True or false: vintage Gibsons had aluminum stop bar tailpieces?

[Dave Locher]

I have now read that vintage Gibsons often had aluminum stop bars. I have also read that they actually had cast zinc ones. Did the typical 1950s Les Paul have an aluminum tailpiece? The zinc seems more likely, but there sure are a lot of "vintage style" aluminum tailpieces for sale! The oldest Gibson I've ever owned was a 1962 but it was a Special and had an aftermarket wraparound installed when I bought it.

Has anyone actually owned a vintage Gibson that had a lightweight aluminum stop bar? Or, does anyone know for certain whether any of the classic rock Gibsons (Clapton's SG, Beck's Les Paul, etc.) had an aluminum tailpiece?

 

[AlexR]

Re: True or false: vintage Gibsons had aluminum stop bar tailpieces?

Aluminium 100%.

This stayed until 1975, when the bridge/tailpiece went to nashville/zinc

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: True or false: vintage Gibsons had aluminum stop bar tailpieces?

True.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: True or false: vintage Gibsons had aluminum stop bar tailpieces?

Aluminium 100%.

This stayed until 1975, when the bridge/tailpiece went to nashville/zinc

Thank you! I was beginning to think it was all marketing hype. I guess that explains the zinc one on my '77.

 

[jmh151]

Re: True or false: vintage Gibsons had aluminum stop bar tailpieces?

They had Aluminum tailpieces, but the bridge was die cast with brass saddles

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: True or false: vintage Gibsons had aluminum stop bar tailpieces?

Most of the old ones I've seen had some sort of nylon saddles?

 

[AlexR]

Re: True or false: vintage Gibsons had aluminum stop bar tailpieces?

The 60's moved into nylon saddles.
And of course the original nuts were nylon too.

 

[dystrust]

Re: True or false: vintage Gibsons had aluminum stop bar tailpieces?

Most of the old ones I've seen had some sort of nylon saddles?

The 60's moved into nylon saddles.
And of course the original nuts were nylon too.

I can't remember 100%, but I'm pretty sure that the nylon saddles started in either '63 or '65. I don't personally care for them, but I don't think they made that huge of a difference. I remember playing a '67 ES-335 with the nylon saddles and it sounded great.