Gilgamesh Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 I recently purchased a 1999 Revolution Casino. During set up, noticed that each threaded post has two thumbwheels, one supporting the bridge as regular, and the other down on the lacquer. What is the purpose of the additional wheels? Do they act like a lock nut? Do they support the bridge? I can imagine the necessity more on a Bigsby model... Thanks, Gilgamesh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 I haven't seen this on a Tune-O-Matic before, but I'm guessing that if cranked down onto the top, they would stabilize the studs a bit. The studs have been known to bend, and this would shorten the lever arm. The downside is that they will damage the top lacquer. Neither of my guitars with Tune-O-Matics has the second thumbwheel. Can't imagine that you really need them as locknuts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
endpin Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 I have an all original 1965 Gibson ES-330TD with these additional thumbwheels, so it is not something totally new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badbluesplayer Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Some people will install an extra thumbwheel on each post and crank it down against the top of the guitar. It's supposed to stabilize the bridge and help transfer sound from the bridge to the top of the guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilgamesh Posted June 19, 2012 Author Share Posted June 19, 2012 I guess they also add some cover to the attachment points. With the Revolution Casino they replicated the mounting holes for Klusons under the Grovers, replicating exactly Lenoon's guitar. I imagined he may have added parts to the bridge. Thanks! Gilgamesh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 The extra thumbwheels are somewhat common in a true hollowbody. Both my Elitist Casino and ES 330L have them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
endpin Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 Yes, it probably was peculiar to Gibsons without a center block to shore-up the whole affair, although it would have been a good idea on all T-O-M bridges with the thin post IMO. I have taken off the lower thumbwheels on my ES-330 on occasion to do maintenance and the lacquer is not really scratched under there. Even though there is a small burr on the underside of my lower thumbscrews, there is a slight convex crown to the guitar top at those points which seems to keep the outer rim from digging-into the finish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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