Epiphone Dot Bridge and Tailpiece swap

[83 blazer]

Last year I swapped string gauge on my Dot to 0.011 to 0.049's and I noticed that there wasn't enough travel in the stock bridge to intonate the G string properly. It was only just out, but I couldn't be bothered carefully removing the bridge and trying to fix it by flipping the saddle to give a little more adjustment room. I just put up with it as it was.

Well, a couple of weeks ago with a string change on the horizon I decided I would purchase a new wider bridge from Musiclily to give me more travel to get the intonation correct. I though I might as well purchase a new tailpiece too just because it was affordable and the old one was showing signs of finish wear (relicing!)

In 7 days I had the new parts in my hands all the way from China to my door in Australia.

For those who believe that mass adds sustain (?) the bridge is 8 grams heavier than the stock one at 54 grams and the tailpiece is 18 grams heavier at 90 grams. The new bridge is 2.01 mm wider at 13.86mm (outside width).

Both parts came with replacement posts but I took the easy route of using the existing posts. They didn't fit as snug as the stock parts but there was only a little extra play in the bridge which was nullified by the string tension once I re-strung the guitar.

Overall I'm really happy with the swap and the parts from Musiclily. I actually re-strung with 0.009 - 0.46 D'Addario XL's and the intonation is fine, but there is plenty more travel available should I go thicker again one day and need the extra again.

Pics:

 

[syscokid]

For those who believe that mass adds sustain (?) the bridge is 8 grams heavier than the stock one at 54 grams and the tailpiece is 18 grams heavier at 90 grams. The new bridge is 2.01 mm wider at 13.86mm (outside width).

Can you tell if it made a difference in sustain? Or any other differences?

Are you a Lakers fan?

New hardware looks good...

 

[83 blazer]

Can you tell if it made a difference in sustain? Or any other differences?

Are you a Lakers fan?

New hardware looks good...

Nice pickup on the Lakers reflection. No I’m not, but my son is so he put their logo as my computer wallpaper. I don’t really follow the NBA. I was semi interested some years back when Luc Longley was at the Bulls as it’s always nice to see a local boy doing well.

When I thought of doing this I was going to record before and after tests on sustain, tone etc. but when I did the work it was midnight and I couldn’t be bothered setting up to record.

What I have noticed is there was some kind of soft ghost note ringing before which doesn’t seem to be there now. Not sure why? The old bridge did have the retaining wire whereas the new one doesn’t so maybe it has got rid of some kind of sympathetic vibration?

I couldn’t comment on sustain. A new set of strings always seems to sound like they hold a note longer and the lighter gauge feels under the finger like it rings longer but I don’t have any conclusive evidence either way. Could be the strings could be the hardware, could be both, could be in my head

I’m pleased with the look and the extra adjustment available may come in handy one day so I’m more than happy. The quality looks good at this stage.

 

[JohnnyGoo]

Them Epi Dots are good guitars. The new hardware looks good too.

 

[83 blazer]

Them Epi Dots are good guitars. The new hardware looks good too.

They sure are.
I love playing mine, but I love playing my others too. I hate having to pick one for gigs. I don’t get to swap and change so it is always one or the other. It’s mostly been between the Dot and the SG in recent times!

Really happy with the hardware. Seems really solid. One thing I have done is lower the pickups considerably. The neck is now level with the pickup ring. There isn’t a noticeable reduction in volume but it has appeared to lessen some of the nominees. Won’t get to know the real effect of this until practice tomorrow night. Through headphones it seems to have taken off some of the ‘harshness’ from the top end as well. The bridge is still really powerful but a little bit more refined.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

The new bridge and tailpiece look better, and are just good upgrades on an Epi, imho.

The Epi dot is interesting in so much as many folks say, for them, it's actually better than the Gibson alternative. Or, at the very least, a very good alternative at a lot less money. To me, the difference between an Epi SG and a Gibson is quite substantial. I've never had a Gibson LP (&, my Epiphone is a special, so not exactly a maple capped monster like the full blooded LPs). But, time after time, I've seen reviewers and players saying the Epi dot is their preferred choice.