Hi folks, I'm Sean and I'm based in the UK. I came across the site while trying to fit a Les Trem to a 1991 Les Paul Studio Lite.
The problem I've got is that the studs supplied with the Trem unit won't fit the guitar's bushes.
As this photo shows, the guitar's bushes are approx 5/16 of an inch in diameter. They are recessed into the body and don't have a collar around the top. Instead, the studs (approx 1.5 inches top to tail) have a built in collar.
Meanwhile, the studs supplied with the Les Trem are around 6/8 of an inch in length. They appear similar in diameter to the guitar studs (hard to measure precisely) and are supplied in both imperial and metric threads but neither will turn in the bushes.
Before taking things any further, I wanted to ask you guys for some advice:
1. Are the bushes and studs used in the 91 very unusual?
2. Is it possible to buy studs that are the correct gauge and length but don't have built in collars?
3. Failing that, is it easy/ cheap to change the bushes without damaging the guitar in any way? I want any changes made to be entirely reversible.
The guitar is identical to the one shown in this fantastic review apart from the hardware being black.
The Les Trem is a slot in tremolo made by Duessenberg although mine is a black edition licenced by its parent company Goldo. Fitting instructions are in this video.
If I can make it work, it's going to look fantastic and deliver a great Brian May sound as it already has the out of phase mod. I could fit it by putting a couple of washers on top of the bushes and using the built in collar on the original studs to clamp down on the Trem, but I just want to make it work as it should.
Thanks for any help you can offer.
Sean
The problem I've got is that the studs supplied with the Trem unit won't fit the guitar's bushes.
As this photo shows, the guitar's bushes are approx 5/16 of an inch in diameter. They are recessed into the body and don't have a collar around the top. Instead, the studs (approx 1.5 inches top to tail) have a built in collar.
Meanwhile, the studs supplied with the Les Trem are around 6/8 of an inch in length. They appear similar in diameter to the guitar studs (hard to measure precisely) and are supplied in both imperial and metric threads but neither will turn in the bushes.
Before taking things any further, I wanted to ask you guys for some advice:
1. Are the bushes and studs used in the 91 very unusual?
2. Is it possible to buy studs that are the correct gauge and length but don't have built in collars?
3. Failing that, is it easy/ cheap to change the bushes without damaging the guitar in any way? I want any changes made to be entirely reversible.
The guitar is identical to the one shown in this fantastic review apart from the hardware being black.
The Les Trem is a slot in tremolo made by Duessenberg although mine is a black edition licenced by its parent company Goldo. Fitting instructions are in this video.
If I can make it work, it's going to look fantastic and deliver a great Brian May sound as it already has the out of phase mod. I could fit it by putting a couple of washers on top of the bushes and using the built in collar on the original studs to clamp down on the Trem, but I just want to make it work as it should.
Thanks for any help you can offer.
Sean