TONY IOMMI 'Monkey' 1964 SG Special Replica Guitar

Keep in mind, that bridge isn't just a stop bar with a couple of adjustment screws added at the back end - there seems to be a subtle twist in the apex of the arch across the top of them which no doubt was added to aid intonation.
I think those are coming from Faber for Gibson. MojoAxe has been making these compensated apex bar bridges for a while now. The Faber's cost about $60... The MojoAxe's cost $130... !!!!


MojoAxe%20Wraptail%20-%20compared%20to%20vintage.jpg


MojoAxe%20CWT%20Bridge%20Compensation.jpg
 
I think those are coming from Faber for Gibson. MojoAxe has been making these compensated apex bar bridges for a while now. The Faber's cost about $60... The MojoAxe's cost $130... !!!!


View attachment 37384


View attachment 37385

Y'know, I am just going from what I remember noodling around in the shop, but it didn't even seem as pronounced as that. May really have been more of a taper thing - like a changing radius - but you can definitely see it in a reflection.
 
Hi guys. What I saw was they got the original guitar from the Hard Rock Cafe and did a scan of it. They got John Birch's apprentice to wind the pickups so it should be pretty close to the original.

I agree though signature guitars are silly!View attachment 37278

CRAP! Never mind!
@shreddy bender
I believe I have said before-- but if not and just because it deserves it again
:bow::bow::bow::bow::bow::bow::bow::bow::bow::bow::bow::bow::bow:
 
How can that bridge even get close to intonating properly?

I think it's about neck angle and just generally everything made correctly.

Gibsons obviously (due to the set neck, headstock angle, other) really need more time to get the neck angle right at production time than say a bolt-on neck Fender with a lower angle headstock; Fender seem to have been much more pragmatic at production time than Gibson. But, if done right, like my 2018 junior, then it all comes together perfectly. My 2018 had that bridge and intonated far better than my 2019 lightening bridge Special - I notice the Special neck angle is slightly more than the junior, the bridge is thus slightly raised to compensate, etc, and you just don't get perfection. But, when a Gibson is made right, even that simple looking bridge gets you intonating fine (perhaps knowing where to fret with slightly less pressure on the neck).

If you then add a slight metal shaping as per the Faber/MojoAxe to a '61 style bridge then it's very good, imho. Shame Gibson can't fix their crap lightening bridges on the Specials! (Thomann are sending me a new one which they have to get through their distributor warranty program from Gibson, so they warned me it may take some time; a mojoaxe is on the way anyways, but bloody Gibson should be aware of their issues and make it right until they fix their production problems, imho; so even though I was tempted to tell Thomann not to bother, I decided to go through with the warranty claim, so it adds to Gibson's, no doubt long, list of lightening bridge problems, and maybe they will get in better quality bridges in future...).

An interesting observation is:

Look at old '61/'62 Juniors/Specials - most of them still have the original bridges.

Look at old '63 Juniors/Specials - 70s(?) until that monstrosity harmonica thing eESGe posted (it may be good but it's fugly, I would never have it anywhere near my guitar...), so many have had new bridges fitted.

To me, that suggests the earlier design is better - the angle on the bridge studs is needed (add to that the twist or lightening to the bridge and combined you get where you need to be), Gibson should have kept that perhaps...

Edit, BTW, I've noticed a couple of interesting guitars for sale in Seoul, I may go and have a look; 2018 LP Junior for US$1190 and a 2019 SG SG Junior for US$1357:

Screenshot 2020-01-24 at 13.26.29.png

Screenshot 2020-01-24 at 13.26.23.png
 
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I think it's about neck angle and just generally everything made correctly.

Gibsons obviously (due to the set neck, headstock angle, other) really need more time to get the neck angle right at production time than say a set neck Fender with a lower angle headstock. But, if done right, like my 2018 junior, then it all comes together perfectly. My 2018 had that bridge and intonated far better than my 2019 lightening bridge Special - I notice the Special neck angle is slightly more than the junior, the bridge is thus slightly raised to compensate, etc, and you just don't get perfection. But, when a Gibson is made right, even that simple looking bridge gets you intonating fine (perhaps knowing where to fret with slightly less pressure on the neck).

If you then add a slight metal shaping as per the Faber/MojoAxe to a '61 style bridge then it's very good, imho. Shame Gibson can't fix their crap lightening bridges on the Specials! (Thomann are sending me a new one which they have to get through their distributor warranty program from Gibson, so they warned me it may take some time; a mojoaxe is on the way anyways, but bloody Gibson should be aware of their issues and make it right until they fix their production problems, imho; so even though I was tempted to tell Thomann not to bother, I decided to go through with the warranty claim, so it adds to Gibsons, no doubt long, list of lightening bridge problems, and maybe they will get in better quality bridges in future...).

An interesting observation is:

Look at old '61/'62 Juniors/Specials - most of them still have the original bridges.

Look at old '63 Juniors/Specials - 70s(?) until that monstrosity harmonica thing eESGe posted (it may be good but it's fugly, I would never have it anywhere near my guitar...), so many have had new bridges fitted.

To me, that suggests the earlier design is better - the angle on the bridge studs is needed (add to that the twist or lightening to the bridge and combined you get where you need to be), Gibson should have kept that perhaps...

Edit, BTW, I've noticed a couple of interesting guitars for sale in Seoul, I may go and have a look; 2018 LP Junior for US$1190 and a 2019 SG SG Junior for US$1357:

View attachment 37400

View attachment 37401

Both of the Juniors 2018 are great guitars, love mine
 
Both of the Juniors 2018 are great guitars, love mine

I know the SG junior is great, but I don't find my Epi LP special anything like as pleasant to play as SGs; I need to try the Gibson out for comfort though. I think my Epiphone is gonna go and be replaced by another Gibson SG. Wife won't be happy...
 
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