Legacy vibrato arm modification

[SouthPaw]

Hi there,
I just wanted to run this one past you guys for ideas.
I have a 1997 3 bolt Legacy which i absolutely love playing, it is basically everything you could want in this style of guitar. In recent times i have come back to using the vibrato (both on this and on my old strat) after years of having them chocked up or locked down etc cause i never used them. This came about when decided a year or two back to upgrade the old strat with a callaham steel block and saddles, and on a whim thought i will try the Gilmour shorty vibrato arm from them too. Suddenly i found i could actually use this comfortably, it put my hand in the right place and just feels better... (The saddles and block were a noticeable improvement too btw)
So now i find myself wanting to do the same sort of thing with the Legacy... I find the standard arm too long and feels kind of heavy and 'clunky' but i am reluctant to cut my original bar down. I'm happy to swap parts out and so on, but i always keep the original parts (you now, "just in case")
I know i can buy a new one on the G&L store and cut it down, and i'm ok with that, but as i live in Australia, the shipping is more expensive than the part itself.
So while I may well go down that path, i just wanted to see if any of you may have had similar thoughts, or tried anything else that worked for you, and other suggestions or tips would be appreciated.
I am sure i once saw a really short arm somewhere "palm bar" perhaps? (It was maybe 2" long) though I couldn't seem to find anything about it just now.
Anyway,
Oh and please post any photos if you have done any similar mod.


Thanks for reading

Cheers
SouthPaw

[yowhatsshakin]

SouthPaw,

You might want to look for some aluminum bar stock of the right diameter, some masking tape, and a vise such that you can bend one in exactly the shape you want to and then cut it to length. The tape is used so the vise claws do not leave marks when you clamp the bar tightly. A hollow pipe is a good tool to extend the lever arm for easy bending. You still would need a proper tool to bevel the edges and ends.

- Jos

[Elwood]

I am sure i once saw a really short arm somewhere "palm bar" perhaps? (It was maybe 2" long) though I couldn't seem to find anything about it just now.

Were you thinking of the old Kahler palm bars? Those are cool.
Hopefully you'll find a bar w/cheap shipping...sounds like a worthy project.

[repoman]

The dude from Umprey's McGee sells a real short bar. I've never tried it (or know anyone that has) but it seems interesting. Don't know what their shipping down under would cost.

the Jake Blade
http://merch.umphreys.com/Product.aspx?pc=UYAM42

-Jeff

[SouthPaw]

Thanks guys, i think the jake blade was indeed the one i was thinking of, but looking at it again... Hmmm i think the ill just save up for the postage and from the g&l store and cut it down myself...

[SouthpawGuy]

Any small machine shop should be able to make you up a trem arm. I made one for myself a long time back for my '78 Strat from stainless steel with a polished brass knob. It's also shorter than the norm but has a nice bit of weight to it.

[Craig]

Thanks guys, i think the jake blade was indeed the one i was thinking of, but looking at it again... Hmmm i think the ill just save up for the postage and from the g&l store and cut it down myself...

Don't forget to select USPS as the shipping option:

SHIPPING COST
You may choose to ship by USPS or UPS and the cost of shipping options for your order will be shown at checkout before payment is required.
This way you will see how much it costs to ship your order before you commit to purchasing.

Have you tried contacting Jack's Music as they are the G&L Austrailian Distributor?

[Unwitting Accomplice]

amazing timing. I had a Callahan short bar for my last Strat before I sold it (still have the bar - just in case). I literally just ordered a new trem arm for my Legacy so I could cut it and modify it and also still have a stock one.

[trem]

I spoke to Bill and asked if he could make me an exact Callaham Gilmour bar that he makes but just without threads and 5.84mm diameter. He said no. That was after turning me down on a steel block (like, can't he even just say, "Yeah, It'll be $800" but all I got was a flat no to both).

I used a dremel metal cutting wheel attachment and made a few cuts until it got down to manageable size. It's not ideal since the bend of the bar goes up and angles (about an inch or so is left of the bar after the bend), whereas Fender bars are straight. Overall, it's easier to make it sound like a slide guitar while holding the short awkward bar when picking than the huge stock bar, but if you want to do big dives the long bar is better.