Attn: Guitar Builders

[MikeS]

Hey guys, a few questions regarding the bridge for my Warmoth SG project…

1) The finish on my LP is laid over the studs for the TOM/ST. Is it customary to press the studs into the body before doing paint?

2) Pressing studs into the body… what’s the best method? I’ve considered making a jig for the drill press and using the drill press to press the studs in the body, given that I control the force behind pressing them in. Is there a tool or a better method for doing this?

3) The ground on TOM/ST bridges goes to a stud. The hole that Warmoth drilled for the ground falls in the middle of the hole. How on earth do I solder that, given that there’s no way to solder the wire to the stud once the stud is in the body and there’s also no way to solder it to the side of the stud and then press the stud in (there’s be no room for the solder to fit in the hole with the stud).

4) How tight are the studs supposed to fit? Not that I don’t trust Warmoth’s work, it’s just that it looks like it’ll take a great deal of force to get these things in. I might assume that the humidity in Cincinnati could have swelled the wood a bit.

Thanks in advance for any and all help.

Mike

 

[theodie]

Re: Attn: Guitar Builders

I am in the middle of re-finishing my Gibson V and I had to pull the studs out and here is how I did it. I found bolts with the same threads as the studs, cut the head off of the bolts, then screwed the bolts about half way into the stud, lowered my drill press and chucked the bolt into it, Then I clamped the guitar to the table of the press and pulled up with the drill press. Presto!!! It pulled the studs out perfectly. I am considering reintalling them with the same kind of method but, I might use my arbor press instead.
About the ground wire, The one on my V is not soldered to the stud. It goes into the hole then it goes downward to the bottom then the stud will make contact with it when it is pressed in. The ground wire dosent look like standard stranded wire, it is solid and stiffer than stranded wire.

 

[MikeS]

Re: Attn: Guitar Builders

Thanks Theodie

Anyone else have input?