Conversion posts or bushings to mount Gibson bridges on Epiphones?

[Steve A.]

Does anyone sell conversion posts or bushings to mount Nashville Gibson bridges on Epiphones and other imports? The spacing of the bushings is off a little bit (2-15/16" vs. 2-29/32") but the mounting holes in the Epi bridges are much larger (.250") than the Gibsons which are tapered (0.163" at the top, 0.193" at the bottom.)

There might be a little slop between the bridge and the posts but tiny holes could be drilled and tapped as done by TonePros (who make a really nice bridge for Epis and other metric imports for ~$50.)

I see two ways to accomplish this:
1. Posts to screw into existing Epi bushing with a smaller shaft on top to fit a Gibson bridge.
2. Adaptor bushings which would fit into the existing ~11mm holes in Epi body but with the smaller threads (M5 × .8) on Gibson posts. (The Epi threads are M8 × 1.25)

I know that some guitar tech/luthiers will fill the existing hole in the Epi body with a hardwood dowel which is redrilled but it would be much easier to use adaptor posts or bushings. BTW a friend did enlarge the holes in a real Gibson bridge so that it would fit an Epiphone but I think that with the plating gone the metal might eventually corrode. Any thoughts on that?

Thanks!

Steve Ahola

P.S. Philadelphia Luthier Tools (a great store!) does sell conversions posts to mount old-style ABR-1 bridges on Epiphones but I'd rather use Nashville bridges.




Import Conversion Posts - Install ABR-1 on Epiphone & other import guitars Nickel - Philadelphia Luthier Tools & Supplies, LLC

P.P.S. I'm going to try out the Guitar Fetish large bushing bridge for $12.95. First class shipping is $4.50. Hmmm... if I bought 2 shipping would have been $13.50 for Priority Mail (no option for First class.) I just replaced a buzzy bridge on my Gretsch G5438 Electromatic Jet with a TonePros metric bridge which I would like to return to my parts stock.

https://guitarfetish.3dcartstores.co...dge_p_444.html

[big_teee]

https://guitarfetish.3dcartstores.co...dge_p_444.html
That looks a lot like the Rondo Agile bridge, they are made in S.K.
Here's some loose bridges that Rondo sells.
Agile Roller Bridge - RondoMusic.com
Graph Tech Reso Max Bridge Black Nickel - RondoMusic.com
T

[Steve A.]

https://guitarfetish.3dcartstores.co...dge_p_444.html
That looks a lot like the Rondo Agile bridge, they are made in S.K.
Here's some loose bridges that Rondo sells.
Agile Roller Bridge - RondoMusic.com
Graph Tech Reso Max Bridge Black Nickel - RondoMusic.com
T

Rondo has been a great company, at least in the past. I haven't dealt with them for 7 years when I ordered two lap steels from them. One of them had a problem with the bridge so I called them up. They were very friendly and knowledgeable, and I received a replacement bridge in the mail right away.

I liked their business model... I could tell that they were "music people", not just importers out to make a quick buck.

Steve A.

P.S. Any idea what the "BM003" means on one of the bridges in your links? I've found that marking on a lot of imported guitars...

[big_teee]

Kurt at Rondo will take care of you, if you have a problem.
If there is something wrong with the guitar, he will send the brown truck by to pick it up, at his expense.
Then he will reimburse your CC account.
I have scads of Rondo guitars to test my pickups with.
BM003, is probably just a casting size for that import bridge size.
I presume that any saddle, including the rollers will fit that same bridge casting?
Don't know how many Rondo SX strats I built as pickup test axes, that sold.
Someone would play it and want to buy it, I would quote a too high price, I thought?
So I would have to build up another one!
Good Luck on the Bridge quest!
T