2014 LP Traditional build questions

[Skyjerk]

Couple of building questions. I posted them in another forum and it was suggested I might get better response here, so please forgive me for corossposting.

I just bought a 2014 Les Paul Traditional body stripped of all hardware. Nuthin but wood.

For one thing, I bought Grover 3x3 tuners to install.

Based on trheads I read on this forum, I had thought I would need to ream out the pegholes and so I bought the rear peghole reamer which is supposed to leave the top of the hole narrow so that string tension doesnt pull the tuners off axis.

What I found was that the stock holes are already the diameter of the Grovers
and dont need to be enlarged, but also that the holes go all the way through
at the wider diameter. There is no narrowing at the top to keep the pegs supported.

Do I need some kind of additional bushing in order to keep the top of the tuning peg centered and supported?

My other question was:

The bridge posts for the new bridge I bought do not fit the bushings, so I'm going to have to remove the stock bushings.

Since I do not have the original bridge or posts, I'll need to find something else to screw into the bushings to push them out, but I dont know the thread size

So, the question is, does anyone know the diameter and thread size for the original bridge posts on a 2014 LP Traditional?

Thnks!

Chris

PS, I'm sure some might be tempted to suggest I just take it to a qualified Luthier, but I am absolutely capable of performing the work in a clean, professional way, without damaging the guitar, I'm just lacking in some information specific to Les Pauls that I need to do the job right

 

[Pete M]

You shouldn't have any problem with the Grovers. I take it you mean this sort of thing happening?

In my opinion this is made up rubbish, unless you plan on using massive strings or installing the Grovers without the washers. Nothing to worry about. In reality a much better use of a staggered hole is so you can interchange old Kluson style tuners (with the small bushing) with Grovers, but for your guitar you're stuck with 10mm holes so use Grovers or modern Klusons.

Your bridge post will likely be imperial, sound like you got metric ones or maybe ABR-1 posts? You probably need THIS type of bridge. You shouldn't have to replace the studs.

 

[Skyjerk]

You shouldn't have any problem with the Grovers. I take it you mean this sort of thing happening?

In my opinion this is made up rubbish, unless you plan on using massive strings or installing the Grovers without the washers. Nothing to worry about. In reality a much better use of a staggered hole is so you can interchange old Kluson style tuners (with the small bushing) with Grovers, but for your guitar you're stuck with 10mm holes so use Grovers or modern Klusons.

Your bridge post will likely be imperial, sound like you got metric ones or maybe ABR-1 posts? You probably need THIS type of bridge. You shouldn't have to replace the studs.

Tuners: yes, thats exactly what I was afraid of

Bridge: Actually that Gotoh bridge is the one I bought.
The threaded part of the posts that came with it is MUCH larger
than the threaded hole in the stock bushing, so the bushing has to
unless I want to buy yet another bridge

 

[Pete M]

Looks like maybe it's a Tone Pros bridge then? You'll have to get the right bridge or just pull the studs and hope the Gotoh's fit.

 

[ARandall]

You may well have bought a metric bridge. This will most likely have slotted heads to the threaded inserts. If so, return it and buy a normal nashville bridge

 

[marijnsloth]

I also thought Gotoh were metric and Gibsons hardware was imperial.

 

[Skyjerk]

You may well have bought a metric bridge. This will most likely have slotted heads to the threaded inserts. If so, return it and buy a normal nashville bridge

This was indeed the problem. Just ordered the right one from Stewmac.

Now I have to WAIT to finish my guitar! Dammit.

Thanks for the tip

 

[Ole'Lefty]

5/16- 24 SAE/UNF or 8mm- Gotohs with bushings are all* 8mm- "ABR"* (even Gotoh) are 4mm to simulate 6-32 SAE on true USA. TonePros are Gotoh and share same.