Looking for this kind of Maestro Vibrola arm / assembly parts

[LeonC]

About 18 years ago, I bought a '61 Epiphone Coronet. Note the three mounting holes where its very rare 4-sided Maestro Vibrola tailpiece was installed.



I don't really need the vibrola tailpiece and probably would never use it...but the guitar always seemed kinda incomplete without it. So I've been searching for the right model for 18 years and I finally found a guy selling one...and so I bought it. But all he has is the tailpiece itself.



There are several other pieces that are part of this vibrloa system, including a kind of flange thingy that goes around the knurled stem that sticks out. Then there's the vibrola arm and a bolt and nylon washer and nut that hold the whole thing in place that I still need. As luck would have it, I found one of those flange things in my own parts drawer...probably came off of one of the many bat-wing Epis I owned in the 70s. But I still need to find the arm and bolt and washer and nut.

Please let me know if you know of anyone selling these items. I know Crazy Parts sells replicas...may wind up going that route, but I'd rather find the real deal...

The guitar would look like this when complete:

 

[seafood]

this is a cool mystery!!! i'm always buying and selling...i'll keep an eye out...for you... and ,,,,who knows!!!!

 

[J.D.]

The lightning bolt style tailpiece is incorrect for a slanted bushing guitar (as shown in 3rd photo). Should be a plain wraptail (as shown in 1st photo).

Regardless, a trem with a stop tp style bridge doesn't work too well. Most guys will either take off the trem (as shown in 1st photo), or leave it on (without arm) but use the stop tp as a wraparound fixed bridge.

 

[LeonC]

The lightning bolt style tailpiece is incorrect for a slanted bushing guitar (as shown in 3rd photo). Should be a plain wraptail (as shown in 1st photo).

Regardless, a trem with a stop tp style bridge doesn't work too well. Most guys will either take off the trem (as shown in 1st photo), or leave it on (without arm) but use the stop tp as a wraparound fixed bridge.

Right, I've been using my guitar as you see it in the 1st photo. 3rd photo is just a photo I found out on the web, which appears to be the correct vibrola for my model.

Like I said...if I find the rest of the parts, I doubt I'll actually use them...but I'd like to have the "complete guitar" as when it was new.

 

[LeonC]

Okay, the Maestro Vibrola arrived today, and it fits like a charm.



On a side note, someone posted a link to this story over on the Gear Page. It indicates in '61 (the year my Coronet was produced), the only shipped 7 Coronets with Maestro Vibrolas...had no idea it was that rare.

Epiphone Coronet SB532 Electric Guitar >> Vintage Guitar and Bass

Description, specifications, shipping data and catalogue appearances for Epiphone's 1950s and 60s Coronet model

www.vintageguitarandbass.com

Anyway, I'm really glad my guitar and this odd Vibrola have been reunited.

 

[LeonC]

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