Junior Bridge Question

[waca]

I've had this 2022 Junior for close to a year and am not sure if there's an issue, or not.
The guitar sounds fine, but the bridge is quirky, and has to be put far back to be in tune, causing an issue where the bridge is leaning forward.
There is also trouble when trying to tune; if the harmonics are OK, the fretted note is not, and vice versa.
(I'm not sure if this is a nut issue, or not.)

I thought this was inherent to this model, but have seen some posts where Gibson acknowledged a problem with the post position on these, and replaced the guitar.
(The earlier versions ('18/'19) had an angled bridge, which seems to be preferred, but was changed to this straight version.)

I'm due to bring it to a tech soon, but was wondering if contacting Gibson would be the better course of action?

 

[papagayo]

What brand/gauge of strings do you play ?

 

[waca]

D'Addario XL 110's.

 

[papagayo]

That' s strange, I don' t have this problem with my Les Paul Junior, strings are Elixir 10-46.

 

[Gary Gretsch]

I had the same problem with my first Junior. also the bridge was bottomed out and action was still high. Come to find out the neck was set wrong it was too straight and did not lean back enough. After it went back to the shop they ended up replacing it. I did end up buying locking studs and a Music City bridge. But will eventually put them on something else.

 

[TDA1966]

Get a low profile intonating wraparound bridge from stewmac like I have on my avatar.

 

[Decadent Dan]

There’s a slightly different version used on some recent LP’s with the underside marking BM116.
The saddles are further back. You could try that. It might help preserve the original tone too because it’s hollow like the original lightning bolt.

TP-BM116-N Les Paul Junior Nickel Wrap-Around Guitar Bridge Stop Tailpiece/Studs | Reverb

Les Paul Junior Nickel finish (zinc) Wrap-Around Guitar Bridge Stop Tailpiece w/ Studs. 82mm (3-1/4") post spacing. Part # TP-BM116-N

reverb.com

 

[Gary Gretsch]

I like it and not a bad price.

 

[papagayo]

Send an e-mail to Gibson support and ask for a TP-BM116 bridge.

 

[jonnyfez]

I had a Pelham Blue LP Jr like the one above which had the same problem. In order to get the intonation right the bridge had to be so far back that it leaned forward - just like your photos. I put a Pigtail adjustable wrap bridge on it to solve the problem. The posts were clearly in the wrong place.

 

[Les’s Nemisis]

If this is a recent purchase of a new guitar, measure from inner edge of nut to centerline of bridge posts. I believe it should be 24.75. Someone else can correct that if there's a variation in the spec for these. Or, run the numbers by Gibson. You might also measure nut to 12th fret. The bridge should be 2x that.

 

[MR D]

I've had this 2022 Junior for close to a year and am not sure if there's an issue, or not.
The guitar sounds fine, but the bridge is quirky, and has to be put far back to be in tune, causing an issue where the bridge is leaning forward.
There is also trouble when trying to tune; if the harmonics are OK, the fretted note is not, and vice versa.
(I'm not sure if this is a nut issue, or not.)

I thought this was inherent to this model, but have seen some posts where Gibson acknowledged a problem with the post position on these, and replaced the guitar.
(The earlier versions ('18/'19) had an angled bridge, which seems to be preferred, but was changed to this straight version.)

I'm due to bring it to a tech soon, but was wondering if contacting Gibson would be the better course of action?

What is the tech gonna do, that GIBSON can't/won't/isn't ? Calling 1 800 GIBSON would be the course of action I would take. Especially if GIBSON has acknowledged a problem...although that could be hearsay, no ?

IF you registered the warranty, send it back to GIBSON. I have never seen a case where GIBSON USA did not stand behind their warranty..........GIBSON USA is a company that backs up its products, and can get you another guitar, quickly........ as long as the guitar is not modified, and you are the original owner and can prove it w/a receipt !......and...... the guitar is not a demo/mod shop product...becoz then you only get 2 years warranted.

SO, BACK IT GOES !

 

[Norton]

99% of the trouble in this zone is with the nut slots.

I don't like that bridge and would opt for a wrap around with adjustable saddles... there are a ton of them out there from super cheap to super spendy.

But a poorly slotted nut can give you all sorts of intonation trouble. Epiphone has made huge improvements in the factory setup zone... but they're still a long way from "perfect from the factory".

I'd have that looked at by an accomplished tech or actual real world luthier before throwing that "baby out with the bathwater".

should be an easy fix.

 

[TDA1966]

Like Norton said, in addition to having a look at the nut slots, a wraparound bridge with adjustable saddles will solve this problem. Gibson is just sticking to using archaic parts for aesthetics or proprietary pride.

 

[waca]

Thanks for all the replies.
(I guess checking 'notify replies through e-mail' doesn't work too well.)
Posts are at 24 1/2", which is double the 12'th fret distance.
Wrote to Gibson, but have not heard back yet.
I hear good things about the Music City product, but will wait to see if they'll take care of it for me.

 

[JimH]

Gibson is just sticking to using archaic parts for aesthetics or proprietary pride.

Is that also why PRS uses a very similar bridge on their guitars?

 

[Norton]

Your scale length should be 24.75 or very close to that.

Measure from the fretboard side of the nut to the middle of the 12th fret and then again to the middle of the saddle break area.

Anything is possible... but a miss-placed bridge would be extremely rare.

 

[waca]

Heard from Gibson - they recommend taking it to Sam Ash.
I'll pass on that.

 

[smitty_p]

Your scale length should be 24.75 or very close to that.

Gibson publishes this as their scale length, but it is incorrect. Gibson hasn't made a true 24.75" scale length guitar since the 1950s. The actual scale length ends up being around 24.563 (24 9/16). I've verified this on all my Gibsons.

Frustratingly, Gibson continues to use this figure, even though they have incrementally changed it over the years.

Here's a little article from Stew-Mac that mentions it:

Scale Length Explained - StewMac

Scale Length Explained

www.stewmac.com

 

[Norton]

this is an epiphone.

and that's why I said 24.75 or very close to it. and to measure from the nut to the 12th fret and then again from the 12th fret to the saddle break.