ole17 Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 hello. i recently bought a Epiphone Les Paul Custom Ebony, and i was wondering, is it possible to attach the handle thingy that makes the bending effect. i will ad a picture below, or at least the link to one so you all know what i am talking about. sorry for the crappy explanation, but i don't know the word for the handle thing. a buddy of mine calls it a arm, but i dunno :- http://www.4sound.no/shop/default.aspx?ProdID=6630331 this link will, if it works, guide you 2 a website with a guitar with the handle- thingy attached. if you are still not sure which thing i am talking about, its the tiny, metal rod sticking out from where the guitar strings are fastended on the body of the guitar.
Sinb Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 The link didn't work but i know what your talking about. It's called a tremelo bar or a whammy bar, or possibly a Floyd Rose. I dont think you could put one in easily. You would have to take out n change your whole bridge system which could be expensive.
EpiEric Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 You really have 4 options for adding a trem to your LP. #1. Les Trem: http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar_tremolos/Les_Trem_Stop-Tailpiece_Tremolo.html Good option from the standpoint that it doesn't require modifications and is easy to reverse. Probably the cheapest option. #2. Stetsbar: https://stetsbar.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?search=action&category=STSB&keywords=all Similar to the above, but more expensive. Well regarded. #3. Bigsby: http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Bigsby_vibrato_tailpieces/3/Bigsby_Vibrato_Tailpieces.html Nice classic look on a Les Paul, but you do have to drill holes to mount it. If you go with any of the above, talk to the supplier and make sure it will fit your Epiphone. Some hardware made for Gibsons wont... #4. Floyd Rose - Not a job for the inexperienced. Requires a luthier and major modification for installation. Another option I would strongly consider is to enjoy your LP as it is and pick up another guitar with tremolo to go along with it. You could pick up something like an Epiphone Prophecy EM-2 with a factory Floyd Rose for only $399.00: http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-EM2-CustomFX-with-Floyd-Rose-Tremolo-Electric-Guitar?sku=515613 and there are guitars even more inexpensive than that with vintage style trems.
IntelligentAl Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 It isn't something that I would recommend doing yourself. You would need to take it to a luthier or someone who you know will be able to do the job. The tremelo arm (also known as a whammy bar) could only be added if you changed the type of bridge system you have on the guitar. For example, you could get a Bigsby or a Floyd Rose system, but you would have to replace the Tune-O-Matic Bridge and Stopbar Tailpiece with it. This type of thing can be quite expensive, so unless you are going to get a lot of use out of it, it isn't really worth doing. What kind of music are you planning on using it on? Are you a beginner? These questions will help you to determine whether a tremelo arm is really neccessary.
lostindesert Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 Leave the Les Paul Custom as it is and consider buying a ''cheap/budget'' guitar equiped with a tremolo. If you like hardrock/metal a Ibanez would do. For vintage tremolo guitars you wanna look at a Squier or Mexican Fender. Epiphone also makes nice guitars with tremolo's, the ones with the Bigsby's. Peter
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