Talk to me about Tailpiece Bushings

[daan]

So on my LP (a 91 if that matters) I bought it without any hardware. I bought a Tone Pros bridge and tailpiece set for it. The bridge went in no problem, but the bushings for the tailpiece were way smaller than the holes in the top.

So I looked around and learned that SOME Gibsons have 1/2" studs. So I ordered a set of 1/2" ones. When they showed up, they didn't fit the holes in my guitar-they were just too big enough (The hole was 12.4mm, the bushing was 13...something) Well,they didn't push in like the bridge ones did. I just spent the last couple hours sanding the holes so the bushings went in (with some "encouragement" from a rubber mallet)
aaaaand...


They stick out the top now. I pulled one back out to measure the length (that I probably should have done in the first place)-they're 1/2X1-1/4". The other ones I got were just under 1" (.990) I also just tried searching about this, and found a lot of "WTH size are these" threads, and ads for bushings without sizes listed. Ugh.
So unless I want these sticking out the top like this, I gotta drill the holes in the body 1/4" deeper, don't I? Ugh this is frustrating.

 

[deeaa]

Re: Talk to me about Tailpiece Bushings

So on my LP (a 91 if that matters) I bought it without any hardware. I bought a Tone Pros bridge and tailpiece set for it. The bridge went in no problem, but the bushings for the tailpiece were way smaller than the holes in the top.

So I looked around and learned that SOME Gibsons have 1/2" studs. So I ordered a set of 1/2" ones. When they showed up, they didn't fit the holes in my guitar-they were just too big enough (The hole was 12.4mm, the bushing was 13...something) Well,they didn't push in like the bridge ones did. I just spent the last couple hours sanding the holes so the bushings went in (with some "encouragement" from a rubber mallet)
aaaaand...


They stick out the top now. I pulled one back out to measure the length (that I probably should have done in the first place)-they're 1/2X1-1/4". The other ones I got were just under 1" (.990) I also just tried searching about this, and found a lot of "WTH size are these" threads, and ads for bushings without sizes listed. Ugh.
So unless I want these sticking out the top like this, I gotta drill the holes in the body 1/4" deeper, don't I? Ugh this is frustrating.

Yes they come in several sized both lenght and tthickness drill away!

Just make sure there is wood to drill, if the guitar is extra thin you might have to saw the bushings shorter instead. Measure several times and use good tape on the drill bit to to mark the absolute deepest you will drill so you won't accidentally push too deep. Best if you can use a stand drill with limitable range.

Should not be a problem but take care. It is not entirely impossible to have a powerful hand drill and a very aggressively biting drill bit and surprisingly soft spot in the wood there and whoom you drilled all the way thru...

But take care and it's no biggie.

Sent from my ASUS_Z00AD using Tapatalk

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Talk to me about Tailpiece Bushings

Sanding the holes?!!!

Are you kidding me?!

Do you hate your guitar? Are you trying to destroy it so you can enjoy repairing and then refinishing it?

Don't be such a cheap ass, just go to the hardware store and buy the proper drill bit size so you can do the job right.

And YES, measure first.

 

[daan]

Re: Talk to me about Tailpiece Bushings

I sanded it because I knew I wouldn't go thru the back, or completely F-up the holes, like I would have with a hand drill. I don't have a drill press of my own, and I didn't want to wait the 2-3 weeks until I could get at the one at my in-law's place.
And I found a set of the proper length ones, once those get in, I'll press 'em in. Ugh.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Talk to me about Tailpiece Bushings

Measure twice, cut once.

All gibsons have 1/2" bushings. Those were metric ones.

You'll either learn to do the measurements you should have done before ordering (both times).
Or you'll learn its better to leave these sort of things to the 'pros'.

 

[daan]

Re: Talk to me about Tailpiece Bushings

Which is why I USUALLY "work" on (screw up) cheap guitars... This is my first nice name-brand guitar, and I thought the parts would be more standard sized than the imported-from-wherever's cheapest guitars that I'm used to.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Talk to me about Tailpiece Bushings

Standardizing a part whose function hasn't changed in sixty years would be much too sensible, not to mention counterproductive. Making things convenient for the players is not a consideration, the goal is more parts & more profit. Perhaps that's overly cynical; to give them the benefit of the doubt it's possible that they just buy whichever bushings are cheapest from year to year.