LPJR bridge choices

[jackthehack]

"Jack I left that bridge out only because I never heard of Leo Quan or his bad ass bridge.  Sorry man, but I don't really like that one.  Looks all chunky and big and junk.  But I'm gonna ask for the sake of asking, how does it play and intonate?  Good?  Bad? Ugly?"

Drops right in existing Gibson stop tail bridge routing. Intonates/works great. You may be too young to know about the Quan BadAss bridge, but back in the day if you had a lower end Gibson with one of their sh*tty stoptails that didn't intonate, it was the only option we had....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badass

 

[BigBeard]

I voted for TOM with a custom wood tailpiece because it would be inexpensive and truly unique, but the Schroeder bridge is really sharp looking, and the pigtail screams LP JR while actually being intonatable. I wouldn't think there would be any difference in saddle position with a wraparound. The high E saddle should still be at 24.75". I'm looking forward to seeing progress pics of this one...

Bob, I've had this design in my head for years for a wooden tailpiece.......  Can't really explain it, but in my head it's awesome, similar shape to the Schroeder, with string through ferrules.  I'm gonna whip some up here once I clean up the shop, maybe my idea might look as good in wood as it does in my head.  The older I get, the closer I get to making things that actually look like they did in my head!

On intonation, my thoughts exactly.  I thought maybe there would be some sort of special trick, but the more I think about it, there shouldn't be, all of these bridges are essentially T-O-M's and should set up the same way a T-O-M does. 

I'll toss pics up when my stuff arrives!  Set neck I'm excited!

"Jack I left that bridge out only because I never heard of Leo Quan or his bad ass bridge.  Sorry man, but I don't really like that one.  Looks all chunky and big and junk.  But I'm gonna ask for the sake of asking, how does it play and intonate?  Good?  Bad? Ugly?"

Drops right in existing Gibson stop tail bridge routing. Intonates/works great. You may be too young to know about the Quan BadAss bridge, but back in the day if you had a lower end Gibson with one of their sh*tty stoptails that didn't intonate, it was the only option we had....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badass

Maybe I am too young?  A child of the late '70's and raised in the 80's  so all the really cool stuff like muscle cars, key parties and quaaludes were already history.  But Nancy Reagan did teach me to 'Just Say No' hahahahaha...... Yeah, THAT worked!!!  You know, now that I know the history of that piece, maybe if I go for the 70's upgraded vibe I just may go with that.

Again guys, so many roads, so many roads. 

Thanks for the input so far, and keep the ideas flowing.  Definately appreciate the ideas and thoughts on the subject.  I'm going to keep the poll up till it is actually bridge buying time, and see what the overall consensus is.  :headbang:

 

[jackthehack]

Back in the 70's up to the early 80's you could pick up vintage LP Jr's, LP Specials/SG Jr's/Melody Makers for under $200. I bought a '61 SG Jr. in 1974 in a pawn shop for $75. (If you don't know what an SG Jr. is, see pic below, I think it's the about the only vintage Gibson they haven't re-issued yet.) There weren't really much in the way of bridge alternatives until the late 80's/early 90's.


The trip down memory lane and chronic has made me realize a new Universal Law of Macro Economic Dynamics, to wit, the cheapest guitar in a pawn shop that says "Gibson" on it will always cost the monetary equivalent of a month's rent in a large city for an apartment that can be rented by a guitarist without credit checks, most typically in a shady part of town.

This has held true for 40 years I know of.....

 

[BigBeard]

I saw an old I'm certain it had to be an early '60's JR hanging in a guitar shop here in Johnstown PA for like $40,000!!!!!!  Laquer was all checked up and dried out, but I'm pretty certain it was the real deal.  He had probably 10 Melody Makers and double cut JR's ranging in price from $8.000 to $40.000.  I don't know where you live, but here in an old economically depressed steel town, I can't think of one citizen that can afford a $40,000 guitar. Period, end of story.

I have recently learned of the SG JR in my LP JR studies........  I have never really been all that interested in Gibsons to tell you the truth..... But, all my gigging buddies keep asking me when I am going to build a 'Gibson style something'  So.... I'm gonna jump in with both feet and see how she goes.  The LPJR Double is for me though...... Gotta keep the prototype, right?

 

[Cagey]

Back in the 70's up to the early 80's you could pick up vintage LP Jr's, LP Specials/SG Jr's/Melody Makers for under $200. I bought a '61 SG Jr. in 1974 in a pawn shop for $75. (If you don't know what an SG Jr. is, see pic below, I think it's the about the only vintage Gibson they haven't re-issued yet.) There weren't really much in the way of bridge alternatives until the late 80's/early 90's.


The trip down memory lane and chronic has made me realize a new Universal Law of Macro Economic Dynamics, to wit, the cheapest guitar in a pawn shop that says "Gibson" on it will always cost the monetary equivalent of a month's rent in a large city for an apartment that can be rented by a guitarist without credit checks, most typically in a shady part of town.

This has held true for 40 years I know of.....

I remember those days, and bought that same guitar about that same time, only I paid $100 for mine. It was a bright fire engine red, all spider-webbed to hell. Refretted it, refinished it, put a real humbucker on it, and a TOM/stop tailpiece bridge setup. Wrecked any future value for it, but back then we didn't think they'd have any future value. Played it for about 10 years.

Your economic theory held true in Detroit for a long time, I know. But, anymore the pawn shops are a little smarter about such things. Your chances of falling into some hidden treasure are pretty slim.