https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/bridge-on-gibson-es335-dot/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Fri, 05 Jun 2026 01:21:19 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/bridge-on-gibson-es335-dot/#post-178664 Wed, 24 May 2006 17:13:27 +0000
Here is a pic of a gotoh replacement bridge for Gibson which illustrates what I mean. Gibson has these bridges also but I couldn't find a close up pic of one:

http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/bridge14.jpg]]> Guitar Repair and Maintenance phangeaux https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/bridge-on-gibson-es335-dot/#post-178664 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/bridge-on-gibson-es335-dot/#post-178654 Wed, 24 May 2006 16:42:13 +0000
I inserted the following into the previous post:


When I wrote that explanation above I hadn't recalled the whole proceedure as it was a long time ago but NOW I remember. After all of that messing around, taking the bridge apart to re-bend the spring, it still wasn't perfect and I had a slight buzz. FINALLY I just took a pair of needle nose pliers and looking vertically down at the bridge from directly above it, I opened the pliers and pointing them vertically down to the spring I spanned one saddle screw at a time- with each jaw of the pliers being on an opposite side of the saddle adjustment screw, contacting the spring. I pushed down on the pliers, bending the spring downward on both sides of the screw at the same time. The reason I did it this way is because I found that if you just push on the spring on one side of the screw the other side will raise upward, so pushing both sides down at the same time prevented that. I also did some fine bensing adjustments with a small screw driver.

This way you don't even have to remove the strings or anything else.

As far as the spring in the design of the bridge, given that sometimes it ius prone to buzzing, I think this design is flawed from the start. ESPECIALLY when we consider an ES335 that costs 2,000 pounds British.

Does anyone know how they remedied this problem in later years?

I have an ES335 copy, Jay Turser with a tunematic style bridge and guess what? NO RETAINER SPRING, and a much better design in my opinion!

If it was me, my friend, I might consider insisting that the shop, or Gibson REPLACE that bridge for a later (improved) design.

Isuppose that once the retainer spring is re-bent and not buzzing it is 'OK' but on such an expensive instrument as this one I think we can EXPECT ALOT BETTER from the Gibson company.

Who cares if it is the original style bridge with a spring from 1962, if that bridge was poorly designed in the first place. I would opt for one without the spring. OH YEAH, I almost forgot: you can use two small screwdrivers to push the spring down on each side of the saddle adjustment screw and that may be a more accurate way with less chance of the tips of the pliers slipping off of the spring. I think you can maintain contact on the spring a bit easier with small screwdrivers. Whatever tool works the best. ]]> Guitar Repair and Maintenance phangeaux https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/bridge-on-gibson-es335-dot/#post-178654 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/bridge-on-gibson-es335-dot/#post-178234 Mon, 22 May 2006 12:24:36 +0000 You'd also discover that you now have another fault, that wasn't there before the car went into the garage, that is also not "user maintainable".]]> Guitar Repair and Maintenance greybeard https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/bridge-on-gibson-es335-dot/#post-178234 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/bridge-on-gibson-es335-dot/#post-178230 Mon, 22 May 2006 11:50:26 +0000
If this was a car I don't think they'd get away with it!

Gary UK (just call me bemused!).]]> Guitar Repair and Maintenance gary58 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/bridge-on-gibson-es335-dot/#post-178230 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/bridge-on-gibson-es335-dot/#post-178080 Sun, 21 May 2006 11:16:51 +0000
I'll figure out the forum functions as I go.]]> Guitar Repair and Maintenance phangeaux https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/bridge-on-gibson-es335-dot/#post-178080 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/bridge-on-gibson-es335-dot/#post-178078 Sun, 21 May 2006 10:42:10 +0000
1962: Tunematic bridge "with wire" (still stamped "ABR-1" on bottom). The wire goes over the six saddle screw heads to prevent the saddles from popping out during string changes.

And apparently you can still buy replacement parts with the wire:
http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/gbridge_abrgibson.htm STRING BUZZ AT BRIDGE SADDLES. Actually, this is most likely the retainer spring vibrating/buzzing

I have a 62 SG reissue, Epiphone/Gibson G400 with tunomatic bridge which I bought used from a friend. When I first got it there was an annoying buzz at a couple of the saddles (high strings). I tried to get them seated in a manner which would stop the buzzing but was not able to fully correct it.



