Inspired by the Bullseye Grovers Discussion...

[kizanski]

Yes, I often inspire myself.

So, I was thinking...

In regards to the old Sunbursts, when (serial number-wise) did they move from the shimmed bridge to the Sustain Block?

What is the highest serialed guitar with the shim (or the lowest number with the Sustain Block)?

Discuss.

[Andrew]

I think the two bridges co-existed for a while at the end of 78, so the last shim is after the first sustain-block. Serial knows the exact number of the first sustain block (in the 400s?). The earliest blocks up to about 9 0650 are a slightly larger size.

Also somewhere between 8 0300 and 8 0400 the headstock was changed to the shorter design.

Platonic ideal Sunbursts only were really made in 79, as 1980 saw the introduction of Schallers and 78s usually have the shim.

[serial]

Serial # 8 0451 (October 13, 1978) was the first with the new bridge (8 0449 and 8 0450 are black three pickup Sunbursts-how cool?!). #8 0607 is the last '78 Sunburst, so there are about 150 with the newer unshimmed bridge and about 355 or so with the shimmed ones.

[kizanski]

So, 8 0213 would have had the shim under the bridge?

No wonder it was routed for a lefty trem - lol.

Before:

After:

[Andrew]

Just for you, Kiz.

I have finally updated my old, old Sunburst page to include all the new things we have learnt recently..

http://www.buddlejagarden.co.uk/hamer/sunbur1.htm

[Hamerica]

I guess I will start out by thanking Kiz for the question and Andrew for the updates.

Always good knowledge on this board.

Hamerica

[kizanski]

Thanks, Andrew. That's a lot of facts to keep straight.

To back up all of your statements, there is #8 0475, which had bullseye Grovers, Sustain Block (no shim), and shorter headstock.

...and, like the jackass I am, I sold it.

[murkat]

9-0872 here,

long, narrow headstock

Bulls eyes

Sustain Block (no shim)

decal at end of TRC.

I notice differences between 9-0872 and 8-0213