Custom made bridge base or straight from StewMac?

[cs1botasky]

Hello everyone,

I thought an ABR-1 TOM bridge would fit on all Gibson vintage guitars from 50s to 60s (including archtops) and purchased an ABM ABR-1 TOM Bridge to install on my 59 ES-175, unfortunately, it doesn't fit the original Brazilian Rosewood bridge base on my ES-175...

May I ask any recommendations to custom made a replicate wooden bridge base in same material?

Or shall I not care about the Brazilian Rosewood and just order an Indian Rosewood Bridge Base from StewMac?

Thanks so much in advance for any help provides!

Phil

[neatomic]

i'd think the european tom bridge you bought is metric..the usa mades that gibson use are imperial

the source difference in rosewood should make little difference for the base...more importantly is how well it conforms to the archtop...

luck

cheers

[Jimmy blue note]

I've never noticed, heard, felt nor believed there to be a difference in Rosewood material for bridge bases and I've built archtops for over 30 years. But no matter what you get, you'll need to have it chalk fit by a luthier. A good solid perfect fit between a bridge base and an arch top will make all the difference. IMHO

[skykomishone]

If I needed anything like that, I'd contact Matt Cushman. He's awesome. And a member of our forum.

[Cunamara]

It sounds like the new TOM bridge top doesn't fit to the old bridge base. Is it a matter of the adjustment posts and the holes in the bridge top not matching? Or is it a matter of the bridge base not matching the curve of the archtop?

I have had a few bridge tops that I needed to use a rat tail file to elongate the holes in the bridge top to match the posts.

[v281]

If I needed anything like that, I'd contact Matt Cushman. He's awesome. And a member of our forum.

I sent him a private message October 26th inquiring about having a custom ebony bridge saddle made for my L5CES and never heard back. Seem to recall trying to contact him also directly through his website, Cushman Guitars, but can't be sure so I sent him a message through that just now. Went and looked at his profile page, https://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/members/75244.html, and it looks like he hasn't signed onto this forum since October 25th.

Hope he's OK and just exceedingly busy building new guitars..

[cs1botasky]

Thanks so much for everyone's input!

I think the post spacing of the bridge space is simply too wide for the TOM, my repairman told me if he forces the TOM onto the bridge base, the bridge base will bend a little bit and he doesn't recommend me to install the TOM.

I was thinking to order a TOM archtop bridge straight from StewMac but after I read more posts on the forum, seems different forum members held different opinions in terms the archtop bridge qualities...

If no quality bridge base replacement can be found I am thinking to custom order one, I opted for Brazilian Rosewood for the sake of the original look, however, if there's any other wood materials which look as dark (but not dark as ebony), I will also consider too.

Thanks for mentioning the importance on the fit of the base to the top of the guitar is very important but unfortunately, I don't think there is anyone specialised in servicing archtop guitars in where I live...

I just wish if I custom order one and perhaps, due to the popularity of ES-175, the luthier can shape it to fit the top of my ES-175 without have to actually seeing the guitar itself, but I can only wish...

Other than Matt Cushman, may I ask if there's any other recommendations for custom made a bridge base?

[neatomic]

posted this in a december thread-

matt cushman hasn't been around for a bit..and he stopped all his luthiery work...i hope all is well with him..he's sorely missed..a great source of info and a fine craftsman

cheers

ps- as i writ ^ the new bridges post spacing is for metric..won't fit on usa made base..which is imperial sized

get a usa sized bridge/tom and you can use the base you have on the guitar already

[Cunamara]

If the difference between the post spacing and the holes in the bridge top is a millimeter or so, I would just take a small round or rattail metal file and elongate the holes a little bit until they fit. That's what I've done on one of my guitars; it works fine. Takes about 15 minutes, less if the bridge top is aluminum.

Otherwise, measure the post spacing on center and order a bridge top with the same dimension.

[Cunamara]

posted this in a december thread-

matt cushman hasn't been around for a bit..and he stopped all his luthiery work...i hope all is well with him..he's sorely missed..a great source of info and a fine craftsman

Really sorry to hear that. I have one of Matt's archtop guitars and he has done some other work for me including making me a new tailpiece, a new pickguard for a GB 10, bridge tops out of different woods, a custom compensated wood bridge top, etc. I've always found him to be an excellent guy to do business with and wish all the best for him.

[Jabberwocky]

It does not appear that you reside in the USA. Masaki-san of Tokyo, Japan is a Gibson archtop guitar aficionado and has wooden compensated saddles of Madagascar Rosewood for sale. You could ask him about the bridge post spacing for your 50s-60s vintage L5 and order a saddle from him. ????????????????????????????????????? | WALKiN' .

ブリッジ類/Bridge | WALKiN'

Knowing Masaki-san, he is very detail orientated and fanatical about fit and finish. He communicates very well in English. He accepts payment by Transferwise.

????????????????????????????????? | WALKiN'

[stevus]

It does not appear that you reside in the USA. Masaki-san of Tokyo, Japan is a Gibson archtop guitar aficionado and has wooden compensated saddles of Madagascar Rosewood for sale. You could ask him about the bridge post spacing for your 50s-60s vintage L5 and order a saddle from him. ????????????????????????????????????? | WALKiN' .

?????/Bridge | WALKiN'

Knowing Masaki-san, he is very detail orientated and fanatical about fit and finish. He communicates very well in English. He accepts payment by Transferwise.

????????????????????????????????? | WALKiN'

Fully agree. Masaki is the one to contact about this. Highly recommended.

[cs1botasky]

Thanks everyone again for all the inputs and sorry for the late follow up. You guys are super helpful, really appreciate all the help!

I guess my order for a custom made bridge base is too small a project for other luthiers but I finally able to find someone to make the bridge base for me.

Masaki at Walkin is a breeze to work with, superbly professional and informative, never out of patience to give professional advice and super friendly as well.

The Tune-O-Matic bridges I have tried to fit on the wooden bridge base so far...
1) ABM 2500n-RE ABR-1
- 6/32 Type Screws, 73mm Post Spacing
- Doesn't fit

2) StewMac Original ABR-1
- 6/32 Type Screws, 73mm Post Spacing
- Doesn't fit

3) StewMac Slotted ABR-1
- M4 Type Screws, 73mm Post Spacing
- It fits, not a perfect fit but it sits snugly on the thumbwheels and allowed for adjustment.

4) The TOM on the StewMac Archtop TOM Bridge
- M4 Type Screws, 73mm Post Spacing
- According to the spec on StewMac, the dimension should be the same as their Slotted ABR-1, but strangely the TOM doesn't fit to the ES-175 original bridge base (which comes with the wooden bridge).

I would suggest anyone who would like to find an ABR-1 to swap out their 50s Gibson ES-175 original wooden bridge (on the original wooden bridge base), you should custom order a bridge base which would fit your choice of ABR-1.

It's very difficult to find a luthier willing to work on such a small project, even they might accept such order, almost all luthier only offer single feet full contact bridge base instead of the 2 feet style Gibson offers.

Although all the replacement archtop bridges shown on Masaki's online shop (walkin.jp) only come with single feet bridge base, but don't be afraid to ask him to custom made one for you.

The price of the bridge is very fair, even ordering one made of Brazilian Rosewood (supposedly, Brazilian Rosewood should be the wood used on the archtop bridge and bridge base of 50s Gibson archtop, my original bridge has a kind of sweet scene like other Brazilian Rosewoods) is available to be ordered from him. And don't worry, he communicates with his international customers in perfect English and he is very patient to explain everything through ordering.

I hope the information above would help!