Having said this, there are a lot worse guitars out there, and as well as being historically important, the 1820 bass can certainly provide the goods when required. Over the course of the 70s, the Japanese output improved dramatically, and in many ways these early 70s models are a low point for the brand. These new Epiphones were based on existing Matsumoku guitars, sharing body shapes, and hardware, but the Epiphone line was somewhat upgraded, with inlaid logos and a 2x2 peghead configuration. The Matsumoku factory had been producing guitars for export for some time, but the 1820 bass (alongside a number of guitar models and the 5120 electric acoustic bass) were the first Epiphone models to be made there. Compensated Wraparound Zinc Diecast Bridge Made in the USA Zinc diecast 3 1/4 (82mm) post spacing Tailpiece ear thickness is. moreīy the end of the 1960s, a decision had been made to move Epiphone guitar production from the USA (at the Kalamazoo plant where Gibson guitars were made), to Matsumoto in Japan, creating a line of guitars and basses significantly less expensive than the USA-built models (actually less than half the price). Luckily, this is one of the easier vintage parts to source (see Ebay listings below). A wraparound bridge is an integral bridge/tailpiece unit constructed traditionally from a metal bar drilled with six holes on the underside, into which the strings are loaded from the front before wrapping up and over the curved bar and heading off over the pickups and toward the neck. Identifying this bridge/tailpiece is easy - original Gibson parts have two numbers TPBR859 in the cavities at either end of the bridge. Early examples were nickel plated, later chrome. There are no saddles, but the whole bridge, can be adjusted to some extnet via the grub screws behind each post (6-32 x 3/8). Many guitarists prefer this set up, even on guitars with a fitted vibrato, as a guitar with a stop tailpiece tends to stay in tune a little better. As a tailpiece, the strings enter the neck-side, then wrap over the bridge the ball ends of the strings are clearly visible in the second image. One advantage of this unit is it can be used just as a bridge, or as a combined bridge/tailpiece as seen in the first two images below. No matter the project, Faber® has the bridge studs you need.The TPBR-85 bridge was very widely used in the 1960s, on models such as Gibson Gibson SG Special, SG Junior, SG-TV, Melody Maker, Epiphone Coronet, Olympic and Kalamazoo KG guitars it would have been fitted to tens of thousands of guitars. The wraparound design brought accurate intonation to Les Paul Junior, SG Junior and similar solidbody guitars, and has been popular since the 1970s. The Musiclily Pro 52.5mm Pigtail Style Tune-o-matic Wraparound Adjustable Bridge turned out to be an excellent choice. A modern reproduction of the first combo bridge/tailpiece to feature individually adjustable saddles. Buying untried parts online can always be a gamble but this time I won. When the vintage look is not important, we recommend the Faber® BSWKIT, as that solution offers the best increase in sustain. Among other things to be upgraded was the bridge which I wanted to be adjustable as compared to the simple compensated factory version. If you want something that still has the vintage look, but want a stud that is a little more “meaty,” the 4mm studs and thumbwheels will do the trick.
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