Jump to content
Gibson Brands Forums

roller bridge for a Sheraton? (SOLVED FOR REAL THIS TIME)


ross g

Recommended Posts

I've got one in gold for the tail and bridge left..

I'm gonna see if there are more available today or tomorrow.

 

the schaller roller bridge fit my epi lp studio just right. had to work with the dowels though. whew!

and works just fine, too.

but the korean sheris.. they need a specific bridge which is no longer in production.

 

TWANG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

i got the Sheraton back a couple weeks ago...the bridge i got from Allparts, a Gotoh ( http://www.allparts.com/store/gold-roller-tunematic,Product.asp ) fit into the old bushing and is held on by string tension, so no drilling/doweling was needed...i just paid for a new setup...

 

rollersn3.jpg

 

 

it stays in tune a lot better, but i think new tuners is the next step...if anyone has a suggestion for quality gold replacements i'd appreciate it...

 

overall i'm happy with the Bigsby, but it seems to rob some of the sustain tbh... keep that in mind if you're thinking of doing it to your guit...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

refresh me.. that's a korean sheri.. had the bigger style bridge when stock?

 

Nice looking bridge!

 

I used gold grovers.. with the stepped buttons, Imperials.

Not the Imperials with the Kluson style back.. so no drilling new screw holes..

work fantastic, tunes great, and really compliments the sheri headstock.

 

I didn't notice any sustain loss with the bigs on my epi lp.... but I hear that complaint a lot, so.. I guess it varies.

 

I'm still debating whether to get a bigs for the sheri.. probably will. *L*

 

Are you going to cover the old tail bushing holes?

I made an abalone dot... am trying to find some mop so I can try triangle in dot to match the neck inlays.

But a set of dots made of guard material or abalone is probably what I'll settle for.

Some use a long plate from one bushing to the other.. engraved with name or custom or something like that, too.

 

TWANG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

yeah, it's a '99 Korean/Samick...my guit tech guy suggested a Schaller, would have been a lot more work and i didn't like the looks...the Gotoh was less expensive and matched the Sheraton much better imo...

 

i don't think i'll do anything with the holes, doesn't really bother me...

 

as far as the sustain: i may try removing the felt tabs that are between the Bigsby and the guit body, not sure if it will help...the playing is a little spongy, took some getting used to...i may go to .11s (now using :10s)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice looking bridge. Glad it worked out for you.

 

 

 

The rotomatics should drop right in. You might want to consider the locking Grovers.

 

thanks' date=' i like the sound of this:

You'll need fewer string wraps, change strings faster, and your tremolo will have more accurate return-to-pitch.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I love the locking grovers.. on strats and on my lp with bigs..

but I love em without a whammy, too.. fast easy string changes.

 

NOTE

grover just switched to a model with a knob on the back.. the old ones just had a slightly taller string post.. so now the string post is regular height.. and you have a knob on the back.

the instructions with them are simple.. none.

I don't know if they work like sperzels.. I assume they do.

 

but.. they told me.. good old wd.. ha!.. they were black chrome, and they aren't.

they are painted black. or at least appear to be, to me.

I was a bit disappointed in that. but they do look good still..

 

I don't know if the old style are shipping or the new.. the price went up..I'll have to call and check this out..

 

It appears you string through, cut string tighten knob.. and tune.

 

the advantage of the knob style is.. with the old style sometimes the string would break close to the tuning post.. and you'd have to dink around to get it out.. I found grabbing it with a needle nose and detuning let it slip right out, but doing that with fingers was harder.. as the string, esp. the e b g were so hard to hold onto if short...

with the knob style, you just loosen the knob and it drops out.

 

TWANG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...

ok, i FINALLY have things sorted out...

