Ge1996t question...

[Cboss]

I would like to use these gotoh tremolos on some of my hamer USA's, they ship with a 48 mm long string lock bolt, and our hamers use a shorter 35 mm, what have people done to make this work? Pretty sure the 40 mm would hit the wood as the Hamer usa's use a short cavity

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

When I put a Gotoh on my import Diablo I had to have the cavity altered by a luthier (a job I'd do myself now). Also be aware that Gotoh Floyd's have an 11mm diameter insert (for the bridge screws) where as the OFR's have a 10mm. It's likely you will have to remove your studs, redrill and fit the Gotoh ones...

 

[scottcald]

4 minutes ago, Victor (Fret Friend) said:

When I put a Gotoh on my import Diablo I had to have the cavity altered by a luthier (a job I'd do myself now). Also be aware that Gotoh Floyd's have an 11mm diameter insert (for the bridge screws) where as the OFR's have a 10mm. It's likely you will have to remove your studs, redrill and fit the Gotoh ones...

 

And, IMO, the Gotoh/Edge studs are so much better with the solid bottom and lock screws. 

[Jimbilly]

If you don't pull up a whole lot, the longer string lock bolts are not a problem.  Shorter bolts of the same thread/pitch/size shouldn't be impossible to find, if needed.

   I suppose you could cut/ 'die' the threads further down onto the stock bolts and make them as short as you'd like, I've had trouble trying to cut small bolts down and getting a nice tip on them, but it must be possible with the right tools.  But from viewing mine, there's plenty of thread already on those bolts, so cutting them down with a nice tip might be the solution you're looking for. 

  I put 1996 on a Cali a month or two ago (see my other post), I'm still conflicted about doing it again if needed, it might be better to just pay whatever for a hardened replacement base plate and swap over/replace parts as needed. 

[Cboss]

2 hours ago, Jimbilly said:

If you don't pull up a whole lot, the longer string lock bolts are not a problem.  Shorter bolts of the same thread/pitch/size shouldn't be impossible to find, if needed.

   I suppose you could cut/ 'die' the threads further down onto the stock bolts and make them as short as you'd like, I've had trouble trying to cut small bolts down and getting a nice tip on them, but it must be possible with the right tools.  But from viewing mine, there's plenty of thread already on those bolts, so cutting them down with a nice tip might be the solution you're looking for. 

  I put 1996 on a Cali a month or two ago (see my other post), I'm still conflicted about doing it again if needed, it might be better to just pay whatever for a hardened replacement base plate and swap over/replace parts as needed. 

I just came back from the hardware store where I got m4x35 bolts, going to try this when the tremolo shows up later this week, I'll post back how it goes.. if it's just a 4 mm bolt there won't be any problem at all, I know on the Floyd's there is a special end to the bolt that fits into a cavity on the string block, not sure at this point if that is also on the gotoh.

My personal experience changing the studs and the terminal is the gotoh is a gigantic upgrade.. kind of a jaw drop holy s***, there's my tone experience

PS really nice looking cali! If you ever want a change from that parallel axis neck try a wildle l45s..so beautiful 

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

The Gotoh Floyd is better made than an OFR. Don't get me wrong, tthe OFR is a fine piece of kit (I have one) but the Gotoh is Japanese precision and just looks better and more solid. I have one on my gigging Superstrat...

[Cboss]

Update, a very easy solution to this.. the stock bolts are too long and overhang, like in the picture of the Cali above, I got m4x35 mm bolts at the hardware store and turned down the top on each on a bench grinder, took Maybe 6 seconds per bolt, very very easy and it worked perfect, they are exactly the right length.