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Left handed bridge (Nashville) angle is wrong.

BobMello

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Jan 1, 2006
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818
Just purchased a pre-owned '98 Les Paul Standard Lefty. Took it in for a set-up and my tech noticed that the bridge was right handed even though the guitar is factory left handed. There were no modifications whatsoever. I did send Gibson Customer Service an email and I'm awaiting their response. I've scoured the internet to see if I could find a similarly angled bridge. Nothing. Nada. BTW---the first digit of the serial number is extremely difficult to read. It's either an "8" or a "9." So, that means that it COULD be an '88 although I doubt it. For what it's worth----according to the Guitar Dater Project website the production date of November 20, 1988 would've been a Sunday but 11/20/1998 would've been a Friday. They probably don't work on Sunday??? Anyway, anyone run across this situation? The guitar plays beautifully and the intonation is right on due to the nature of the Nashville bridge.
 

chasenblues

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Jul 3, 2006
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the Guitar Dater Project website .


Is not very reliable..

Other than the location/orientation of the bridge post's themselves on the guitar's body, I don't think there is a "Left/Right" difference on a standard ABR bridge itself...Unless maybe the bridge was from another guitar(a righty perhaps?) and the bridge saddle notches were incorrect for a lefty.

Could be wrong though..
 
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BobMello

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Jan 1, 2006
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Is not very reliable..

Other than the location/orientation of the bridge post's themselves on the guitar's body, I don't think there is a "Left/Right" difference on a standard ABR bridge itself...Unless maybe the bridge was from another guitar(a righty perhaps?) and the bridge saddle notches were incorrect for a lefty.

Could be wrong though..


The bridge posts are cut/angled for a right handed guitar. It's no biggie actually because the Nashville bridge is adjustable, of course, and the angle isn't that pronounced anyway.

As a righty you probably don't pay much attention to the angle of the bridge. We lefties, on the other hand, probably pay more attention to this issue. Although, in this case, I just happen to miss it and handed my money over for the guitar. Fortunately, everything about the guitar is awesome except for this issue.

Thank you for your comment.
 

BobMello

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Jan 1, 2006
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DSC05370_zpsp6oflnus.jpg.html



Here is a photo of my lefty LP Standard guitar. The bridge is angled downwards on the left. It should be angled upwards. Just trying to figure out why it's "wrong."
 
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chasenblues

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Last edited:

ajay taylor

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Jun 20, 2015
Messages
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Since those holes are spotted by the CNC Machine, someone forgot to program it for a left handed guitar. They may give You so new one, because it is obviously Operator Error.
Second thought, since You aren't the original owner You are probably out of luck. It would really suck if You were unable to reach the proper intonation with the bridge angled the wrong way. It is probably about a 1/4" reach to get it intonated properly.
 

Tom Wittrock

Les Paul Forum Co-Owner
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Aug 2, 2001
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42,567
Perhaps it was ordered this way, for a lefty who has the guitar strung right handed. I know several guys who do that. :ganz
 

toxpert

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Jul 2, 2005
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3,068
+1 it happens maybe more than you think.
One of the other guitar players in our band...plays left handed and upside down. The guitar is strung and intonated like a right-hand guitar.

A while back, he special ordered a Taylor guitar to these specs...
 

BobMello

Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2006
Messages
818
Since those holes are spotted by the CNC Machine, someone forgot to program it for a left handed guitar. They may give You so new one, because it is obviously Operator Error.
Second thought, since You aren't the original owner You are probably out of luck. It would really suck if You were unable to reach the proper intonation with the bridge angled the wrong way. It is probably about a 1/4" reach to get it intonated properly.

The guitar is definitely intonated properly for a lefty and plays superbly. No complaints. Just concerned with resale value if I should ever sell it, that's all. Otherwise, the guitar is sweet overall.
 
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