Guitar Indecision. Any Help?

[JaySwear]

Went to Guitar Center yesterday (a nice time, I got there before the doors opened I'm the morning, so no 15 year old metal heads to contend with). I was trying to decide between humbuckers and P-90s for my upcoming Warmoth body. I've owned guitars with both, but any excuse to go a store and play instruments, am I right?
Anyway, still undecided on pickups, but I did decide I like flat top guitars more than arch tops. Must be the inner Telecaster player in me. But this opens my options up some. Instead of just focusing on the carved top LP and LPS, I'm now looking at flat tops, which also includes the L5S.
I played a Gibson Midtown for a couple of minutes. It was comfortable, but couldn't hold tune to save its life. Plus the guy told me it had P-94s in it and it most definitely did not. Not sure if he had no clue or if he was trying to talk the product up some.

Arg. Decisions decisions.

 

[tfarny]

Lp jr. with dual p90s and a wraparound, fairly basic paint job. That should do the trick as well as give me major GAS.

 

[mayfly]

Lp jr. with dual p90s and a wraparound, fairly basic paint job. That should do the trick as well as give me major GAS.

+1 on that.  I've been thinking of something like that for a while. 

 

[JaySwear]

Lp jr. with dual p90s and a wraparound, fairly basic paint job. That should do the trick as well as give me major GAS.

You, sit, are a mind reader. I was sitting here at work trying to figure out if Warmoth would install studs for a Gibson style wrap around tail piece.

Guess I'll have to call and find out later!

 

[JaySwear]

Been looking at this bridge for a while (http://www.allparts.com/Nickel-Compensated-Stop-Tailpiece-p/tp-0402-001.htm)

Any idea if Warmoth would let me purchase the bridge, then send it to them to have them install the bridge studs in the body for me?

 

[anorakDan]

Been looking at this bridge for a while (http://www.allparts.com/Nickel-Compensated-Stop-Tailpiece-p/tp-0402-001.htm)

Any idea if Warmoth would let me purchase the bridge, then send it to them to have them install the bridge studs in the body for me?

Trust me when I say, you do not want that for your bridge. It cannot be tuned for intonation. Go with the Gotoh 510. It's adjustable and Warmoth carries them.

 

[JaySwear]

But the 510 is just so damn big and bulky. I think they look weird on smaller flat top guitars. Oh well, not ordering yet so I have time to decide :icon_biggrin: but the SG Junior I played had a wrap bridge and it was awesome! Even without being able to dial in intonation too accurately.

 

[anorakDan]

Having a guitar that looks great is one thing, having one that you can actually get in tune is another. I had replaced the original wrap-around bridge on my old SG Jr. with the Leo Quan Badass that was available in the late 70's and it was a major improvement! I still don't think that bridge looked too big, and the Gotoh unit is less bulky.

You can always go with you original idea, and replace the bridge when the intonation starts to drive you crazy. It's as easy as changing strings.

 

[Cagey]

I did the same thing in the late '70s with a '61 Melody Maker - put a Leo Quan Badass on it. Major improvement.

On a modern guitar, I'd use the Gotoh 510.

It is as you say - slightly smaller than the LQB, but not noticeably larger than the die-cast fixed-intonation garbage they put on cheap Gibsons. Plus, they feel smooth under your hand and they don't fall off when you remove the strings, putting your finish at risk or at least pestering you while you're trying to string up.

 

[anorakDan]

And it's (the Gotoh 510) just a beautiful piece of hardware! How could you not want that on your guitar?

When I build the Brutal Legend V, the bridge work will be handled by a 510. So much better looking than the TOM/Stop Bar setup!

 

[mayfly]

Been looking at this bridge for a while (http://www.allparts.com/Nickel-Compensated-Stop-Tailpiece-p/tp-0402-001.htm)

Any idea if Warmoth would let me purchase the bridge, then send it to them to have them install the bridge studs in the body for me?

I've been looking for a bridge like this for a long time.  I just bought it. 

I guess in the next year or so I'll be building a JR...

 

[Cagey]

And it's (the Gotoh 510) just a beautiful piece of hardware! How could you not want that on your guitar?

When I build the Brutal Legend V, the bridge work will be handled by a 510. So much better looking than the TOM/Stop Bar setup!

Right. I'm putting them on both my VIPs. One of them is an older model that actually has some minor saddle height adjustment capability. Not sure why they stopped doing that. Seems like it would be widely desirable, since it's an aftermarket part and they can't predict what kind of neck radius you might have.

 

[duosonic]

For guitars the LPS or the SG will get you there.  The L5S is really cool but the body is a little larger, so that's a consideration.

For bridges I tend to shy away from the wrap arounds that don't give me the ability to intonate fully.  I've got a few wrap arounds that are old skool and they do sound great, but if I was building from scratch I would go with something that is more precise.

My favorites are:
HipShot Baby Grand
TonePros AVT II
Gotoh 510UB
Graphtech ResoMax