Putting a fixed bridge on a JEM

[JEAPSON]

I know this may sound like a crime to some people around here but I plan to put a fixed bridge on a JEM instead of the manufactory tremolo. Beyond the aesthetic aspect, I'm wondering if you guys would see some danger, problem or possible damage for the guitar. I would of course have this done by an experencied luthier. Thanks for your help and opinions.

[darren wilson]

Why not just block the trem?

[littlegreenman]

Originally Posted by JEAPSON

I know this may sound like a crime to some people around here but I plan to put a fixed bridge on a JEM instead of the manufactory tremolo. Beyond the aesthetic aspect, I'm wondering if you guys would see some danger, problem or possible damage for the guitar. I would of course have this done by an experencied luthier. Thanks for your help and opinions.

Buying a new body with a monkey grip cut in in and having it painted will cost you about the same if not a little less than converting a floating bridge guitar to a hardtail bridge. It is way more work than you can imagine making blocks to fit in all the existing routes, making them flush, and then refinishing the body. There are a couple places making replica Jem bodies that you could contact, EKG being the one listed on this site, I can do the finish on it, and then you have a proper fixed bridge body in the end, not a bastardized version of something. And, beyond that, you can probably sell the original Jem body for a good portion of what the new one will cost if you dont' want it.
Just my opinion.
Jeremy

[cerealk]

Or buy an RG body, have it converted to fixed bridge by some star like Brian Calvert (www.projectguitar.com) and then put on all the Jem bits you had before:

Maybe like this:


More pics here on the www.cereal--killer.com website

[Jammy]

that thing a beaut Si!

[The Madness Here]

Originally Posted by littlegreenman

Buying a new body with a monkey grip cut in in and having it painted will cost you about the same if not a little less than converting a floating bridge guitar to a hardtail bridge. It is way more work than you can imagine making blocks to fit in all the existing routes, making them flush, and then refinishing the body. There are a couple places making replica Jem bodies that you could contact, EKG being the one listed on this site, I can do the finish on it, and then you have a proper fixed bridge body in the end, not a bastardized version of something. And, beyond that, you can probably sell the original Jem body for a good portion of what the new one will cost if you dont' want it.
Just my opinion.
Jeremy

but if he were to do this, then it wouldn't really be the same guitar anymore.

[darren wilson]

Originally Posted by The Madness Here

but if he were to do this, then it wouldn't really be the same guitar anymore.

Nor would it be if he filled up all the cavities, refinished it and put in a fixed bridge. The advantage of going the custom-body route is you can always migrate the neck, hardware and electronics back to the old body if you want to restore the guitar to its stock condition.

[The Madness Here]

but it retains more of its original "guitarness" than if the whole body where replaced

[littlegreenman]

Originally Posted by The Madness Here

but it retains more of its original "guitarness" than if the whole body where replaced

I disagree, it wastes the original body completely. Besides, he obviously wants to have it be a custom guitar anyway.

Simon,
Thats all fine and good, but I can see the lines in your pictures where the block was put in, to me that is unacceptable, as time goes by, due to the nature of wood, it will get worse as well, there is a method that you can use that will not show over time, but by the time you do all of that you could have a fixed bridge body built for the same money.

[cerealk]

Cost for the work was $0

The only costs were for the $25 RG body and shipping.

If you dont like the work then talk to Brian Calvert about it. I am probably going to put a veneer over it anyway so the 'unacceptable' bit will disappear!

[jemsite]

a replacement body makes the most sense to me, keeping the original intact (better resale and perhaps you might change your mind oneday) ...glen

[littlegreenman]

Originally Posted by cerealk

Cost for the work was $0

The only costs were for the $25 RG body and shipping.

If you dont like the work then talk to Brian Calvert about it. I am probably going to put a veneer over it anyway so the 'unacceptable' bit will disappear!

Right, for you it was $0, so Brian could do the tutorial, that's not going to be an option for this guy, he's going to have to find somebody who will do the work for $$$.
Liking or not liking the work has nothing to do with my post either, I'm just stating a fact that if you want a perfect finish guitar body, filling in cavity routes is not a viable option.

[marianozz]

Originally Posted by cerealk

Or buy an RG body, have it converted to fixed bridge by some star like Brian Calvert (www.projectguitar.com) and then put on all the Jem bits you had before:

if youre gonna get a replacement body, why not get a fixed bridge one?

[darren wilson]

Again, i ask: Why not just block the trem?

[Gresh]

Originally Posted by darren wilson

Again, i ask: Why not just block the trem?

Indeed!! Keep it simple.