You can go to page 8, surf through the links at the bottom of the page there and see how well that other much-worse hardware has cleaned up very well. This filthy vibrato assembly actually looked much much better after removal and a quick wipe down with a small dry paint brush. |
This guitar's electronics are on the Next Page >>> |
Disassembling the Bridge: |
This guitar's electronics are on the Next Page >>> |
Each and every part is kept separate in cans according to the assembly they belong to and their exact likeness. |
The bridge simply lifts off of the 2 adjustable posts that screw into metal receivers pressed into the body. This exposes a washer on each post that rides on cuffs near the top of the posts and support the bridge. |
Removing the washers reveals the posts screwed into their metal receivers. |
Here you can see the bridge posts upper cuff ledges the bridge support washers ride on, and the slotted tops that are turned with a small screwdriver through the bridge holes to adjust the bridge up or down. |
Feeling that the cuffs are a bit tight in their receivers, I wet a q-tip by dipping it into a can that catalytic penetrating oil (PB Blaster aerosol) has been sprayed into; And sparingly touch the q-tip near the top of the posts. The catalytic oil will then run down the threads and into the receiver. You don't want to get any strong penetrating oil on the guitar's finish nor around the perimeter of the post receivers where it can run down between the receivers perimeters and the surrounding wood and finish. After letting the oil film seep into the posts threads for about 10 minutes, I lightly tap the top of the posts with a plastic screwdriver handle which lightly jars the post and sockets threads and allows slowly and carefully working the posts up and down a tiny bit at a time to clean up any corrosion in the threads. Once the posts are out I run them back in and out a couple times to clean the threads while the oil is still present. |
Wipe the posts off with a rag and you can see how well the penetrating oil and turning action cleaned off the posts threads down in their sockets. The top portion that didn't get that action is still a bit corroded and will clean right up with a small wire brush. I soak all metal parts in PB Blaster before cleaning them. PB Blaster cuts right through any corrosion and makes clean up with a small wire brush a breeze. |
You can go to page 8, surf through the links at the bottom of the page there and see how well that other much-worse hardware has cleaned up very well. This filthy vibrato assembly actually looked much much better after removal and a quick wipe down with a small dry paint brush. |
If a Player were to buy this guitar to be an exacting player itself, rather than primarily to keep original; Then I might suggest installing a roller bridge. These saddles don't grip the strings during vibrato operation, and provide for a very fluid vibrato that carries the guitar's harmonics right along with the vibrato or portamento. It would however require that new holes be drilled for the bridge post sockets to be mounted in. A nice pair of flat head stainless machine screws can cap the old sockets and look quite nice. |
And shootz ....while I'm on this train of thought ....might as well mention that my favorite vibrato of all is the blade spring Gibson SG vibrato still made and quite available today ! And a perfect match with a roller bridge on any guitar. |
When I finish cleaning up this guitar it won't even look like the same guitar. Under all of it's dust lies a very nice specimen and player. This guitar WILL clean up VERY nicely. |