Finally, I took the whole bridge off, studied it carefully and I figured that this spring-wire, which is a retainer wire, was not applying enough tension to the saddles. I figured that this was just a cheap or defective spring. I took the saddle apart and I reformed (bent) the spring wire to create more tension. This worked for me and solved the buzzing problem, HOWEVER, I highly do NOT recommend doing this yourself unless you are very patient and confident in your technical perception as the trick is to correctly perceive which way to bend the spring and then to be able to properly bend it as this is 'spring steel', not mild steel. The 90 deg. bends at the ends have to fit back into the holes and to get this right is not as easy as it may seem. It is very likely you won't get it right the first time or the second time and you will be wishing that you simply had a NEW spring to put in it.

I got it to work for me but I would suggest just buying a new spring and replacing it. If that does not solve your problem then at least you will have an extra spring in case you mess one of them up trying to bend it. This way you wont have any downtime in case you really mess up the spring.

I love this G400 because my first electric guitar was an original 62 Gibson SG bought new. I can't afford one now and this G400 physically feels the same and plays the same- except that I plan to upgrade the hardware and make a very nice 'keeper' guitar out of this one. I may even replace the bridge. I haven't decided how I am going to set it up yet.

I would just order a new spring and try that, OR since you bought this guitar NEW, take it back and insist that they correct the problem.



When I wrote that explanation above I hadn't recalled the whole proceedure as it was a long time ago but NOW I remember. After all of that messing around, taking the bridge apart to re-bend the spring, it still wasn't perfect and I had a slight buzz. FINALLY I just took a pair of needle nose pliers and looking vertically down at the bridge from directly above it, I opened the pliers and pointing them vertically down to the spring I spanned one saddle screw at a time- with each jaw of the pliers being on an opposite side of the saddle adjustment screw, contacting the spring. I pushed down on the pliers, bending the spring downward on both sides of the screw at the same time. The reason I did it this way is because I found that if you just push on the spring on one side of the screw the other side will raise upward, so pushing both sides down at the same time prevented that. I also did some fine bensing adjustments with a small screw driver.

This way you don't even have to remove the strings or anything else.

As far as the spring in the design of the bridge, given that sometimes it ius prone to buzzing, I think this design is flawed from the start. ESPECIALLY when we consider an ES335 that costs 2,000 pounds British.

Does anyone know how they remedied this problem in later years?

I have an ES335 copy, Jay Turser with a tunematic style bridge and guess what? NO RETAINER SPRING, and a much better design in my opinion!

If it was me, my friend, I might consider insisting that the shop, or Gibson REPLACE that bridge for a later (improved) design.

Isuppose that once the retainer spring is re-bent and not buzzing it is 'OK' but on such an expensive instrument as this one I think we can EXPECT ALOT BETTER from the Gibson company.

Who cares if it is the original style bridge with a spring from 1962, if that bridge was poorly designed in the first place. I would opt for one without the spring.]]> Guitar Repair and Maintenance phangeaux https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/bridge-on-gibson-es335-dot/#post-178078 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/bridge-on-gibson-es335-dot/#post-178077 Sun, 21 May 2006 10:32:17 +0000 Guitar Repair and Maintenance phangeaux https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/bridge-on-gibson-es335-dot/#post-178077 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/bridge-on-gibson-es335-dot/#post-176586 Fri, 12 May 2006 17:25:59 +0000
1962: Tunematic bridge "with wire" (still stamped "ABR-1" on bottom). The wire goes over the six saddle screw heads to prevent the saddles from popping out during string changes.

And apparently you can still buy replacement parts with the wire:
http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/gbridge_abrgibson.htm]]> Guitar Repair and Maintenance slejhamer https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/bridge-on-gibson-es335-dot/#post-176586 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/bridge-on-gibson-es335-dot/#post-176583 Fri, 12 May 2006 17:21:38 +0000 If it's the same as the bit above mine has a small piece of metal doing the same

Nice guitar btw :D]]> Guitar Repair and Maintenance biker_jim_uk https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/bridge-on-gibson-es335-dot/#post-176583 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/bridge-on-gibson-es335-dot/#post-176582 Fri, 12 May 2006 17:19:28 +0000 http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-1966-Gibson-SG-Les-Paul-ES-335-Bridge_W0QQitemZ7412871962QQcategoryZ47073QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem]]> Guitar Repair and Maintenance slejhamer https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-repair-and-maintenance/bridge-on-gibson-es335-dot/#post-176582