Metric bushings with a 13mm diameter?

[GilmourD]

So I got myself a kit off the 'Bay recently and before I build it I'm upgrading a few of the bits and pieces, such as the bridge and tailpiece.

Now, I have a TonePros bridge and tailpiece that's a drop-in for your regular import setup, including the 11mm bushings.

However, it seems that this body is drilled for 13mm bushings bridge and tailpiece.

The three options I've come up with:

1. Find 13mm bushings threaded for the metric studs
2. Use the bushings that came with the kit's cheap-o bridge, which thread perfectly with the TonePros set's studs
3. Dowel the body and redrill the holes

#1 would be the hybrid easy/ideal solution, not requiring any wood work but having a quality bushing. #2 would be just easy. I'm trying to avoid #3 since I want to do a transparent finish but it is a workable solution.


Any help finding 13mm bushings drilled for metric studs?

 

[greendy123]

Re: Metric bushings with a 13mm diameter?

Is the guitar Epiphone or some of asian import? On my Epiphone it had that where weird 13mm bushings where tonepro/gotoh bushings at 11mm would just drop into the hole. During my research I did not find any 13mm bushings and think it may be just a special Epiphone sizing. I suggest getting some quality US threaded bushings(Faber, RSworks) and do step 3 or try my method. What I did was buy some needle files slowly working the hole larger(note on a 11mm bushing hole) and checking often to check the bushing fit. Once the bushing fit into the hole, I filed just a bit more enough that light taps on tailpiece studs screwed into the bushings pushed them in.

I'm sure buying a dremel and using a sand bit on the end would have worked better, but I was cheap. About $5 at harbor freight and a few hours of work was worth it for me. On my epiphone guitar which is 13mm(same size as yours), US bushings are something like 1-3mm bigger and requires less work than I did. I still regret getting the work done at a local guitar shop, getting quoted for $20 - $30 max, but ending up getting charged $50. I really should have done it myself.

 

[Mrkensei]

Re: Metric bushings with a 13mm diameter?

Probably better Nd cheaper to get a local machine shop to make a set up in 13mm. Stainless knurled bushings with M8 cebtres and you're done. Probably only cost you a coupke of beere.

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Metric bushings with a 13mm diameter?

Probably better Nd cheaper to get a local machine shop to make a set up in 13mm. Stainless knurled bushings with M8 cebtres and you're done. Probably only cost you a coupke of beere.

That's what I was thinking, actually. Probably wouldn't hurt to get a quote from a machine shop. Just gotta find one around me.

Other than that, somebody well in the know told me the supplied bushings should work just fine. I'm still going to check out getting some machined.