 

first off, the Sheraton lost considerable sustain with the way i had it set up (with the new roller bridge bushings sitting in the old ones, held on with string tension), i was never satisfied with it...also the bridge wouldn't stay at the correct height with the new bushing being able to spin around....i tried to epoxy the new bushings into the old ones, but i screwed it up: because they weren't really centered, the bridge wouldn't fit on the posts anymore, and while futzing around i ended up snapping one of the posts... at that point i felt like this =D>

 

 

i figured the old bushings needed to be removed, the holes doweled up, and new bushings fitted...

i told my friend about the problem, he happens to be a furniture repair guy and said he could do the job...i was able to get new bushing and posts from ALLPARTs (actually they sent me the wrong ones, but i eventually got the ones for the Gotoh Roller bridge)..my buddy did his best to match the finish as well: not perfect, but you have to look close to see it...

 

now we are in business! the lost sustain is back, she chimes and bends like a champ...i also put the Grover Rotomatic locking tuners on it, and i'm using a graphite lube i got at the local GC...oh, i also removed all the felt washers from the Bigsby, i wanted to make the best contact with body as possible, can't really see the need as i've already drilled into the body...i am VERY happy with my Sherry at this point, but now i'm going to have to upgrade the pups, the stock gold ones are pretty much silver now from the finish wearing off, might as well take her all the way with new pots too =D>

 

 

thanks again for all help i got on this project...i just noticed lots of people have read this thread, i hope it helps anyone else trying to do the same to their older Sheraton...i think i'm going to move up to :11s, i'll snap some pics and post them at that point....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have parts numbers for direct fit roller bridges for epis.

except for the sheraton.

But I've managed to fit a roller to mine without removing or even changing the bushings.

 

plus one on your success!

 

TWANG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have parts numbers for direct fit roller bridges for epis.

except for the sheraton.

But I've managed to fit a roller to mine without removing or even changing the bushings.

 

plus one on your success!

 

TWANG

 

whatyear is your Sheraton? what did you use?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

as promised, here's some pics...you can see clearly in the pics where the old posts were removed, but in person you can barely notice it unless you look really close...can't afford new pups/electronics right now, but that's next...

 

guit1.jpg

 

guit2.jpg

 

guit3.jpg

 

guit4.jpg

 

guit5.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest icantbuyafender

Im assuming that any OTHER epi than such a sheraton would have just as easily been outfitted with a regular sized roller bridge (nashville) and a bigsby?

 

like for a G400...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 11 years later...

Hi All,

 I realise I am late to the party on this however as this forum thread remains visible and your discussions contain useful info, I would like to contribute as I have found a solution that works for me. I have a 1988/1989 Washburn HB35 upon which I have installed a Bigsby. It has the same thick bridge as the Sheratons you are discussing.  I measure the bridge posts to be closer to 71mm than 72mm apart. My initial plan was to get a new bridge, thinking it would be the simplest solution so I bought a cheap 72mm TOM roller bridge from China to try it but that 1mm difference was a problem. I couldn’t force it on. Anyway the machining was crap, the saddles misaligned and the rollers jammed. Straight in the trash. After working out what search terms to use I found a few forums like this. I decided to try buying a set of just roller saddles knowing that dimensions may not be a perfect match. I spent 10GBP with Black Dog Music Supplies here in the UK and got a set. The key would be whether the screw holes would be in the right place for the saddles to sit snugly. After a bit of fiddling I found that the recesses on the top of the bridge in which the saddles move backward and forward are marginally narrower than the 9.1mm wide saddles. Using a needle file I carefully took off the corners (of the saddles) at a 45 degree angle where they meet the recess edges. It was equivalent of taking off about ½ a mm on each side. The supplied standard adjustment screws are shorter than the original ones and do not reach across but fortunately they have the same thread so I reassembled using the tweaked saddles and the original screws. The fit is utterly perfect and snug. They do not rock from side to side at all, yet can be adjusted easily. A slightly fiddly annoyance is that this bridge has tiny retaining C-clips for the screws.  I found that some kept falling off so maybe because they are old they’re not quite as springy as they once were. I have ordered a pack of ten 1.9mm replacements from eBay for less than 2GBP. Once I have them on I will do a set-up etc, but for now I am very happy that I can keep the original chunky bridge and not have to do any filling and drilling. I hope this helps anyone coming here in the future. 

Edited by IJJ
Clarity/disambiguation
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...