Floating Bridge on a Les Paul?

[Kmonz90]

Out of curiosity, has anyone ever seen a floating bridge on a Les Paul like what you would see on some Gretsch Jets?

 

[Norton]

Good god....why?

I've got a couple old national made solid electric guitars from the early 1950's that have floating bridges.

It's not really a good thing.

 

[Dolebludger]

No, I have never seen one like that on a LP. That is a bridge design used for full hollow body electric guitars, because on them there is no substantial wood underneath the bridge in which to secure the studs for the bridge. I have a bridge like the one in the pic on my Ibanez AF 85 "jazz box", which is full hollow. Totally appropriate on that. Totally inappropriate in a LP or any other solid body guitar.

 

[cybermgk]

Never seen ne on a Gretsch Jet either Jet | Gretsch® Guitars

Semi Hollows and Hollows yes

 

[Malchik]

I hate floating bridges so much.

 

[Kmonz90]

Good god....why?

Because when constructing my Les Paul from scratch my neck angle was off by 1 degree from the plans. This resulted in a bridge that would have to be jacked up super high. Higher than studs could support even maxed out. There is almost no way to reset the neck without making an entire new one. I used a non-reversible glue and my neck joint was so tight, I could swing my guitar around by the neck even before I glued the joint. Combine that with the fact that I already glued a fingerboard on and I'm pretty much screwed. Thats what you get for following the plans I guess...

My solution to this problem is instead of cutting the neck off, re-routing the mortise, and making a new fingerboard and neck, I could just use a floating bridge like on a gretsch jet as they were designed to have steeper neck angles to accommodate this type of bridge anyway. It might even be cool to have a super unique guitar that is my own. But, I also don't want to have a guitar that looks wrong or messed up you know.

 

[Kmonz90]

Never seen ne on a Gretsch Jet either Jet | Gretsch® Guitars

What do you mean you've never seen one? The first ten jets on the page you linked to are all on floating bridges.

 

[Kmonz90]

In the end, if I'm going to attempt a neck reset it will be easier to do now before the guitar is lacquer finished.

 

[Dolebludger]

Kmonz,

With a bridge like this, your LP will look different for sure! I'm not smart enough to say how such a bridge will affect the tone -- if at all. And, BTW, I don't think the pic above is of a Jet, though it is a Gretsch. Actually, I've not seen those bridges on solid or semi hollow guitars -- only on full hollow ones where they are a structural necessity. On my full hollow guitar, my only problem with this bridge type is that the wooden part of the unit is not attached to the guitar body. When all of the strings are removed (such as when the fret board is to be cleaned and oiled) it is difficult to get the bridge back in the correct position. I mark the position with blue masking tape before string removal in this case.

 

[MuellerID]

I think that'd be awesome! I really like the sound of floating bridges. It gives it that bluesy clunk!

It sounds like you need a riser to stabilize your tune-o-matic more than a floating bridge. If you found some small brass or aluminum bar stock with the same OD as the threaded top insert, you could drill and tap the bar stock risers to fit between the top and your tune-o-matic. Screw the allthread down in to the guitar, then screw the spacer down on to the allthread 'til it's tight against the body. Now you have a stable platform for your tuneomatic. Go to a tech school or find somebody with a machine shop... or do it yourself.

The problem with a floating bridge is the inserts are typically proud of the top. So, you'd either have to remove them, or carve the base of your bridge around them.

 

[chasenblues]

I don't think the pic above is of a Jet, though it is a Gretsch. Actually, I've not seen those bridges on solid or semi hollow guitars -- only on full hollow ones where they are a structural necessity. .

After having a real quick look at the some specs i think the "Jet" series of Gretsch's are Chambered..Now whether one could consider that "Semi-Hollow" i guess is open to interpretation.

The George Harrison Sig Duo Jet.

 

[MuellerID]

My Harmony Stratotone H44 has more testicular fortitude than any guitar I've ever heard, seen, played, or even heard rumors about. It is a solid slab of maple with a cheesy little floating bridge. The neck is like the big end of a baseball bat cut in half

It is the holy grail of electric blues guitar tone. The floating bridge has a raunchy sound that makes you want to get drunk in a shady alley.

 

[chasenblues]

Anything is possible i guess look at this modified 52 Goldtop,

 

[ARandall]

If this is a fully scratch build, then I'm guessing the bridge hasn't been drilled for yet. If you are doing an ABR bridge, there is something called the mapleflame mod which would be of use. They are extra long abr studs. Usually they would go deeper. But in your case they would go higher. You would want to double the thumbwheels.....with one at the body so it helped stop leaning. A trapeze t/p might also assist with angle behind the bridge too.

 

[cybermgk]

What do you mean you've never seen one? The first ten jets on the page you linked to are all on floating bridges.

Look closer. They are not floating bridges. No need as the Jets are for all intent and purpose a semi hollow with wood for studs. SOME use wood spacers yes, but it isn't floating, i.e. a non attached bridge that sues string tension to keep in place.

 

[jstarr]

Anything is possible i guess look at this modified 52 Goldtop,

Ow! My Balls!

 

[sk8rat]

Anything is possible i guess look at this modified 52 Goldtop,

I know its blasphemous but I have always liked that guitar.

 

[kevinpaul]

I had an Ibenez hollow body with on and all of my mandolins had them. I changed the strings on my newest mandolin a few weeks ago. The stupid bounced under the stove in to a black hole never to be seen again. I bought a new bridge, thing is no good with out it.

 

[chasenblues]

Look closer. They are not floating bridges. No need as the Jets are for all intent and purpose a semi hollow with wood for studs. SOME use wood spacers yes, but it isn't floating, i.e. a non attached bridge that sues string tension to keep in place.

On certain models of the Duo Jet the bridges are free floating..Some come pinned and some are on studs similar to LP's

 

[Kmonz90]

I have a lot of experience with floating bridges, I'm not worried about them running away or anything. What I am worried about is my TOM looking super stupid being raised up super high about a whole inch off the body. Thats going to look super stupid. Instead, I was thinking about going in a different direction. If I put a bridge base under it, the height would look natural but the base would look stupid.