GATSBY Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 Hello too everyone, This is a great and informative site. Currently I am luckily awaiting a J-160e 1962 reissue from Fullers vintage. reading up here, I am now on a quest to find a ceramic saddle for the adjustable bridge. I found some one selling one, But Im not sure if it's the right one. he says its out of an old J-45. here's the question, are all those vintage saddles the same size? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry K Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 Why would you need one for a new guitar? The bridge is adjustable, so no need to sand down the saddle. Welcome to the forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GATSBY Posted June 3, 2009 Author Share Posted June 3, 2009 Authenticity! back in the day they used ceramic, giving the Beatles records those anvily overtones. the reissue's are being shipped with corian saddles which deaden the sound somewhat. I know, Im a Nut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry K Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 OK. I would call up Fullers and ask them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilliangirl Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 Greetings Gatsby and welcome to the forum. I had no idea about the ceramic saddles? Very interesting. Were they really ceramic (the material) or was that a catch-phrase for them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taylor Player Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 Just wanted to throw out a big welcome to the group. Sorry, I know nothing about the answer to your question, but I bet once forum member and moderator KSDaddy see's this, he may have an answer or at least point you in a good direction. Do you have any photos you could post of your J-160? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWilson Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 Welcome to the Forum. I'd stay away from ceramic saddles. A friend of mine was a Space Cowboy in the early 70's and he had a ceramic saddle. He kept sliding off his horse at a full gallop. Buyer beware!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 As I understand it from some knowlegeable folks on the beatgearcavern (look for tedkuls's extensive analysis of the adjustable bridge mechanism), the vintage ceramic saddles are a direct replacement for the Tusq (not corrian) saddle on your new, vintage spec J160E. The NUT may be corrian (as it is on my McCartney Texans with the adjustable bridge, and my Peace J160E), but the modern-day repro saddles are Tusq on all models that use them, as far as I know. As mentioned, I have a Peace model (and a J160E Standard), and think you will be very happy with your Fuller's reissue. If it's like my Peace (and I see no reason why it wouldn't be, except for the sunburst finish), then you will be VERY happy with the Beatle tone. You'll get plenty of that anvil sound, as much of it is a result of how much the ladder braced, laminated top antenuates the natural volume and bass tone of the guitar, revealing the famous Gibson thunk. Gibson L5 strings workl fabulously with the ladder braced, vintage-spec J160Es. Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GATSBY Posted June 4, 2009 Author Share Posted June 4, 2009 Thanks for all the responses. Hey Red333 have you tried the Pyramid flat wound strings ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 Thanks for all the responses. Hey Red333 have you tried the Pyramid flat wound strings ? I have not, though LOTS of folks over at the BeatGear Cavern recommend them (the J160E is the most discussed guitar over there, and how to achieve THAT tone, as they like to say). I've liked the sound I get with the Gibson L5s, so I've stuck with them. Plus I have a few packs handy, as I have couple of jazz boxes. Others like the Thomastik Enfield flats. They are very good strings. I haven't tried them on the J160E Peace, but have used them on my Elitist Byrdland. They sound and feel great. By the way, if you go the BeatGear Cavern, look in the expert texpert section for the thread about adjustable bridges. If you can't find it on your own there, there's also a link to it in the thread about the differences between the Japanese-made and USA-made McCartney Texans. The author of the thread, tedkul, pulled apart some adjustable bridge mechanisms, measured, weighed, and compared vintage and new hardware and saddles, etc. It's very interesting. Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GATSBY Posted June 4, 2009 Author Share Posted June 4, 2009 Wow, Great, Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rar Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 Thanks for all the responses. Hey Red333 have you tried the Pyramid flat wound strings ? Pyramid just recently introduced a "new" flat-wound string with a round core, manufactured to the same specs as their Beatle-era flats. They're expensive -- around $25 a set street price (at, e.g., JustStrings) -- but the Beatlemaniacs on BGC who have tried them swear by them. So, if you subscribe to the theory that the Beatles used Pyramids, you might want to give them a try. -- Bob R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedkul Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 Gatsby, Congrats on your new guitar. It takes a special ear to really appreciate the "qualities" of the '62 J-160E. We've discussed the size of the saddle topic here before: http://forums.gibson.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=6927 If you don't have much experience with the Gibson adj. saddle, I recommend taking it to a luthier who does for the saddle exchange. If you're intent on trying it yourself, you've got to balance both bolts when raising and lowering...make sure the bolts are loose enough (or completely out) when you exchange the saddles. Otherwise you'll chip the ceramic one. Good luck, Ted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GATSBY Posted June 4, 2009 Author Share Posted June 4, 2009 Much thanks to tedkul and rar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 Gatsby' date=' If you don't have much experience with the Gibson adj. saddle, I recommend taking it to a luthier who does for the saddle exchange. If you're intent on trying it yourself, you've got to balance both bolts when raising and lowering...make sure the bolts are loose enough (or completely out) when you exchange the saddles. Otherwise you'll chip the ceramic one. Good luck, Ted[/quote'] Good to see you here! Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GATSBY Posted June 5, 2009 Author Share Posted June 5, 2009 I just picked this up for $64.00 Hee, hee :-/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 Good for you! Please let us know how it sounds before and after you install it. Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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