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Gibson (SG) Deluxe Vibrola Tuning Issues

Mikester

Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2005
Messages
868
With all of the discussions of the Gibson Deluxe Vibrola (Maestro, Lyre, EE Tiki, Angus - SG - Maestro or Not?, I thought I'd throw out the Mikester Mod. This is similar to Clapton's Fool SG mod, but you get to retain the looks of the (shiny!) Lyre cover. Who says you can't have the tuning stability of a stoptail on a Maestro'd SG and still retain (most of) it's killer looks?

7173599d82.JPG


Notice that the ball ends do not touch/distort the trap cover.
The cover goes on and off easily with the strings still on.
Restringing is no problem, just get the ball ends oriented correctly.

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Story: I broke 2 springplates in the early '80's doing 'whammy' stuff. The remnants were chopped and cut to what you see above. It still maintains a decent angle over the ABR, with an action that's similar to top-wrapping.
I didn't notice a difference it tone (but this is a '67), it might even be better (focus, coupling).

Back then, I lived in Kalamazoo and springplates were only a few bucks from the factory. How handy.
I think they might be a fortune now. :-(

Anyway, I'd like to get the pub's opinions, comments, and critique of this mod. :hmm
So, I've spent most of the day puttin' this friggin' thread together. Flame away about the guitar, if you must. But remember, this isn't the Historic Pub. :2zone Maybe some good will come of this road warrior after all.
 
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J.D.

Well-known member
Joined
May 24, 2006
Messages
10,030
Why not just leave the arm swung back, or simply remove the arm? I'm not getting this, sorry.
 

Mikester

Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2005
Messages
868
Why not just leave the arm swung back, or simply remove the arm? I'm not getting this, sorry.

Ah, sorry.

The springplate is what causes the tuning issues. It's been removed.
That's what was removed from the Fool SG.
Now there's no arm or metal tab sticking out to block your path to the switch or knobs.

HTH. Here's a Fool SG reference photo:

bc6c79955c.jpg
 
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IRussell

New member
Joined
Dec 28, 2006
Messages
410

AAAARRRRGGGHHHH ... A LEFTY Case!!!!

:rofl

Mikester said:
Disclaimer: I don't know the legal ramifications of doing this mod, it's fine with me if you want to use it. But, if anyone were to try to make money off of this mod, I'd like to retain copyright, trademark, and all that, through this public forum. Is that OK? If you think this mod is bullshit, then nevermind....I'm just an old geek guitar player passing my experiences.

May need more than this to establish trademark rights...

But, an interesting idea to get close to a stoptail without drilling posts in.

:salude to something different
 

j45

Active member
Joined
Jun 14, 2002
Messages
9,081
Why not just leave the arm swung back, or simply remove the arm? I'm not getting this, sorry.


The main reason is the break angle is really bad on some SG Standards. Neck sets are not consistent and when you get one that is set towards the shallow side you have almost no pressue on the saddles. I wish I would have thought of this before I let go of one of my SG's. Had nice tone but the there was almost no break angle and strings would not stay on the saddles. As mentioned before, this pretty much the same thing that Clapton did but his was even a touch lower from drilling holes directly into the end of the Vibrola base.
 

macphly

New member
Joined
May 26, 2005
Messages
38
I just got a custom shop SG with a vibrola. Before I bought it, I found the following fix: I'd noticed that if I bent the G drastically, it pulled the B and E out of tune. I lubed the nut and when this had NO impact, I figured the problem was at the bridge. After reading this thread I looked for a way to reduce the movement of the spring. I simply expanded it and placed a small piece of cardboard in to hold it up just slightly, thus creating more tension on the spring. That solved it!

While I'm reluctant to modify the guitar, I do think that I will replace the ABR-1 with a Nashville. That wire retainer rattle drives me nuts! I'm also hoping that a Nashville will improve upon sustain just a hair, although it is totally acceptable as is.

I would leap to Mikester's mod (beautifully done BTW), except that I feel like I hear a positive impact on the guitar's tone that is attributable to the vibrola...it's a resonance I don't hear with stoptail or Bigsby SGs. If, however, in the coming months/years it develops tuning problems (I'm interested to see how that metal acts in changing temperatures), then I will most likely use the mod presented above. I really like it because it is totally reversible (if you can find a replacement bridge!).
 
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