Bridge upgrades for a junior special?

suspiciousminds

Anybody know if there are any bridge upgrades on the market for Gibson  les Paul specials.
I could do with one that allows a little more adjustment on the saddles to fine tune the low E string on mine.

SteveRobinson

What bridge is on it now - a Nashville? Are you using particularly heavy strings?

It's possible to flip the saddle backwards to give a bit more scope but depending on the exact bridge it's not particularly easy, with circlips and the like. 

If the bridge is a Schaller with the bowtie style wire retainers it's not too bad:
https://www.manchesterguitartech.co.uk/2013/11/14/replacing-the-saddles-in-a-nashville-bridge/

suspiciousminds

It’s the Nashville type of bridge with 9’s
Low E seems to sound a bit dull as well tbh, are the saddles prone to wear?

ICBM

suspiciousminds said:

It’s the Nashville type of bridge with 9’s
Low E seems to sound a bit dull as well tbh, are the saddles prone to wear?

To be honest I would try either 10s, or if you like the flexibility on the top strings, 9-46s. Heavier wound strings usually intonate shorter than lighter ones if anything, and you'll get a more 'solid' sound.

SteveRobinson

I'm surprised it won't intonate though.

suspiciousminds

Thx chaps,
ive got a set of nanoweb 10’s I might put on, also gonna get the bridge off to have a look.Can anyone recommend a better replacement bridge than the original?

Funkfingers

I have a mid-Noughties LP Junior Special. (Essentially, a Special sans fingerboard binding and separate ToM bridge and stopbar tailpiece rather than a wraparound.) The only thing “wrong“ with my stock bridge is the fact that it is finished in chrome rather than nickel.

suspiciousminds said:

are the saddles prone to wear?

Yes, in the sense that it is necessary to start a string guiding notch in each of the blank saddles. 

If the notch is not well cut and rounded, the wraps around a wound string could snag on any rough edges. 

If the notches in the OP saddles were made for, say, 010-048 gauge strings, the poor wee 042 will be lolling about in an outsized groove. 

For the benefit of the repairers, my LPJS sports 010-046 strings. The break point of the D saddle is midway along the available adjustment range.

suspiciousminds said:

gonna get the bridge off to have a look.

Please take and post photographs of your bridge and strings in their current state. This may help to explain the issue. It could save you the cost of unnecessary replacement parts.

suspiciousminds

Thanks funkfingers,
I’ll have a closer look n get some pics