"Harmonica Style" Schaller Bridge

[choppedcadillac]

What is the MLP members take on these bridges? Post pictures if you got them. Trying to find out when Gibson first started using them. I am restoring a 71 goldtop that has one wondering if it was an add on or came stock...

[Boleskinehouse]

I could be stock I guess... I've seen a lot of '72s with that bridge..

My take on them? The absolute ugliest bridge ever made. Get that together with some witch hats and you could melt people's eyeballs.

[choppedcadillac]

Ya thats my take. Is there a conversion kit to abr1..the guitars pots say its a 71, could be a 72

[sangandongo]

Saw the nastiest '72 Custom with one yesterday. Sanded backside, gaffled front side with filled in switches between the knobs... they wanted $2600. It was worth half that if even. Sorry for the blur: phonecam.

[slither]

I've only seen them on early to mid 70's SG's. They are totally fugly. I'm glad my SG Special came with an ABR, not the Schaller the Standard and Custom of that era came with.

[murkat]

stock item on 70's sg's, marauders, a few s1's, etc.
the harmonica bridge is for a total miss mark intonation solution for hap hazard tooling incidentals for correct bridge placement.

[Elrathia]

In the eye of the beholder.

[maplehead872]

In the eye of the beholder for shure, those later version Les Paul recording guitars are the coolest looking around. On that type of bridge I like how you can raise or lower it with a flat head screwdriver but what I don't like is the way I'm marking up the bridge p/u with the screwdriver adjusting the saddle for the E and B string on the recording model.

[tmb1958]

i like them, my 77 sg has one and i have no problems with it. the retro 70's look is a nice change as well.

[sangandongo]

You haven't seen a sucky bridge until you've seen the harmonica prototype / transitional bridge. It's a folded piece of metal rather than a block. Here is an example of it on my '71 SG Pro.



back view:


you can't even put anything good on the original poles because of the flange:


So I put this bridge on it:

[circusboy28]

All of the mid 70's SG's that I can remember had those Schaller harmonica things on them (or Bigsby's. I seem to recall some of the Bigsby's having 'Gibson' engraved on them back then IIRC).

It's a long time ago now, but I think that apart from SG's you'd only see harmonicas on some LP's and other Gibsons. It was a bit hit and miss, some had them, but most didn't. I reckon that 70's Gibsons had the most variations in hardware of any time in their history. They'd run out of tunomatics, or knobs, or tuners during a run of guitars and just use whatever they had lying around regardless of specs for that model.

[choppedcadillac]

Been meaning to post a picture of my flamed goldtop project. I guess the bridge doesnt look too bad, just bulky.

[tmb1958]

Originally Posted by circusboy28

All of the mid 70's SG's that I can remember had those Schaller harmonica things on them (or Bigsby's. I seem to recall some of the Bigsby's having 'Gibson' engraved on them back then IIRC).

It's a long time ago now, but I think that apart from SG's you'd only see harmonicas on some LP's and other Gibsons. It was a bit hit and miss, some had them, but most didn't. I reckon that 70's Gibsons had the most variations in hardware of any time in their history. They'd run out of tunomatics, or knobs, or tuners during a run of guitars and just use whatever they had lying around regardless of specs for that model.

i have one on both my 76 marauder and 73 l6.

[sangandongo]

Originally Posted by tmb1958

i have one on both my 76 marauder and 73 l6.

Yeah, that's where I first saw one; on my '76 L6-S.

[zontar]

Well, I like them.

they aren't as cool as the Ibanez Gibraltar bridge, and I don't have one on my Les Paul--but I like them.

[TVR1977]

Originally Posted by murkat

stock item on 70's sg's, marauders, a few s1's, etc.
the harmonica bridge is for a total miss mark intonation solution for hap hazard tooling incidentals for correct bridge placement.

Wow! That is the shittiest sentence I've ever read! Even if a team of editors helped you, it still wouldn't make the least bit of sense. What were you trying to say?

[duane v]

Originally Posted by TVR1977

Wow! That is the shittiest sentence I've ever read! Even if a team of editors helped you, it still wouldn't make the least bit of sense. What were you trying to say?

I'll take a stab at it

Since the bridge saddles have considerable travel distance, you can get spot on intonation.

I have one (Japanese made harmonica bridge) on my 2009 Faded SG, and it does intonate very well, but the over all mass of the bridge kinda hurts the tone a little.... It makes it a little trebley, as opposed to the original Nashville bridge



And a quick sound bite of the lady

SG faded demo

SG faded demo

[/QUOTE]

[58Reissue]

My take on them is that, on Les Paul's they look a bit sucky, but i like them on SG's for some reason?

[JOke]

Hi,

COuld you please give me all the informations concerning this bridge?
I want to set my explorer 76 LE with that bridge as I am left hand.

Thanks in advance,
JOke

[marantz1300]

They were stock on SG's,NOT Gold Tops.Heres my 76 SG and 71 GT.

[gtr-tek]

Originally Posted by choppedcadillac

Ya thats my take. Is there a conversion kit to abr1..the guitars pots say its a 71, could be a 72

Check this out: Callaham Vintage Guitars and Parts (Callaham ABR-1 bridge)

Callaham may be your best answer to get an ABR-1 on there. I put one of these on my 2000 Standard to replace the Nashville. It sounds very good as in more note definition, better sustain and focus. As long as the stud placement gives you enough room to adjust to achieve proper intonation, you should be okay. The harmonica was designed to give a broad intonation platform to compensate for poorly placed studs. I have a '74 SG with one and a Gibson branded Bigsby. The guitar sounds really good unless I try to use the Bigsby... I could put a roller bridge on it I suppose.

[JOke]

Originally Posted by sangandongo

You haven't seen a sucky bridge until you've seen the harmonica prototype / transitional bridge. It's a folded piece of metal rather than a block. Here is an example of it on my '71 SG Pro.



back view:


you can't even put anything good on the original poles because of the flange:
ß

Thanks,

J

So I put this bridge on it:

Hi,,


Could it be possible to get more information about the new bridge you installed on you '71 SG Pro

[sangandongo]

Done and done. (via IM)

[Lester]

What's ABR an abbreviation for?

[DarthNormand]

This is for a 1972 (?) Gibson SG that missing many original parts with exceptions being tuners, frets, pickgaurd, and some odds and ends. The bridge is of the things missing original parts, All I have are posts, and they seem all wrong.
Can anyone with one of these Harmonica bridges tell me what gauge and threads per inch the posts are? The existing threaded thumbwheel studs are not original (according to the original owner), and it is brass. If this guitar may have had the thumbwheel styled bridge, could someone tell me the thread count and gauge. The tailpiece posts look a little rough too. I am trying to use what I have, however all fingers seem to be pointing at replacing the entire posts, studs and all.

[msfenderarg]

Welcome to MLP!

[DarthNormand]

WTF? I would appreciate some information. This is the Les Paul forum and we are discussing the Harmonica Bridge? If anything, could someone point me to a site that will have relevant information? I have already contacted Gibson, who have been very helpful in the past.

[gtr-tek]

Schaller made the harmonica bridges. The threads are most likely metric. My guess, without looking as I don't have access to my guitars with them at the moment, is either 8MM x 1.25 or 6MM but I'm not sure of the pitch. WD Music Supply and Stewart MacDonald both carry bridges and studs. You might find the Harmonica & parts on ebay as well.

BTW, welcome! Not sure about that other response you got...

[Thumpalumpacus]

I think Fender was kidding you for raising a thread from the dead.

[gtr-tek]

I'll give Darth credit for using the search feature... Necropost or not, there's information here.