The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: Ampig on April 13, 2014, 11:28:59 AM
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Since I'm at a loss at the moment, I'm asking all you Gibson guru's for some help.
I'm looking for some replacement parts for my '78 Grabber G1 bridge. Mainly all the saddle screws or complete new saddles. I've been looking for a complete new bridge for a while, but a drop in replacement doesn't seem to exist.
The sizes of the screws and saddles don't seem to be standard sizes, which makes it even more difficult to find some replacements.
I'm not a big fan of drilling new holes in the bass (because I'm not sure of my own "skills"), so another bridge is not really an option.
Thanks!
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Any idea what size they actually are? There is a great surplus store here in Orlando with all sorts of goodies (think NASA surplus). I found bridge screws for Hagstrom's here etc.
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4-48 thread. Obsolete. Not a lot of them around, much less the ones Gibson used.
Try these:
http://www.fastenal.com/web/products/details/0174020;jsessionid=1FWVTLhLcQnQjZLRdTxJ67CzYnlj9Gl5kncyytns2Pf29nSs2q6z!379136172!403118208?isPunchout=false
You're going to have to cut them to length and figure out how to slot them- or just reduce the size of the head, it will save some shredding of your fingers.
Thread the screw into the saddle, cut off the excess and back the screw out. That will clean up the threads
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Thanks! Do you have any Idea what size of saddle screws were used? I'm not really familiar with the imperial measurement system, but it seems I'll have to order outside of Europe.
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Thanks! Do you have any Idea what size of saddle screws were used? I'm not really familiar with the imperial measurement system, but it seems I'll have to order outside of Europe.
4-48, that is #4 screw with 48 threads to the inch. I think the length is around .5 inches, 12mm LENGTH IS .75 inch. I can't get to my Grabber at the moment.
Might be cheaper to have the holes in the saddles drilled and tapped to accept metric thread allen screws.
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4-48 screws may be obsolete in the guitar world but they are still widely used in industrial applications. I occasionally use them myself.
They're available; you'll just have to order them on-line and you may have to order a quantity a bit greater than what you actually need.
What length screw (threaded length) do you need and what type head do you want on it? I'll see if I can set you up with a link.
-Bob
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4-48 screws may be obsolete in the guitar world but they are still widely used in industrial applications. I occasionally use them myself.
They're available; you'll just have to order them on-line and you may have to order a quantity a bit greater than what you actually need.
What length screw (threaded length) do you need and what type head do you want on it? I'll see if I can set you up with a link.
-Bob
.75 inch long threaded rod with a slot for a screwdriver blade cut into the top.
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Yeah, I'd bei interested in those too! Do they exist with allen heads too? That might be preferable in stability to the slotted alternative. IMHO the "metal" that Gibson used on these screws in the early days was horrible in quality. Come the 80ies and the last batches of Grabbers and G-3s, the quality of those screws improved.
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Yeah, I'd bei interested in those too! Do they exist with allen heads too? That might be preferable in stability to the slotted alternative. IMHO the "metal" that Gibson used on these screws in the early days was horrible in quality. Come the 80ies and the last batches of Grabbers and G-3s, the quality of those screws improved.
First '75 Grabber I bought the saddle screws were mostly rusted/broken so I sent the bass back. On my current one, which came with bridge cover in place, they're all unbroken and no rust, they work fine. I always loosen strings before adjusting to relieve pressure on them.
If I WAS replacing them I'd go with these:
http://www.fastenal.com/web/products/details/0174020;jsessionid=1FWVTLhLcQnQjZLRdTxJ67CzYnlj9Gl5kncyytns2Pf29nSs2q6z!379136172!403118208?isPunchout=false
Stainless steel, slotted pan heads small enough not to be a problem, and just slightly longer (+6mm) than originals.
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Is that more than a dollar for one of these :o or do they come in a pack?
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Is that more than a dollar for one of these :o or do they come in a pack?
Yes, more than a dollar each. About $11 for eight plus shipping. Maybe Velodog can find an alternative.
The closest retail store is in Longwood, Florida. It's 125 miles from me.
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One single screw for more than a dollar?!!!! :o You can get two of them for that type of money right across from us in the red light district. What are they made of, unobtainium?
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I don't mean to make fun but it seems funny to hear guys complaining about spending $11 to make their bass fully functional considering the hundreds to thousands we spent buying them.
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Buy American and accept that spares will be "exotic" - the logic would be a stainless steel UNF machine screw but the only (UK) ones I've found have been pan-head and they are not fully threaded ...
There are bound to be European suppliers, but ...
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I don't mean to make fun but it seems funny to hear guys complaining about spending $11 to make their bass fully functional considering the hundreds to thousands we spent buying them.
George, fun eeze a always ok-a here! Of course you're right, but that a single screw could cost that much or that it is even sold as a single screw and not in a batch of a dozen or so for, say, $ 3,99 is totally alien to these European tool shop/hardware store eyes!!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: I honestly thought I was misunderstanding something.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPlcE3GcoFc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LOol4HLc5c
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I hear ya, Uwe. I would be going online to try and find them cheaper as well. ;)
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Got a Grabber (1975) with rusty screws as well, I might follow this thread too..
