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Fitting Les Trem to 1991 Studio Lite / tailpiece bolt gauge

seanmcd

New member
Joined
Apr 25, 2021
Messages
2
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
 

Big Al

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,537
They always worked on mine. The two sets are for different thread patterns. USA thread or metric. Are you sure that both sets you were supplied are not metric? USA stud bushing threads are consistent. One set should fit. I'd contact your supplier.
 

seanmcd

New member
Joined
Apr 25, 2021
Messages
2
Thanks Big Al, that's a good thought but if you look at this picture you'll see that they have supplied two different threads, both of which are different to the guitar studs. The latter have a slightly flatter slope. I'm looking at these studs as possible replacements but any other advice/ suggestions from you or other readers is very welcome.
 
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