Advice needed re replacing Gibson parts.

Longtallronnie

This started off as looking for advice on tuners but I thought I might as well aske about the other bits!

I might be replacing the gold hardware on my LP Studio for nickel (if I don't attempt to remove the gold plating myself) but having never replaced any parts before I'm totally confused. It's a bloody minefield out there!

For instance, my '94 LP Studio tuners have the screw in hex head type bushings while my '08 Fat Neck 335 has the push in type. Are they interchangeable? I'd like Kluson style ones in nickel but feck knows what size or type I need!

Also, the bridges are different (or appear to be) on the two guitars. The LP has threaded bushings pressed into the body which the bridge post/thumbwheel screw into whereas the 335 has seperate posts and thumbwheels.

So basically, I haven't got a fecking clue what I should get for the Lester! It might actually be easier to just try and strip the gold plating off!

 

 

jaygtr

I replaced my chrome hard wear for nickel recently and was also confused.
So I just rang feline guitars, told them I had a 96 les Paul and wanted tone pros nickel hard wear , and a couple of days later the correct stuff came through the letter box.

Longtallronnie

Good idea, if I go for new (was hoping to find some used gear on eBay but looks unlikely) I'll give Feline a shout. 

stickyfiddle

Huge +1 for the Tonepros Klusons. They do tuners to fit everything and they're the best quality tulip type tuners about. FYI the ones with the nut are 10mm and the ones with the push-in bushing are 8mm. You can get Tonepros ones of either, which is nice.

On the bridge side, the LP studio will have a Nashvillle Bridge (studs screw into metal bushings in the body, whereas your historic 335 will have an ABR-1 (screws go straight into wood). I'd definitely recommend Faber stuff if you're looking to replace that. Contact them direct and they'll give you exactly what you need- they even do conversion studs so you can use an ABR bridge with the Nashville bushes.

Longtallronnie

Thanks Mike.

After posting I wondered if the 335 might have an ABR bridge, it's not a historic model though so not sure if that changes things? 

Bear with me and I'll post some pics if it helps. 

octatonic

Put Grovers on instead!

Longtallronnie

Les Paul bits. 

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g232/malarkymusic/040277a67c3488c1e8bd7eea2a5f2c7a.jpg

Fat Neck 335 bridge

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g232/malarkymusic/ceac00898b66999f9e2f26d2693fe7f7.jpg

ESchap

Your 335 has an ABR and the LP has a Nashville bridge.    The screw in Gibson tuners need a 10mm hole in the headstock, it think the Tonepro Kluson is more like 8mm.  As you'll either need to get oversized bushes for the Kluson's or replacements that have the screw down piece.  Obviously Gibson do those and as @octatnic suggested, modern Grover's will fit the 10mm hole directly. 

The alternative money saving route is to take some Brasso to the gold plate and it will come off remarkably easily, even on the bridge.  Parts will be nickel plated under the gold.  I've successfully "de-blinged" a few Gibson parts this way.

ESchap

sorry @stickyfiddle should have read your post first!   ">

Longtallronnie

Thanks @ESchap, the Brasso route was my first plan but I wasn't sure how well that would work with threaded parts etc. The worry being if I fucked them up I wouldn't be able to sell them.

ESchap

I've "Brasso'd" the gold off Gibson tuners, bridges, stop tails and pickup covers and all were fine.   You're taking off literally microns thickness of gold plate on there so the threads etc. are fine.

The Nashville bridge will take a bit of work as you can't easily get the Saddles out.  Just wrap lots of Brasso wadding around a flat headed screwdriver and you can get the leverage you need to get into the nooks and crannies.  You'll probably be left with a few bits you can't get to, but to be honest they'll never be noticed.  I also found that the exposed nickel dulls down naturally and quickly after the gold has been removed.  

Longtallronnie

Well being as I'm skint I might as well give it a go!

I feel more confident about it now though so thanks for that.

gjonesy

If you're skint go for the brasso. I replaced my chrome Nashville with a faber abr brass saddle replacement and alu tailpiece. Couldn't be happier.

FelineGuitars

Please feel welcome to bend my ear if you need to find replacement bits.

We keep all the Tonepros stuff in stock and also a good stock of the Aluminium tailpieces too

We are aiming at getting an e-commerce site going too but it is often worth speaking to someone  in person as often good ideas spring forth when discussing what you are looking for.

Longtallronnie

Thanks @FelineGuitars, I went down the brasso route in the end which suited the worn in look quite nicely. I do hope to bring my guitars in for a service/setup at some point though, I was very impressed with your fret dress photo blog.