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Got a Grabber (1975) with rusty screws as well, I might follow this thread too..
Why? To look at inane videos posted by a tech ignorant paper pusher?
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I can find 4-48 screws, but so far only in quantity, and most companies have a minimum order which is probably greater than you want to spend. Still looking and hope to find you something, maybe by tomorrow. In the meantime, here's a chart showing you how many head sizes are available:
http://kmac-distribution.com/machine-screws/threads/4-48.htm#.U00MyKKLjFw
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6 sets available
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/ME/4-48stainless_zps5851c946.jpg) (http://s976.photobucket.com/user/cata1d0/media/ME/4-48stainless_zps5851c946.jpg.html)
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Here's the, uhum, tech ignorant paper pusher with the inane vids (Wot? Leonard Bernstein & Andy Shernoff = inane?) clamoring for this US hi-tech product whose production costs I must have thoroughly underestimated. I'll buy a set, what's your paypal address, the one listed in the picture?
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...what's your paypal address.
PM sent
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Is this what you're looking for?
http://www.mcmaster.com/#91794a745/=rjv0ga
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Is this what you're looking for?
http://www.mcmaster.com/#91794a745/=rjv0ga
Those will work.
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OK, price has been reduced by 1/2 to reflect lower wholesale prices. Stainless Steel. .75 inch long, same thread length as the originals. Uwe, you sent me enough $$ for 2 sets at this price.
If anyone wants the 1" ones (blued steel) they are the same price, $10 a set USA, $12 EU.
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/ME/4-48stainless_zps5851c946.jpg) (http://s976.photobucket.com/user/cata1d0/media/ME/4-48stainless_zps5851c946.jpg.html)
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The McMaster-Carr link above is the best alternative I found, but someone else has already posted it. The JAEBird/Cataldo source is also not bank-breaking.
There's also an eBay seller who has 4-48 socket head cap screws, 3/4" length, in a 25-pack for $8.50 with free shipping:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Socket-Head-Cap-Screw-4-48-x-3-4-Qty-25-Fine-Thread-/360774686997?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53ffd8d915
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6 sets available
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/ME/4-48stainless_zps5851c946.jpg) (http://s976.photobucket.com/user/cata1d0/media/ME/4-48stainless_zps5851c946.jpg.html)
I'm going to try and set up a paypall account tonight, and then I'd like one set.
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"Uwe, you sent me enough $$ for 2 sets at this price."
I'm fine with one set, send me a couple of Lifesavers Wild Cherry rolls, I'm addicted to those!
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"Uwe, you sent me enough $$ for 2 sets at this price."
I'm fine with one set, send me a couple of Lifesavers Wild Cherry rolls, I'm addicted to those!
I'll see what I can do. At the least I'll refund your excess Paypal.
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I'm going to try and set up a paypall account tonight, and then I'd like one set.
You can email me at:
jaebird@cataldobasses.com
for my paypal address
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I'll see what I can do. At the least I'll refund your excess Paypal.
Don't bother, it's alright. I'm happy to have those screws.
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I didn't realize the OP was looking for saddle height screws. In that case, these may work out a little better, even if they're a little shorter:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#91375a119/=rkdwwe
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Those are perfect with the hex socket and all!
But 25 of them for only 10 dollars? My paper pushing self is repelled in tech ignorance!!!!
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I didn't realize the OP was looking for saddle height screws. In that case, these may work out a little better, even if they're a little shorter:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#91375a119/=rkdwwe
I'm looking for all the bridge screws actually :)
@Uwe: maybe we can split one order of saddle height screws if you need them?
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I'm looking for all the bridge screws actually :)
By 'all' do you mean the saddle length adjusters or the plate mounting screws?
Length adjusters are 4-48 x 1.25 inch slotted pan heads on my '75. Mounting screws are #6 x .75 inch oval head phillips nickel plated.
edited for screw length
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Pack of 50 Stainless steel 1" fillister heads, $12.46. UPS shipping 350 miles, $6.50. Would have cost close to $10 to ship to the west coast from McMaster.
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/ME/P1050795_zps5bd7c981.jpg) (http://s976.photobucket.com/user/cata1d0/media/ME/P1050795_zps5bd7c981.jpg.html)
Installed, same 3/4" thread length as originals. Less likely to tear up a muting hand or rust compared to headless steel. Fit under stock bridge cover.
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/ME/P1050802_zpsf75c5c12.jpg) (http://s976.photobucket.com/user/cata1d0/media/ME/P1050802_zpsf75c5c12.jpg.html)
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I'm looking for all the bridge screws actually :)
@Uwe: maybe we can split one order of saddle height screws if you need them?
Sure, I'll probably order two packs in any case. Will do after Easter.