A Creative Solution to the Gibson Adjustable Bridge Conversion Dilemma

Many 60's Gibson flat-top owners will at some time consider converting their original adjustable bridge to a drop-in saddle version, but doing so usually means some kind of less-than-ideal cosmetic modification.
In this short video Folkway's Mark Stutman describes a conversion option that leaves the original guitar looking like its factory original self, but sounding like a drop-in-saddle converted version.

[@HayesTech]

Update to my earlier post: I made my own Brazilian rosewood insert and tightly fit it to my bridge. Then routed that insert for a standard sized Gibson saddle. But since I fit the insert tightly, I didn't need to glue it in. This way I can take it back to it's stock configuration, if I ever need to sell it (which will never happen..lol). So now it's has the look and sound of a standard bridge and saddle, but it's not permanently altered.

[@johnnystrat]

Since my last comment about a year ago, I now have a 1965 Gibson B-45-12 and a 1967 Epi FT 45 Cortez, both came with adj. saddles, and both sound so much better now that they've been converted to solid fixed saddles. The Cortez in particular has a lovely warm vintage tone.

[@lh3428]

We were excited to hear it as well…

[@johnnystrat]

Good solution and video. I have a 1965 Epiphone FT85 (12 string) with an adjustable saddle which sounds great and which I wouldn't dare convert. The saddle on my 1970 Gibson J50 has been converted and that sounds great as well. I still have the adj. saddle and screws so there is the temptation to change back to the original set-up, just for comparison's sake. The big mystery is why on earth anybody at Gibson thought that plastic bridges were a good idea!

[@HarryNicNicholas]

right there with you.

[@jordangibson695]

I did something similar with a Harmony H1266 by adding a rosewood floor to the saddle slot, but I just created an ivory saddle to fill it and did away with the screws for cosmetics.

[@scottreeves1226]

Nice. I did that on an early 50's J-45 in 1972. The bridge plate was not as monstrous as that one's original, and I kept the ceramic saddle. It was a killer guitar. I wasn't allowed close to the microphone when I played rhythm.

[@russellpowell5767]

Mark I’m always on the lookout for your latest video Thinking outside the box on this one worked out really well. That plywood bridge plate and plastic bridge, had to go. I have a 64 Epiphone Texan with the ceramic adjustable saddle that sounds so good I decided to leave it. I did swap the adjustable saddle to a bone one on my wife’s J45- big improvement Keep up the videos

[@HarryNicNicholas]

i have a 66 J45 that had the bridge replaced with a fixed (not gibson, not my idea) and i also have a 69 epi texan with an adjustable - they sound different but i can't say one sounds better, this bridge thing is mythology i think - why would gibson make adjustable bridges (however redundant they become once you've got them just right) if it was going to make an inferior sounding guitar?

[@gdavisafrica2001]

Thanks for the video. I did something similar with my 59 J50. The bridge plate was 3/16" solid maple. Had to leave it in place but the increase in tone, volume and sustain, were quite noticeable.

[@golds04]

I have a 63 southern jumbo with the fabled plastic bridge, which is adjustable and would never touch it for all the money in the world unless it breaks. It sounds beautiful.

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

When they’re good they can sound incredible. Sounds like you’ve got one of those! Some of the plastic bridge jumbos have been among the most beguiling Gibsons I’ve played.

[@golds04]

@@TheFolkwayMusic thanks for the reply. Yes, maybe I just got lucky.✌️

[@martinsundland7614]

A great job as always - both on the guitar and your pesentation.

[@joemcgraw5529]

Very Nice !!! You found a Great way to fix these types of terrible designed bridges and it looks untouched ,It would be nice to do a before and after sound clip because now the guitar will sound like it should have years ago

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Definitely would have been a good idea!

[@PaisleyPatchouli]

I'm 100% in favor of doing anything necessary to resurrect these 60s B25s. They can be really great sounding and playing vintage 60s Gibsons, for very reasonable pricing. I've owned several over the years, including one of the 12 strings that had a trapeze bridge and 2" saddle, and which was quite bold sounding for a 00 size 12 string! I wish you had strung this one up for a demo of how it sounded after the conversion! Otherwise great vid and good info about the replacement saddles.

