bridge on Les Paul Jnr

[dave s]

Hi. I own an LP Jnr, made in 2002, no longer seems to appear in website catalogue and so perhaps these are no longer made. I like sound, the feel of the neck and the tobaccoburst finish. It has original style compensated bridge. In order to get this set to intonate properly you have to adjust two screws that set the distance between the bridge block and the bridge posts. It can be intonated accurately. However, to do this, the screw at the top end (high e string) has to be unwound quite far so that the bridge block is set some way back from the bridge post. It plays and intonates ok (I have had the intonation checked by professionals twice)but just doesn't look right. While I'm relatively new to the LPJ/P-90 sound I can't help wonder if I'm not losing some top end and sustain since the bridge is not properly slotted into the bridge posts. Years ago I used to own a Gibson Spirit II that had a single bridge and stop peice but with adjustable saddles as well which would been ideal for this - though this type of bridge no longer appears to exist. I wonder if the problem with the LPJ is sue to poor nut placement and shaping. I am also toying with the idea of having a tune-o-matic installed. I would be grateful to hear your thoughts and suggestions.

[Ol Boy Rivers]

I think your Talking about the " Wrap-around " Stopbar. Its a single metal Stopbar thats been...Sorta Preset for intonation. Im not sure on what it is, so i couldnt be exact. Those LP Jr's are pretty cool little guitars, Though. Allright, Now to help ya' out. Im cant be exact on what it is thats the problem because i dont have pictures, But that is a BrigdePlaced P-90. ALL a p-90 is is a beefy singlecoil pickup, It cant be expected to Punch out Super sweet Highends at Bridge position, EAther. To the same token, look beond the guitar. What amp are you using? What cables have you got and what strings? You could even have foul pots in the Cav'. And if the nut looks nasty, Chances are the Nuts nasty. Lot of times on the " Cheaper " Models that Epi and Gibson pump out they wont pay attention to EXACT details, Just the Overalls. Hope this helps guy.

[dave s]

Thanks for quick response. I'm usually a strat player and accept that though the P-90 is a single coil pickup, it sounds much closer to a humbucker than a Fender single coil. I am using a Roland Cube 30 for bedroom practice and a Boogie F-50 when playing with other musicians. No problems with them or cables when using one of my other guitars. The nut doesn't look messy just not a perfectly straight edge where it joins the fret board. Probably a minor point. The main issue is why the bridge needs to be set back when presumably the bridge post routing holes should all be machine drilled in the same place. Its as if the one bridge pole hole is slightly too close towards the neck. I would prefer a tune-o-atic (as was installed in many later LPJs) but am wary of what would probably be a fairly expensive modification. I should have mentioned that I tried a Bad-ass style bridge but it set the action much higher than the original, in fact, too high to compensate by screwing in the bridge posts as far down as they would go. Not an overall improvement over the original wrap around bridge.

[Guitarzan]

you should be able to find a wrap around bridge that has saddles for intonation.

like this for one...

adjustable wrap around bridge

now i will sing...

"like a bridge on a les paul jr, i will lay it down..."

[Guitarzan]

or this

[Ol Boy Rivers]

Hmm. I dunno guy. Im not real fluent on the Sinple peice Stopbars, So i couldnt be exact, Good luck though.

[Ol Boy Rivers]

Hmm. I dunno guy. Im not real fluent on the Sinple peice Stopbars, So i couldnt be exact, Good luck though.

[teleman65]

Wasn't there a Leo Quann Badass bridge for this purpose?

[dave s]

Not sure if the Leo Quann version is similar to the one I tried or not. The one I tried had individual saddles for separate intonation tuning, however this did not offset the fact the the bridge block still had to be set back off the top bridge post for intonation to be correct. I have also been recommended the "Wilkinson Compensator bridge" as another option. If the upper bridge post is not in the right position then replacing with a tune-o-matic may be the only option. At least it isn't a vintage guitar.

[Ol Boy Rivers]

Its not real hard to put in that tune-o-matic. Far as i know the Single StopBar thing is the hole spacing for the Bridge on the Tune-o's, And all you need to do is drill the holes with a Drill press and install the Stopbars. OR heres abother though. Wont have to DRill any holes in your guitar as big as the studs, BUT you can go buy a good Maestro Tailpeice ( I think it would look AWSOME ) And go that way about it.

[dave s]

Zen Master walks into a pizza parlour, looks at the menu and says: "Make me one with everything."

[Tedster]

Originally posted by teleman65:

Wasn't there a Leo Quann Badass bridge for this purpose?

I was just gonna say... Leo Quan Badass bridge .