3. ES-335 Restoration – The Bridge

ES-335 Bridge
Pickups
Pickups are in!

David has done a super-clean job with the wiring and now it’s all together.  The pickups are in. Can’t wait to check out these Fralin PAF’s.  Sure looks pretty with the black ThroBak pickup rings.

Fixing the Neck
Fixing the Neck

The hairline neck crack at the headstock is repaired! David wicked hot hide glue into the crack by “capillary action” (whatever that is) and clamped it up.

tone knob
Loose binding

And he’s gonna take care of that loose binding.

Now for the bridge…

As far as we can figure out, It looks like sometime in the late 60s or early 70s someone pulled out the bridge posts and drilled out some big holes to put in big bushings – maybe for a wrap around tailpiece bridge.  Then for whatever reason (probably after realizing what a terrible idea that was), they pulled out the bushings, filled the holes, and went back to a regular bridge. But this time they installed the “Nashville Bridge” which Gibson was using in the middle 70s.  It involved putting smaller bushings in and that is the way it’s been ever since.

The Wrong Bridge, Gromit!
The Wrong Bridge, Gromit!

But, oops.  Not realizing this, I sent away for a replacement Faber ABR-1 bridge which doesn’t fit on the Nashville bridge studs. Now what?

Bushings for the Nashville bridge
The bushings for the old Nashville bridge

Well, we decided to go back to the original 1964 style bridge studs with thumbscrews. These studs were just screwed into the top of the guitar. With no bushings.  So that means David will have to pull out the bushings (2nd time for this gtr!) fill the holes and re-drill holes for the original style bridge studs.  Oh well, more surgery, but I have a great surgeon and I know the bridge will be in the right place!


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