1968 Les Paul Custom Reissue, Black Replacement Bridge

[aaronmontecalvo]

Hello everyone. I'm new to the forum, so I am unsure if this is the correct place to post. If it is not, please let me know and I would be happy to move my post.

I have recently purchased a 2003 1968 Les Paul Custom Reissue. Here is a picture of the exact guitar:



I am in the process of replacing all of the gold hardware with black. Everything has been replaced, with the exception of the bridge. I ordered this bridge in the color Cosmic Black:

GE104B - G-GOTOH

Hard Zinc Saddle

g-gotoh.com

However, when I went to install it using the stock bridge posts already mounted in the guitar (not wanting to replace the posts / make any permanent modifications), I noticed that the diameter of the original posts was smaller than the new posts I received. The new bridge holes are too big, and the new bridge is able to move around while mounted on the original posts.

I don't understand what I did wrong. The website diagram lists that the posts have a diameter of size M4. Are there multiple size posts for the (what I am assuming is) ABR-1 bridge? What is the correct bridge to get? I'd like to get one from Gotoh if possible to keep the Cosmic Black color, but any other Black Nickel or Black bridge should be fine. If I need to I can always enlarge the holes to accept the provided bridge posts, however I'd like to avoid that as much as possible.

Thank you in advance for all of your help.

 

[El Gringo]

Welcome to the Forum . Your Les Paul is a beauty with really nice figure and color .

 

[aaronmontecalvo]

Welcome to the Forum . Your Les Paul is a beauty with really nice figure and color .

Thank you, that's very much appreciated!

 

[jb_abides]

Welcome to the LPF, very nice Custom!

Not sure what is going on with the M4 mismatch... How do they compare with the stock bridge holes? Do you have digital calipers to measure to see if the holes might be not to spec? or contact Gotoh?

Good luck with the blackout re-fit.

 

[GlassSnuff]

I just went through this with a PRS. That "Cosmo" color is lighter than American companies' "Black Chrome". But then, the black chrome seems to vary quite a bit. Still, it would be good to stick to Gotoh if you can. Those new tuners are amazing.

Had Gibson gone metric by '03?

 

[aaronmontecalvo]

Just an update in case anyone in the future every finds this thread: I liked the Gotoh bridge, so I just had a luthier install the new "cosmic black" bridge posts into the body. It was a permanent modification, but oh well.

 

[jb_abides]

Just an update in case anyone in the future every finds this thread: I liked the Gotoh bridge, so I just had a luthier install the new "cosmic black" bridge posts into the body. It was a permanent modification, but oh well.

Thanks: Did you ever get clarity around if the Gotoh part was / was not M4? ....if so, what did the luthier put it in to match? a thicker post measurement?

Glad it all worked out for you. Nice looking guitar.

 

[fretout]

Hi Aaron!

Welcome to the forum!

It sounds like you might have resolved this issue already, but as the owner of a few 68RIs, I figured I would try to help!

The 68RIs normally come with a stock ABR-1 bridge, which appears to be the same style you included in your link above.

Gibson USA and Gibson Custom will use parts that utilize Standard measurements (inches), while import brands such as Epiphone will utilize the metric system (millimeters).

I’m guessing that if you purchased an aftermarket ABR-1 that was based on the metric system, this would likely be the cause of your fitment issues when trying to install it on your 68RI. I’m also assuming that the metric posts may have been a bit too wide to fit into the existing routes for the ABR-1 posts. Was this the mod that you referenced above?

If you need to order any other parts going forward, it may be helpful to make sure they are optimized for USA/Standard measurements, since metric parts won’t be an exact fit.

Beautiful guitar!

 

[aaronmontecalvo]

Hi Aaron!

Welcome to the forum!

It sounds like you might have resolved this issue already, but as the owner of a few 68RIs, I figured I would try to help!

The 68RIs normally come with a stock ABR-1 bridge, which appears to be the same style you included in your link above.

Gibson USA and Gibson Custom will use parts that utilize Standard measurements (inches), while import brands such as Epiphone will utilize the metric system (millimeters).

I’m guessing that if you purchased an aftermarket ABR-1 that was based on the metric system, this would likely be the cause of your fitment issues when trying to install it on your 68RI. I’m also assuming that the metric posts may have been a bit too wide to fit into the existing routes for the ABR-1 posts. Was this the mod that you referenced above?

If you need to order any other parts going forward, it may be helpful to make sure they are optimized for USA/Standard measurements, since metric parts won’t be an exact fit.

Beautiful guitar!

Thank you for the response. Yes, the posts were too wide, so the luthier simply enlarged the holes and installed the new posts. Maybe the bridge was intended for an Epiphone which makses sense in retrospect, but regardless, that's all in the past now. I've been using the new bridge for months and it's worked out fantastically.

 

[fretout]

Thank you for the response. Yes, the posts were too wide, so the luthier simply enlarged the holes and installed the new posts. Maybe the bridge was intended for an Epiphone which makses sense in retrospect, but regardless, that's all in the past now. I've been using the new bridge for months and it's worked out fantastically.

Do you have sone new, detailed pictures with the new black hardware?

 

[charliechitlins]

This is what happens when you take a metal problem to a wood person.
IMO, the proper response would have been to fill and drill the holes in the bridge.
Alter an aftermarket bridge...not the guitar.
I guess it's just a guitar. No point in being too precious about it.
I hope it worked out and you like the look and sound of the new bridge.

 

[charliechitlins]