Can you fit a RH Legacy with a LH vintage Strat Bridge?

[Jason-Acidjac]

Hey, im wondering if anybody knows if you can switch the Dual Fulcrum Trem on an american Legacy for a Left hand Vintage Strat Bridge, Stevie Ray style. The body cavity on the G&L looks bigger but im not sure if that will effect the operation. The other option is doing a left handed G&L bridge but it seems theres extra routing on the trem arm side... which im not totally opposed too. Im going for funtionality not looks and hoping somebody on here might have tried this already to save me ripping my bridge off unnecessarily.

Thanks!

Peace - Jason

[zapcosongs]

Why do you wish to change the DF bridge? It's far superior to the one you want to replace it with. - ed

[Jason-Acidjac]

Well aside from wanting the bar to hang from the left side, The only thing i dont like about my G&L is the set screw for the trem arm. The allen keys are always falling out of my case, then i either dont have it for shows or i use the one thats for my ASATS bridge adjustment and strip the damn thing so i cant get the bar out... i would rather have something that threads in and Im wary of taking a tap and die set to my guitar.

[Lefty]

Well aside from wanting the bar to hang from the left side, The only thing i dont like about my G&L is the set screw for the trem arm. The allen keys are always falling out of my case, then i either dont have it for shows or i use the one thats for my ASATS bridge adjustment and strip the damn thing so i cant get the bar out... i would rather have something that threads in and Im wary of taking a tap and die set to my guitar.

Yeah, the set screw holding the trem arm is a PITA - wonder why G&L has never improved on this?

[Boogie Bill]

Got to be the craziest mod idea I've heard in a VERY long time.

Bill

[Craig]

Sorry Ed,

Your post has been deleted.

But you know the rules.

[zapcosongs]

Lol!

I honestly thought I knew the rules, Craig, until you were wise to allow a respectful dabble into gun ownership and rights on this very site. We're kindred spirits here by way of G&L, and I was proud of you for respecting reasonable rights of free speech in this forum.

But this happy occurrence - with good reason - blurred my understanding of what is allowed here. What I did is make a lighthearted joke, comparing replacing a solid G&L DF trem with something uh, less sturdy and tested. You are making something out of nothing. Again.

I urge you to reconsider, and to attempt in the future to err on the side of free speech (like you did with the gun thing) unless someone gives you good reason to play editor-in-speech. I think you over-reacted, especially given the blurry line that you have drawn and my obvious (but perhaps unworthy) attempt at satire. - ed

[JagInTheBag]

Got to be the craziest mod idea I've heard in a VERY long time.

Bill

Not entirely, I spoke to the fine folks at Fullerton just last week about swapping for a lefty dual fulcrum on a RH body. They told me we'd have to route for the tremolo on the other side, but it is doable. When you are picking, the trem arm falls naturally into your hand, a compy fit as you downstroke. If you listen to Hendrix, there is a lot of nuanced trem work that just naturally occurs as he strums and picks, because he played his tremolo bridge upside down. I think it's worth experimenting with! Godspeed.

[louis cyfer]

Got to be the craziest mod idea I've heard in a VERY long time.

Bill

Not entirely, I spoke to the fine folks at Fullerton just last week about swapping for a lefty dual fulcrum on a RH body. They told me we'd have to route for the tremolo on the other side, but it is doable. When you are picking, the trem arm falls naturally into your hand, a compy fit as you downstroke. If you listen to Hendrix, there is a lot of nuanced trem work that just naturally occurs as he strums and picks, because he played his tremolo bridge upside down. I think it's worth experimenting with! Godspeed.

the tremolo work is indeed better with the upside down tremolo, but muting on the lower strings will not be an option.

[Miles Smiles]

Yeah, the set screw holding the trem arm is a PITA

Never had a problem with them, but I tighten the screw so the arm stays in place wherever I place it and it never gets loose. Nylon bushing is between arm and screw, of course.

There's some glue like stuff for fixing nuts on a screw, so they are not glued together, but it's harder to move. I don't know how it's called in English.

[Boogie Bill]

Got to be the craziest mod idea I've heard in a VERY long time.

Bill

Not entirely, I spoke to the fine folks at Fullerton just last week about swapping for a lefty dual fulcrum on a RH body. They told me we'd have to route for the tremolo on the other side, but it is doable. When you are picking, the trem arm falls naturally into your hand, a compy fit as you downstroke. If you listen to Hendrix, there is a lot of nuanced trem work that just naturally occurs as he strums and picks, because he played his tremolo bridge upside down. I think it's worth experimenting with! Godspeed.

Sure it is "do-able", fitting a LH DF Vibrato..but you will have to do some routing and some filling. I personally don't think it's a good idea, because you'll ruin the value of the guitar, with no way to judge the suitability of the mod BEFORE you do the damage.

Now, it is a fashionable thing to to since Jimi and Stevie Ray had their guitars that way, but....they were using a Fender vintage "Synchronized Tremelo"--which is what I believed you were asking about in your original post. That vibrato doesn't float like the DF, and because the DF sits taller--I would think it not going to be nearly as comfortable as the LH Synchronized Tremelo would be.

To use a vintage Fender Trem, you'd probably have to completely fill the DFV hole and do a complete re-route. You'd probably have to install a new pickguard. And you're going to have to think very carefully about the routing and the placement of the Trem, or you'll mess up the intonation. And then you'll need to refinish the filled areas. Ain't going to be easy or cheap.

Myself, if I really wanted a guitar with a LH Trem, I'd probably go to Warmouth or a custom builder. I think it would save me money in the long run, and probably get me a better guitar with better resale value than a modded G&L.

The best option, simplest and cheapest, would be a Fender SRV Strat. Modding it to the G&L PTB controls like your Legacy, would be a snap.

Yes, it is "do-able", but I still think it's a crazy idea.

Good Luck!

Bill

[louis cyfer]

boogie, that is a very good run down of the, well...cons. not really pros to be had. i have an srv strat, bought it for 400 bucks. i know that is a crazy deal, but you are right, still the best option as resale is not bad on those if you find a good used one. a custom builder guitar still won't have a good resale, certainly nothing close to what you'd put into it.