[@robertdievendorf3312]

A wonderfully imaginative solution. Hopefully no one down the line tries to adjust the faux adjustable saddle! I still don’t understand why Gibson brought back the adjustable saddle for their retro 60’s J-50 series. I know its period correct, but still bad engineering. Glad to see your video - I’ve missed them.

[@HarryNicNicholas]

"it's bad engineering" i hear this a lot, but why would gibson make adjustable bridges, that is why would they make guitars that are inferior? i have a 66 gibson j45 that was converted - sounds fabulous, but i also have a 69 epi texan with an adjustable - sounds fabulous....

[@HayesTech]

Wish I could find someone close to me that would do that to my 65 Texan

[@jipes]

Very smart switching

[@Joebenedettmusic]

I thought the point would be to have a drop in saddle and if you wanted to go back to the original adjustable you could gluing in that insert messed that up

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Many people simply install a fixed insert, but the difference in tone is significant between that short-cut and a fully fixed bridge.

[@dalonergan]

Great solution

[@pascalgalipeau1796]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. I recently bought this exact same made in Japan bridge for a 1966 J-50 I recently purchase. It had an original rosewood saddle. You could hear it sounded nice but was kind of dull. Now, with this bone nut, the sound has improved big time. The only thing we did not change is the bridge plate. It seems a bit tricky to get out without opening the guitar from the back. Any tips on that? Cheers!

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Bridgeplate removal is tricky, and if your repair person thinks you need to remove the back to do it you’ve got the wrong repairperson on the job.

[@BillBrown101]

Great job. Did you use only glue for the new bridge or use screws too to secure it to the top?

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Left the bolts out of this one altogether.

[@GuitarQuackery]

Are the two inlays on the replacement bridge also just for show, or did you put the nuts & bolts there?

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Bolts added! Just because...

[@pallecla]

And the Hosco saddle is actually quite cheap 🙂

[@HarryNicNicholas]

i have a 66 J45 that had the bridge replaced with a fixed (not gibson, not my idea) and i also have a 69 epi texan with an adjustable - they sound different but i can't say one sounds better, this bridge thing is mythology i think - why would gibson make adjustable bridges (however redundant they become once you've got them just right) if it was going to make an inferior sounding guitar? the only thing i wonder about is the material, ceramic looks nice, rosewood seems more appropriate and ebony looks good too. i like how you've compromised there, i like the look of adjustable bridges and it doesn't seem to affect the sound of my twins, but people do moan...

[@kurtinklern3262]

Did you replace the bridge plate? With what?

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

The plate can be replaced with maple, if you choose.

[@tomehCanada]

Cool solution.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

The adjustable bridge makes them useful.

[@12Radius]

Cool story 👋

[@kewlbreeze6877]

I have an 71 alvarez 5022 with a similar bridge, and similar tone issues. Have you converted any of those to this set up? If different what did you use ?

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

I'm sorry, but I have zero experience with the model of guitar you've mentioned!

[@kewlbreeze6877]

@@TheFolkwayMusic I did the modification to the Alvarez, similar set up to the Gibson, more narrow at the bridge but yes drastically changes tone for the better

[@user-yu4wt3ir9z]

Hello~ Is it possible to make and sell abj bridges?!

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

We only make them for instruments we're working on. We cannot make them properly without having the guitar on our bench. Thanks!

[@rstevenhanson]

You know your shit!

[@patricklundquist9869]

Pity the next owner when he attempts to adjust the bridge by cranking those "stuck" fake adjustment screws.

[@TheFolkwayMusic]

Hopefully the next owner will have been warned no to try! The saddle is easily adjustable the same way any other drop-in saddle is adjusted.

[@guitarsid]

I regret to say that ugly is still ugly, a new bridge, made like a new style Gibson bridge would be beautiful.

[@paulgartner4619]

Might be to suit customer