Les Paul DC Special tailpiece drilling

[WillyWP]

Hello.

I'm a reguler SG player, I have 2, and I bought this 95 Les Paul Special DC recently. It has a wraparound bridge on it, but it came from the factory with a tune-o-matic and tail piece which was removed and the holes dowelled. I want to restore it to as close as original.

I need to have the tailpiece holes drilled out. Not a problem...

What gets tricky, the wraparound bridge post holes are further apart than the original tune-o-matic so they were drilled wider and larger (84cm apart, like the tail piece). I bought a Tonepros bridge with adjustable saddles, but if I add the tailpiece and string it through then over the bridge, the strings don't clear the back of it.

I'm not sure I want to pay someone a few hundred dollars to fill in the wraparound post holes to revert back to the originals because it will look ugly, so I want to get a bridge that'll fit into the wider, 84cm, holes but allow the strings to clear the back.

Any educated comments, advise or suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Biddlin]

As a repairman and tech, my advice is to keep the wrapover bridge. You are only digging a deeper hole by attacking the wood, further. I'd advise you to spend the money on a compensated bridge and perhaps a refinish.
Good luck and what ever you do, PICS!
;>)/

 

[JohnnyGoo]

What he said .

 

[shreddy bender]

I had a Tone Pros AVT II on my SG III and really liked it.
I would recommend it for your needs there.

 

[eS.G.]

Agreed with Biddlin Why stress the beast anymore. And is there a problem with the wrap around? Personally I like the wrap arounds.

 

[JohnnyGoo]

I agree with Shreddy on the Tonepros Wrap around.or even find you a original Leo Quan Badass wrap around on ebay.

 

[WillyWP]

Thin bridge to clear strings' break angle

Thanks everybody. It has a Tone Pros AVT II on it now, I took these pictures before I changed it.

I'm not sure why redrilling the dowled holes would be invasive to the guitar but a refinish wouldn't. I would just removing the dowls that where moded, not removing any of the original guitar wood. I would never get it refinished. The neck feels great. This is why I'm keeping the guitar.

My question is really about a compensated bridge that is thinner so the strings will clear it with the tailpiece added back on. I don't like the feel of a wrap around! The Tone Pros bridge is too wide for the break angle.

 

[JohnnyGoo]

Im sure if the tailpiece and bridge holes that were doweled are factory a Nashville bridge and tailpiece will work fine.might have to raise tailpiece studs alittle as is the standard method of getting strings not to hit back of bridge.or go with the skinnier ABR 1 bridge

 

[WillyWP]

Thanks, but actually a ABR or Nashville bridge won't work, the posts are closer together than on a wrap around. Wrap arounds have the same post spacing as a tail piece which is wider.

 

[SG John]

Honestly, I'd leave it alone, and maybe just go for a bridge/tailpiece that is capable of finer intonation. Plugging the current hoes is the easy part, but you may find that the anchors will no longer fit in the old holes that are currently plugged because the hole was enlarged when plugged.


Give the guitar some time. P-90's with a stop bar is a killer sound combination. I've been playing them since the late 70's. If you already have two SG's, this may be a nice addition to round out your sounds. Especially since you already like the neck. If the winds on the end of the string dig into your hand at all, try cutting a ball off of the end of an old string, and slide it down to the end before running the string through the tail piece. Sometimes, you'll need two. This causes the string to sit in the tailpiece differently. I've been doing this for over twenty years, and it works like a charm. You won't have that problem with a "Badass" bridge.

 

[frankd]

Seems Those Bad ass bridges are kinda hard to find.
But If I get a wraparound guitar Im going to have to get one.
Kinda like owning a Ferruchi savage dress shirt just sounds COOL.