60's Epiphone Riviera with Tremotone; installing Frequensator

[RAB]

Hi friendly LPF folk! :salude I have grown tired of the excess weight and "clunkyness" (is that a word? ha, ha) of the Tremotone Vibrato tailpiece that came stock on my '62 Epiphone Riviera. I just procured and am planning to install the correct early 1960's nickel Frequensator trapeze tailpiece. My question is, has anyone retrofitted a Frequensator before where the Tremotone was stock? I am hoping at least a couple of the mounting holes in the rim will line-up. :wah I am not going to drill any new holes in the wood of the guitar. I will drill holes in the tailpiece "hinge" to match-up to the existing holes. Of course the Tremotone has 4 screws holding it to the rim vs. the Frequensator's 2. And the Frequensator has a hole in it for the strap button whereas the Tremotone doesn't. Any comments appreciated! :dude:

 

[RAB]

Gulp! Somebody musta done this?! :bug Any comments appreciated!:applaude

 

[Mr. 355]

That's a good move because the distance from that trem on a Riviera/Sheraton is way to long and results in more string stretch behind the br. when bending as well as less tuning stablity. I have a Casino with one that's fine because that distance is much shorter with the short neck construction. The freq.hinge/base is very wide compared to most traps and probably won't line up at all with the trem holes but you should be able to drill it to match the existing holes. I wouldn't drill an original nickel one if you find one because the two frequensater sections and the base/hinge are three separate pieces held in place by string tension. I would get a repro and dull the base, drill and use the orig. sections preserving the orig hinge. BTW I've often thought of using two LONG sections on my frequensator guitars as I feel that the shorter the distance behind the br. the strings terminate, the better. You also may find that when you remove the trem that it will leave a ghost in the finish.

 

[zombiwoof]

I had to restring my brother's Epi Riviera with the Frequensator TP once, and all I can say is I would try some other type of TP. I recall that thing being a bitch to restring (I'm sure there are tricks, but I just wouldn't want to deal with one myself). Just my observation.

Al

 

[RAB]

Thanks guys...I did find an original early 1960's nickel Frequensator and am planning to drill into it...better drill into it than the wood of my near mint '62 Riviera, eh?

 

[valcotone]

hi RAB, as noted via PM, if that were my guitar, I'd go ahead and drill the wood to mount the Frequensator correctly. The mounting plate will cover the old Tremotone holes too, and vice versa if you want to go back. Good luck!

 

[Mr. 355]

Don't drill either... get a repro and drill that...don't devalue/mod either original piece, the results will be the same, and be reversable.

 

[RAB]

Thanks for the advice gents! I removed the Tremotone and happily two small holes were already there in the rim (in addition to the 4 holes for mounting the Tremotone) for mounting the hinge for the Frequensator! :applaude Will let y'all know how it all works out! :dude:

 

[valcotone]

Thanks for the advice gents! I removed the Tremotone and happily two small holes were already there in the rim (in addition to the 4 holes for mounting the Tremotone) for mounting the hinge for the Frequensator! :applaude Will let y'all know how it all works out! :dude:

Aha! :dude: So the same situation as mine then. I'm happy to hear that RAB, no drilling anywhere (in new or old parts) required. Looking forward to the final report!

 

[Litcrit]

Thanks for the advice gents! I removed the Tremotone and happily two small holes were already there in the rim (in addition to the 4 holes for mounting the Tremotone) for mounting the hinge for the Frequensator! :applaude Will let y'all know how it all works out! :dude:

How about posting some before/after pics?

 

[abalonevintage]

I have grown tired of the excess weight and "clunkyness" (is that a word? ha, ha) of the Tremotone Vibrato tailpiece

They ain't pretty, either. :rofl

 

[RAB]

How about posting some before/after pics?

Will do! eace2

 

[RAB]

They ain't pretty, either. :rofl

Very true...also I couldn't believe how heavy the Tremotone was when I took it off and felt the heft! The overall weight of the Riviera and balance is so much better now! :jim

 

[valcotone]

My Tremotone (not including the arm) was 9 ounces!

 

[RAB]

Hi boyz :dude: I installed the Frequensator and it fit like bone stock!:biggrin: AND the git sustains much better than with the Tremotone and weighs about 10 ounces less to boot! Me a happy camper:hippy Before and after photos coming tomorrow! :spabout

 

[RAB]

OK folks! Here is the "before" photo of my '62 Riviera (stickered mini-PAFs) with the Tremotone vibrato and then I will show you the guitar with a correct, vintage nickel Frequensator installed. Fortuitously (!) the guitar had the correct mounting holes already drilled in the rim when I removed the Tremotone. The guitar now plays, sounds (more sustain), weighs (about 10 oz less) and LOOKs better!

 

[RAB]

 

[RAB]

 

[valcotone]

Nice RAB, thanks for posting the photos.

Did you reverse the bridge pickup like that? How do you like it?

What does the headstock look like on yours? Is it the nice shorter one?

 

[RAB]

The bridge pickup came in that orientation with the polepieces facing towards the peghead, which is the short, early style...eace2 All three other early Epi thin line models I had (2 Rivs and one Sheraton) were the same way...the pole piece orientation might give you a bit more bass response which is nice to have given the mini's more trebly nature!