Swapping out Tune-o-matic Bridges

[Mr White]

Changing chrome hardware to black, is there a difference between thread pitch or diameter of the bushes/posts on the standard Jackson ones to replacement ones that you can buy?

Also, is it possibly to buy black toggle switches? A quick search has returned fruitless...

Thanks

James

[zeegler]

Re: Swapping out Tune-o-matic Bridges

Hey James. Black toggle switches can be found, but are very elusive. I bought one off ebay a couple of years ago. I bought another one a few months ago, but when it showed up, it was actually black chrome, and didn't look right at all. I don't understand why they are so hard to find. I guess the manufacturers think we will settle for chrome ones with black tips. Fuck them, I want a toggle switch that is completely black.

Eureka, All Parts has them. They are damn expensive at $17 each, but they have them.

[zeegler]

Re: Swapping out Tune-o-matic Bridges

Oh, and as for the posts, and thread diameter, you should get new posts and inserts with a new bridge. If not, get it from somewhere else.

[sully]

Re: Swapping out Tune-o-matic Bridges

- get a gotoh TOM and bushings, i believe that's what jackson uses.

- black toggle switches (and gold and chrome) can be found here.

sully

[zeegler]

Re: Swapping out Tune-o-matic Bridges

Damn, that's much cheaper. Thanks Sully, you are the man!

[sully]

Re: Swapping out Tune-o-matic Bridges

no prob! grizzly has a lot of guitar parts at decent prices.

[Mr White]

Re: Swapping out Tune-o-matic Bridges

Thanks guys both of you!

The reason why I was hoping to get a bridge that would use the same bushings was that I didnt fancy trying to get the bloody things out. Id be doing it at my flat whilst Im at University, so I dont have my tools/workshop/workbench/Dad to shout on for emergency help haha.

Is it a tough job to get them out? Im presuming a threaded T bar the same diameter and thread as the bridge post would work if I just screwed it in and pulled right hard? Or is this a terrible way to do it? [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Im too used to doing things to quick way, which isnt necessarily the right way haha.

James

[sully]

Re: Swapping out Tune-o-matic Bridges

it's not too hard to pull them out, but for now, you could just put the black posts in the chrome bushings... and maybe a bit of black nail polish on the parts of the chrome bushings that are exposed.

sully

[zeegler]

Re: Swapping out Tune-o-matic Bridges

I use a pry bar, and an old pickguard to remove posts. I'm not kidding either. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

It takes seconds. I put the pickguard on the top of the guitar underneath the prybar to stop it from damaging the guitar. I back the post out of the bushing, enough so there's room to get the prybar in, and push down. The post pops right out no problem whatsoever.

[Mr White]

Re: Swapping out Tune-o-matic Bridges

Haha fair enough. Ill do it that way! I originally intended to use the chrome bushings but thought if Im going to do a job I might as well do it properly!
Now I need to remember how to solder [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

James