that.

I have a Firebird Tribute with a Les Trem and it doesn’t change the guitar. Works about the same as Vibrola. I have an SG Classic and an old non reverse Firebird with the Vibrola that I adore, but the Vibrola was factory on both so no drilling or empty post holes.

 

[MR D]

Thanks. I have a Les Trem II on an SG Standard, but I want to sell that guitar and get the ‘61 with the whole vintage look. I found a Maestro Vibrola for $160 on Reverb but most are about double that.

Yeah, 'MAESTRO's' are the shizzle ! I GOT THE SAME THING, 1 w/'maestro & one, SG Standard w/DOOZY LT-II,,,,,,BOTH BAD-A$$ ! like yours !

 

[MR D]

I have a '67 SG Standard with a Maestro (photo on the left) which I bought new in Jan 1968. It was my only guitar for decades, and it paid my way through college. Using the Maestro never detuned it. Much later I was able to afford more than one guitar and I started playing Les Pauls, because the later SG's just didn't sound like my '67, it had a lot more sustain. When I was going to school I was playing the SG 5-6 nights a week most of the time and I never had any issue at all with de-tuning when I used the Maestro, and based on it's design I can't see any reason why it should if it's installed properly and isn't faulty.
After I started playing LPs I appreciated the additional, approximately 1/10", width of my '67 SG (later models adopted about the same spec as LPs). As a result my SG hasn't gotten nearly as much play as my LPs because as I got older my hands got larger and the ends of my fingers flatter and I had to be a lot more careful to not mute adjacent open strings. I have it periodically, and keep it ready to play including regular string changes and checking the tuning, which varies very slightly due to large meteorological variations. After reading your comment about your SG going out of tune I pulled mine out and played it for about 1-1/2 hours today, focusing on using the Maestro a lot, and it still stays in tune according to my ear and my Peterson tuner. (It did go out of tune one time.... when I was sitting on the couch playing it without using the Maestro, the arm was swung aft and was in-between the two seat cushions on my couch and was being engaged... it went right back into tune when I relieved the accidental pressure on it. :-)

WOW, I have the 2019 version of that exact same Guitar. Is that an 'AGED CHERRY' finish ? That is what GIBSON USA called the finish on mine.Looks pretty close to yours and I cant post a pic here on this site.

I hav to check out what you mentioned about yours staying in tune.IIRC, mine doesn't go out of tune all that much . I hav to see about when its in its case for 3-4 months and I take it out if its still really close. For instance today I took out my TV Yellow Lester Special and it was a good half step out of tune: It was in its case for 6 months in a fairly climate controlled room and was not moved, and it was out a full half step, except for the 'A' string which was dead-on.........HHHMMMMM.......gotta wait and see about that. Glad you mentioned it !!!

KEEP ROCKIN' !

 

[papagayo]

This is an easy upgrade, you must be skilled and patient.

 

[Guithartic]

The only difficulty will be that of reassigning the ground wire which is attached to one of the anchor bolts that are inset into the guitar's body where the tie bar attaches. You'll need to drill a hole from where the Vibrola attaches, near the strap button, to the control cavity. I just wouldn't. It's better just to save up and get something that's already got the Vibrola installed.

But because Gibsons use nitro finishes I am worried the tape will marr or damage the finishes.

I wouldn’t do that. You’ve modified it and that will change its market value.

It's not hard, just involves drilling some holes, but know that the stopbar holes will be visible.

Yeah, 'MAESTRO's' are the shizzle

you must be skilled and patient.

I won an auction on eBay for a 2023 ‘61 Standard. $1630 plus $60 shipping and tax.
It has a mark on the back from a sticker and he says the vibrola is loose, which seems easy to fix. On its way.