Moving from wraparound to TOM

tanihhiavlt

I don't like the amount of fiddling it takes to install strings on my Gordon Smith... contemplating an TOM instead - would mean drilling extra holes for the stop-tail and getting adapters for the bridge,  anyone done it?

ICBM

Personally I would get a Schaller 455 bridge. No longer made, and they seem to go for quite silly prices when they do come up, but it will solve the problem without butchering the guitar.

Funkfingers

If stringing a wraparound electric guitar bridge is too much fiddling about, filling and redrilling for a replacement bridge installation ought to be totally unconscionable. 

Fuengi

Don't you just do one string at a time with a wraparound bridge? 

SteveRobinson

Fuengi said:

Don't you just do one string at a time with a wraparound bridge? 

No you (i) slacken all the strings, cut them and remove from the tuners (ii) take off the bridge and remove all the strings from it (iii) pass all the new strings through the holes in the bridge (iv) refit the bridge to the posts and finally (v) attach strings to tuners and tune to pitch

ICBM

The real problem is if you *do* need to replace just one... sometimes there’s so little clearance between it and the bridge pickup that it’s almost impossible.

I have never really understood why they’re so desirable.

Fuengi

ICBM said:

The real problem is if you *do* need to replace just one... sometimes there’s so little clearance between it and the bridge pickup that it’s almost impossible.

I have never really understood why they’re so desirable.

They are pretty comfortable on the palm! 

SteveRobinson said:

Fuengi said:

Don't you just do one string at a time with a wraparound bridge? 

No you (i) slacken all the strings, cut them and remove from the tuners (ii) take off the bridge and remove all the strings from it (iii) pass all the new strings through the holes in the bridge (iv) refit the bridge to the posts and finally (v) attach strings to tuners and tune to pitch

Good to know! I've not changed strings on my LP jr yet, look forward to dropping the bridge on the top. 

tanihhiavlt

ICBM said:

The real problem is if you *do* need to replace just one... sometimes there’s so little clearance between it and the bridge pickup that it’s almost impossible.

I have never really understood why they’re so desirable.

this, I've less than 1cm space to poke a string through - no way I'd want to do that between songs.

as for the faff of drilling and resetting (if needed - that's what I cam here to find out - you'd think there'd be a load of adaptors out there) ... the "faff" is irrelevant it's a matter of "low premium time" vs "high premium time" - on stage with a band and audience waiting (either just to get to the end or with anticipation) is what I'd class as "high premium time" so I wouldn't drill and fill the post holes whilst on stage I wouldn't even want to go "threading the needle" to fit a string in the tiny gap betwixt bridge pickup and wrap-over... whereas in "low-premium time" where it's a toss-up between watching a repeat of Antiques Roadtrip with SWMBO or ducking into the gaarage - well that's a no brainer - I'd do either at that point  

ICBM

The big problem with a conversion is that the post hole spacing for the tune-o-matic is completely different from the stopbar. I don’t know if you can get - or could make - inserts with an offset bridge post, but if not then you’ll need to plug the existing holes and drill new ones, which won’t look very good since the old holes will be outside the footprint of the new bridge.

Another option might be a stopbar with a ridge and string grooves (a plain one won’t work, the strings will slide about) and a second tailpiece behind it - Gibson did this on the cheaper non-reverse Firebirds with vibratos.

tanihhiavlt

I am tempted by the Schaller approach, it makes the most sense. Cheers ICBM

ICBM

tanihhiavlt said:

I am tempted by the Schaller approach, it makes the most sense.

I think Gordon-Smith might even have used them on some original models, but I can't remember.

It's annoying that they're unavailable new, and the prices people have started to ask for them are getting silly - but still probably less than if you have to pay a professional to modify the guitar.

Even more frustratingly I have most of one in my parts collection! But it's missing the string anchor bar and one of the saddles... otherwise I'd be happy to sell it to you (for a lot less).

WezV

ICBM said:

Even more frustratingly I have most of one in my parts collection! But it's missing the string anchor bar and one of the saddles... otherwise I'd be happy to sell it to you (for a lot less).

i thought i might be able to help there, but its the saddles I am missing.   

77ric

Would a hip shot grand baby be an appropriate bridge? Depends if you like the look of course, I kinda like it, but I’m sure it’s also very guitar dependent. 

tanihhiavlt

So my issue with the baby grand is I'm a southpaw,  in some ways I'd prefer the reduced string tension in the higher strings my Tokai 335 uses the wrapover approach...

Being able to assemble a 445 from parts would be awesome - are the saddles any different from TOM saddles?

WezV

this is in the parts FS section
https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/206631/fs-gotoh-510ub-wraparound-bridge-in-chrome#latest

WezV

tanihhiavlt said:

Being able to assemble a 445 from parts would be awesome - are the saddles any different from TOM saddles?

yeah, they are chunky brass things.   I can't believe i would have thrown them away, but remember removing them from the bridge to try on something else   

Funkfingers

Alternative solution that would look right in the Gibson tradition, the short vibrola tailpiece.

Doesn't matter if you don't use the wobble arm. The installation is three wood screws. 

If you can find one, the EDS-1275 string anchor might suffice.

SteveRobinson

WezV said:

this is in the parts FS section
https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/206631/fs-gotoh-510ub-wraparound-bridge-in-chrome#latest

Factory option even https://www.gordonsmithguitars.com/components/gotoh-510ub-bridge/

ICBM

That's a very neat solution, I haven't seen one of those before.

tanihhiavlt

Well durn it! Looks like that would have been a good option but I got beaten to it  

There don't seem to be any in the shops at the moment either... hmm 

andy_k

I think it would be easy to make something to do the job, fairly simple.
Turn 2 large brass plugs to fit in the existing bridge post holes, with a large enough area on top to position 2 brazed threads to accept an ABR, or Nashville, in the correct position.
Some sort of trapeze attached to the strap button, and Bobs your uncle.
I could do it, if I had the time and equipment, and it would be bespoke to the instrument.
But I can't, because I don't, and a wraparound has it's own charms.
Tonequest report did their own search for the best sounding LP, and a wraptail came out on top.