Replacement bridge/sustain block for '78 Sunburst

[78Sunburst]

Hi from Denmark everyone, 

My first post here, thanks for having me 😉 I've been sent here by John Mann, because he can't help me further, so he very kindly suggested that maybe this forum could. 

I have a 1978 Hamer Sunburst. Serial number is 8 0432, which corresponds to the 70s, and the pots are 1978. So far so good, but it has a Schaller replacement bridge on it that works but looks terrible. I have bought a replacement from MannMade, but that doesn't fit, it's too narrow. 

From what I can gather this is a known issue on the earliest Sunbursts, and looking at early ones the bridge plate does look slightly wider than the one I have from MannMade. Does anyone have one with the right width lying around that I can buy, or any other suggestions for how to get one? The guitar works as it is but just doesn't look right, and we can't have that 😉

Many thanks for any input, thoughts, etc. 

[Hbom]

Welcome to the group 78SB. I guess if you have already talked to Mann you know that you are kind of looking for a hen's tooth in a cow barn. They didn't make very many, and not many have survived. But they are around and do show up from time to time. And you are definitely in the right place to ask. There are some very deep parts drawers around.

Good luck in your search.

Doug

PS. Posts with pictures of old Hamers always draw more eyes than those with no pics. 

 

Edited August 16, 2025 by Hbom

[topekatj]

 

[Dave Scepter]

17 hours ago, topekatj said:

 

This is so badass!

[Hbom]

Got to agree that the Working Man bridge is a work of art. But wouldn't it have the same spacing problem that 78SB ran into with the Mann bridge?

 

[78Sunburst]

Hi everyone, 

Thanks for all the replies. Sorry about the missing pics, the file size was larger than the board would accept! Here they are redone. The first photo shows the Schaller bridge currently on the guitar, the third one is the MannMade replacement. In the photo it kinda looks like it fits but it very much doesn't. 

Sounds like a long shot to get an original or a modern replacement that fits, so it'll have to keep rocking out with the Schaller I guess! 😉 

[bruce919]

• find a machine shop a base made.  have it plated Nickel over a copper flash. 

[78Sunburst]

2 hours ago, bruce919 said:

• find a machine shop a base made.  have it plated Nickel over a copper flash. 

Yes, that is the next step!

[Hbom]

It's still early, post has only been up a couple of days. Give it some time. Not all the members check in every day.

[Jakeboy]

I had one of those Schallers on a Ric 650. It was a great bridge.

[BadgerDave]

I think the MannMade bridge could fit, but it would require drilling , dowelling and redrilling the holes for the mounting screws (assuming they don't currently line up) plus enlarging string channel openings on the top of the guitar.

Permanent modificiations, but they would be hidden under the bridge plate.

You'd also need to check carefully to make sure the neck angle is within the adjustment range of the bridge saddles.  If not, you could still make it work by shimming or grinding down the base plate.

Note that I've never done this, so check everything carefully before proceeding if you're considering it.

Edited August 23, 2025 by BadgerDave
spelling

[Dave Scepter]

1 hour ago, BadgerDave said:

I think the MannMade bridge could fit, but it would require drilling , dowelling and redrilling the holes for the mounting screws (assuming they don't currently line up) plus enlarging string channel openings on the top of the guitar.

Permanent modificiations, but they would be hidden under the bridge plate.

You'd also need to check carefully to make sure the neck angle is within the adjustment range of the bridge saddles.  If not, you could still make it work by shimming or grinding down the base plate.

Note that I've never done this, so check everything carefully before proceeding if you're considering it.

String spacing differences 

[Dutchman]

Maybe @hamerhead might have some of the ones he machined still?

[hamerhead]

Nope. Last one went on my Shishkov. And the MannMade bridges are really close to what I did, so I think whatever issue being had would be the same. It's kinda hard to tell from the picture exactly what's going on.

Is it spacing? The string spacing is a bit all over the board, depending on where the bridge was made. Not a huge difference between them, but they did vary.

Mounting holes? Dave's fix nailed it.

But if the mounting holes line up, it should work. Put it on and try it. The string-through-the-body holes don't have to align perfectly for the bridge to work. The bridge on my '81 Special had .025" difference (about 1/8" overall) between the string-through holes and the intonation screw holes, effectively mis-aligning the saddles. Worked fine.

We need more info.
 

[hamerhead]

From "The Hamer Fan Club"  (link:  https://www.hamerfanclub.com/494-2/  ) :

The earliest Sunbursts such as the 1978 example shown above have a bridge raised on a rosewood or ebony shim. The spacing of the strings is wider with this style of bridge so the string ferules at the back of the guitar are further apart than on later guitars. The photo below shows an early bridge and wooden-shim.

You may have to go this route. A Strat hardtail bridge plate and shim might get you there (I've never tried it).

Edited August 24, 2025 by hamerhead

[Hbom]

I have one of those. Came from 7 0124. Base plate appears to be pickguard material.

 

Been in the drawer for years. If you are interested let me know and I'll dig it out and get measurements.

Edited August 25, 2025 by Hbom

[78Sunburst]

On 8/25/2025 at 5:03 PM, Hbom said:

I have one of those. Came from 7 0124. Base plate appears to be pickguard material.

 

Been in the drawer for years. If you are interested let me know and I'll dig it out and get measurements.

Wow! That looks literally like exactly what I'm after judging by the clearly wider base plate. Thank you! Measurements would be great, if they match I am super interested. Thanks again! 

[78Sunburst]

On 8/24/2025 at 10:35 PM, hamerhead said:

Nope. Last one went on my Shishkov. And the MannMade bridges are really close to what I did, so I think whatever issue being had would be the same. It's kinda hard to tell from the picture exactly what's going on.

Is it spacing? The string spacing is a bit all over the board, depending on where the bridge was made. Not a huge difference between them, but they did vary.

Mounting holes? Dave's fix nailed it.

But if the mounting holes line up, it should work. Put it on and try it. The string-through-the-body holes don't have to align perfectly for the bridge to work. The bridge on my '81 Special had .025" difference (about 1/8" overall) between the string-through holes and the intonation screw holes, effectively mis-aligning the saddles. Worked fine.

We need more info.
 

String spacing is way out so that's a no go unfortunately! 

[78Sunburst]

Thank you again to everyone who so has taken the time to reply to a newbie. So much appreciated, wow. Thanks to @Hbom I may even have found an original, am waiting excitedly! Thanks again 😉 

[Hbom]

Message sent.

 

 

[bubs_42]

The bridge Hbom has is really your only bet. I probably found the last NOS Bridge 12 or 13 years ago out of the UK. Late 78 is when Hamer went to the SB Bridge, everything else prior to, are what they could buy off the shelf. 

Nice Sunburst BTW, hope you get it back together with the correct bridge. 

[78Sunburst]

On 9/1/2025 at 10:21 PM, Hbom said:

Message sent.

 

 

Hi, replied to your message a few days ago! 😉 

[dogfish80]

On 8/25/2025 at 11:03 AM, Hbom said:

I have one of those. Came from 7 0124. Base plate appears to be pickguard material.

 

Been in the drawer for years. If you are interested let me know and I'll dig it out and get measurements.

do you still have this available?

[Hbom]

7 minutes ago, dogfish80 said:

do you still have this available?

Sitting on my desk waiting for me to get off my ass and ship it to Denmark.

Sorry.