GuildGirl
Junior Member
I have a Dremel and know how to use it (watch out!!)
I know some of you will call this Sacrilege, or a travesty or....????
my next project was to "fix" my '86 Bluesbird, Bryan Setzer model. I bought it for it's uniqueness. a beautiful body and neck, with awful
bridge and old electrics...(I paid 600 for it years ago) I never played it much, as I don't like the bright tone.
(And I have never been a big Setzer fan anyway).
I was not afraid to tinker on this guitar because frankly, it's not really a terrific classic Guild, at least not in
my mind..(...or worth much) or is it?
first problem: Bridge: factory installed Kahler 2500 Traditional fulcrum was a problem. it was in terrible adjustment when I got it, with
the low side set way up. some metalhead probably had this. I learned all about Kahlers, adjusted and intonated it. I replaced the missing
locknut, and retuned. And I'm not a trem user anyway.
I finally just double blocked the bridge, with blocks on both sides of the trem block, as decking it was impossible on this body. That
permanently?? fixed the tuning problems, but I still wasn't happy with it.
With Poplar blocks and my Dremel, I completely filled the trem cavity and sealed it, sanding and fitting until it was filled, including the
body top. (Poplar, same as the body, and Titebond wood glue) ready for a bridge replacement. originally I went with a string through Babicz,
but it wasn't right, and action height was a problem. I also really wanted to maintain an original look to the instrument.
I know some of you will call this Sacrilege, or a travesty or....????
my next project was to "fix" my '86 Bluesbird, Bryan Setzer model. I bought it for it's uniqueness. a beautiful body and neck, with awful
bridge and old electrics...(I paid 600 for it years ago) I never played it much, as I don't like the bright tone.
(And I have never been a big Setzer fan anyway).
I was not afraid to tinker on this guitar because frankly, it's not really a terrific classic Guild, at least not in
my mind..(...or worth much) or is it?
first problem: Bridge: factory installed Kahler 2500 Traditional fulcrum was a problem. it was in terrible adjustment when I got it, with
the low side set way up. some metalhead probably had this. I learned all about Kahlers, adjusted and intonated it. I replaced the missing
locknut, and retuned. And I'm not a trem user anyway.
I finally just double blocked the bridge, with blocks on both sides of the trem block, as decking it was impossible on this body. That
permanently?? fixed the tuning problems, but I still wasn't happy with it.
With Poplar blocks and my Dremel, I completely filled the trem cavity and sealed it, sanding and fitting until it was filled, including the
body top. (Poplar, same as the body, and Titebond wood glue) ready for a bridge replacement. originally I went with a string through Babicz,
but it wasn't right, and action height was a problem. I also really wanted to maintain an original look to the instrument.
