Pigtail Studs & Bushings!! Yeah buddy!! Great stuff!

[TM1]

I got my my studs yesterday from Steve @ Pigtail Music. I installed them in my Historic R-0. I know that the Historics studs and bushings are not as long as fifties or early sixties studs and bushings. I have some very old Gibson studs and bushings and the Pigtails are exactly like the old Gibson one's. I just drilled out the hole a 1/16" deeper. I'm sure Gibson doesn't think that many of us will notice the difference in length between vintage studs/bushings and Historic's and that's how they get away with the wrong version. I can tell you that the tonality on Steve's studs and bushings is worth every friggin' cent. I think they sound better than the old one's!! My R-0 just sings now with Steve's/Pigtail hardware!! The increase in tonal depth & sustain is pretty remarkable.
Thanks Steve!!
I also got one of Steve's Intonatable Wraparound tailpiece's and put it on my `62 Melody Maker. It really increased the depth and sustain. The guitar already had alot of sustain and I had a TonePro's version of this tailpiece that I found out from Steve that he designed it for TonePro's. Steve's version isn't as tall as the "low profile" version from TonePro's which makes for some nice extra room on adjusting height. Flexible! What's nice is the depth it added to the tone. This old Melody Maker really has some bottom end now and the guitar literally vibrates in your hands. It turned a really nice guitar into a really great guitar!! I have Jim Wagner's Darkburst pickups on this Melody Maker and tonally now the guitar is very close to a Les Paul in depth/bottom and sustain.
BTW, for you guys going to drill out the holes, use a razor knife(like a small Exacto) to score the lacquer around the bushings. Otherwise you might chip off some of the finish around the holes when you pull the bushings.











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[Mitchell]

...... :!

 

[highpressur]

So does he make the tail piece and studs to fit a classic? Thanks

 

[TM1]

They'll work in a classic, Standard or Historic!

 

[highpressur]

cool, thanks

 

[highpressur]

cool, thanks

 

[papersoul]

I installed the Aluminum tail but do the locked studs really add much tonally? I hear different opinions...Steve makes awesome stuff so I would bet it does.

 

[holygrail]

TM1, did you use the bushings too ?

 

[Gold Tone]

I installed the Aluminum tail but do the locked studs really add much tonally? I hear different opinions...Steve makes awesome stuff so I would bet it does.

These aren't locked like Tone Pros (another great product BTW). These are vintage accurate to the 10,000 of an inch. So the tailpiece fits snuggly with no sloppiness like the Gibson set up is now. Using steel like the origionals rather than brass as Gibson (and I beleive ALL other makers do today) does mean MUCH better string energy transfer to the body.

 

[highpressur]

I thought the stock tailpieces were pot metal?

 

[Gold Tone]

I thought the stock tailpieces were pot metal?

They'd never hold up to the force from the stings pulling on them.

 

[burst59]

I ordered mine last night.Can't wait to get them. :dude

 

[Gold Tone]

I think something everyone should keep in mind is that though it is really nice to have these made of steel like the origionals were....the other REALLY nice thing as that these are made to such a tight tolerance. These studs sit TIGHT in their spot with NO wiggle and sloppiness. Also the tailpiece sits alot more snugly and this means far better contact than anything else out there including Gibson and Tone Pros.

 

[papersoul]

These aren't locked like Tone Pros (another great product BTW). These are vintage accurate to the 10,000 of an inch. So the tailpiece fits snuggly with no sloppiness like the Gibson set up is now. Using steel like the origionals rather than brass as Gibson (and I beleive ALL other makers do today) does mean MUCH better string energy transfer to the body.

Okay, so now I am confused. I have the Pigtail tailpiece but the stock Gibson studs. Are they studs or bushings? Anyway, are the ones from Pigtail thicker so there is no sloppiness?

Also, I thought Gibson uses zinc for all the parts?

Finally......my friend who is a tech plays an '89 totally stock LP that sounds amazing. Is his the same as my 2003 Standard as far as the bridge and tail go?

Thanks!

 

[holygrail]

Also, I thought Gibson uses zinc for all the parts?

I found that a magnet sticks to the top by the bushings
So they have to be STEEL !

 

[Gold Tone]

I found that a magnet sticks to the top by the bushings
So they have to be STEEL !

A magnet will also stick to brass. I scraped away a little of the plating on my 2003 R9 bushing.....it is gold colored.....brass.

Papersoul:
Gibson uses zinc for the USA model standard tailpieces, Historics get aluminum. both Historic and USA guitars have brass studs and bushings. It is a lot more difficult to work with steel than brass so Gibson uses brass.

50's studs and bushings were steel. Today they are both brass.

 

[Cream Fan]

I assume these studs will fit into the stock Gibson bushings without any wiggle, as well, depth notwithstanding? Or is it really necessary to use Pigtail's studs? I really hate the idea of changing out the bushings for fear of not getting as tight a fit as the stock bushings have now.

In any event, I've got my stock studs adjusted to just about where the Pigtail studs would be with them screwed all the way down. And by the way, judging from that side-to-side comparison of the Gibson and Pigtail studs, it looks to me as if the difference in length is more like 1/8th of an inch, not 1/16th.

 

[holygrail]

A magnet will also stick to brass. I scraped away a little of the plating on my 2003 R9 bushing.....it is gold colored.....brass.

Gold Tone- I'll respectfully have to disagree .
Brass is an alloy consisting of the copper and zinc .
There is no ferris metal in it. Magnets will only stick to ferris metals .

What you may be seeing when you scarped away the nickel is the copper
plating that was used under it.

Just put a magnet on one of your gibson studs. You'll see !

 

[Gold Tone]

Gold Tone- I'll respectfully have to disagree .
Brass is an alloy consisting of the copper and zinc .
There is no ferris metal in it. Magnets will only stick to ferris metals .

That is exactly what I remeber from 1st year pysics at university. But there is enough "lining up" of atoms in brass to provide a magnetic polarity for the magnet to "stick" to. Ferrous metals are STRONGLY attracted to magnets because the outer electron shell of the iron atoms are "displayed" in a way that the charges are easily "lined up" and this creates a strong attraction to magnets.

I just grabbed a penny and a fridge magnet.....they happily stuck together. EVRYONES got a fridge magnet and a penny....try it yourself. I don't know how much iron there is in a penny (I think none) but it stuck.

I often check parts for brass vs JUNK zinc compostition.....usually saddles. Fender is a big ofender with there modern saddles....zinc crap. Brass saddles are attracted to magnets.

But even if you don't use a magnet to check if it is steel...........scraping the plating reveals brass. I don't know what better way to show that they are brass then actually showing that they are brass. Scrape a tiny bit of plating from one of your bushings....you'll clearly see brass.....definitely NOT copper.

lastly.....why would Gibson use brass for their studs and steel for bushings? If they aren't going to the trouble to make the studs from steel because its more difficult and costly....why would they change their approach for the bushings which are far less important structuraly and tonaly?

 

[holygrail]

Gold Tone
We'll have to agree to disagree .

My magnet and the bushings have a strong attraction

I hope you're wrong