I have a Gretsch 2420 and wanted to upgrade the pinky tom bridge so I bought one of those aluminium Bigsby bridges, but it doesn't fit.
I just assumed it would be a straight drop in but I think the spacing on mine is 74mm with the bridge be 72mm. Anyway, it doesn't fit so I was thinking...
The posts on the rosewood bridge go through the base and sink into the body by a few mm to keep it in place.
I was thinking of either removing them - not sure how easy this will be as I assume they will be glued in - then plugging and redrilling new holes. Or cutting tops off and then just sinking some posts into the top of the bridge. Leaving the original bottom of the post to keep the bridge in place. Although I'm not sure this will work given the 2mm diff between the posts.
Another option is to get a new blank or rosewood bridge with the correct spacing but I don't know where I'd get one of those.
Any thoughts or options ive not mentioned?
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Removing the 72mm-spaced pinnings and redrilling for 74mm is just going to leave you with stupidly wide holes that fail to grip the threaded metal.
Yep my first instinct is just to get a new wooden bridge base with the right dimensions. That should be pretty cheap and obviously super easy to install. You can always pin that later with extra holes inbound of the old ones. Noone will ever see it in future
https://www.gluedtomusic.com/search/?q=Bigsby+bridge
Something like this - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/145219751884
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Definitely imperial so would slot straight onto a US Gretsch rosewood bridge base. Now, ideally that's what I need to hunt down and would hopefully be the cheapest option as I really want to try this aluminium bridge out.
Paging @GluedtoMusic - any ideas on the above? I didnt see a rosewood bridge on your website to accompany this:
https://www.gluedtomusic.com/search/?q=Bigsby+bridge
It's not really a proper roller bridge though. That feature is used for adjusting string spacing more than reducing friction, but it probably still helps a but as long as its not seized up.
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I would have been happy to use one of my old spare wooden bridge bases to do what I mentioned above and post it to you, but the only ones I have have the "jazz" type separate feet that wouldn't be suitable for your guitar.
Managed to remove one post and redrill it to fit the bridge. It's a bit of a temporary thing but I just wanted to hear the bridge. And it was worth it. It has made a big difference in tone and feel from the crappy abr1 bridge.
So, long term plan is to keep the bridge, fill it - will look into the stuff you mentioned above - and re-drill it for both holes. Oh, and then reinstate the Bigsby.
This is a great guitar, don't why I ever thought of selling it. A few tweaks makes a massive difference
They would remove the bridge pins, and bin them.
As you’re changing/modding the bridge base, through this might be useful info.
Okay so I need to know a) where said rosewood bridges were purchased so I can get one. And b) the Trump joke that got you booted - think you'll be safe on here