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I just went to Stew Mac because I want to order a Tone Pros bridge and stop tail piece for my Epi LP. Most say discontinued and out of stock. At least all the Standard ones do. Anyone know what's going on? Company out of business or was this replaced by another model or something? Argh! What other good LP style bridges are there?

Question. Will the standard Aluminum fit my Epiphone? They say that the metric ones are for Epis, but the Almuminum doesn't come in metric. I don't want to order something that doesn't fit, but I'd really like Aluminum.

TonePros just released System II, didn't they? I'm sure they are not out of business. Maybe they just cut ties with Stew-Mac. There are plenty of other places to TonePros. I just wish someone else made less expensive locking bridges and tails.

Yeah that makes sense. I found them somewhere else too. Now my problem is will the Aluminum Standard fit my Epiphone Les Paul. They say to order the metric one for an Epi, but there are no Aluminum metrics.

I am pretty sure the standard is only compatable with USA made guitars.

Call Blackrose Customs. I got mine from them. You can measure between the poles and see if that inexpensive aluminum TP that Stewmac sells fits.

i only bought the locking studs and the ABR style TOM from Tonepros. i bought the 24.99 aluminum tailpiece from stewmac. same one they use on my recent Historic.


Originally Posted by Scott_FCall Blackrose Customs. I got mine from them. You can measure between the poles and see if that inexpensive aluminum TP that Stewmac sells fits.

i only bought the locking studs and the ABR style TOM from Tonepros. i bought the 24.99 aluminum tailpiece from stewmac. same one they use on my recent Historic.

I thought the locking studs are for wrap-around bridges only. You can use them on a regular stop-tail, or am I thinking of a different piece? That saves some money.

The locking studs can be used if you'd rather just keep the tailpiece you already have, but you still want the locking feature.

Ryan

In the case of my 98 Les Paul Reissue, they weren't using the lightweight tail pieces yet. So, I ordered one from stewmac for less than 25 bucks. Same EXACT one that came on my 04 Reissue.

Whether you top wrap your tail piece or go regular with it, the darn thing still doesn't sit exactly flush in the standard tail studs. It's always angled up one way or the other. The locking studs allowed me to take it all the way down to the wood, then I backed off 1/2 a turn (the stud bottom). You then screw the top locking pieces into the main stud. The locking studs are in two pieces, the major threaded piece which is tapped out on the top. Then the top piece, the large circular part you see with the big single slot in it, that part screws into the piece that is already screwed into the body/bushings. That is then locked down tight to lock the tail piece in. It is a brlliant design. It works and it keeps maximum surface area contact between the studs and the tail piece.

The heavy old style metal tail piece gives the Les Paul more chunky old school rock and roll tone. The lightweight aluminum tp gives the guitar a more open, woodier tone if that makes any sense.

The locking tuneomatic is another stroke of genius. Once you get your action set just where you love it, you lock the damn thing down with two set screws. It'll never fall off again while you're changing strings. The action will never be accidently adjusted while you are cleaning the wood around the bridge. Then you set the intonation. Think about it. When you adjust the action up or down, you just changed the intonation slightly. By locking down that TOM, you only have to intonate once. (or when the weather changes, and IF your neck changes a bit, you'll have to re-intonate)

They do make Tone Pros to fit your Epiphone. Call John at Blackrose and ask him about it. Kevin is very helpful, but he doesn't appear to have the experience that John does. (but I'm sure he's learning, so we'll give him some time!) By the way, Blackrose is as cheaply priced on Tonepros as anywhere else on the internet and they are forum bros. That is one reason I recommend him for this stuff. The other reason is that they don't gouge you for shipping charges, nor do they take 2 weeks to get stuff to you. I've always had very positive experiences with John.

Thanks for the info. Time to update my existing order!

I just haven't seen the need to by the special tonepros tail piece when the locking studs work so well.

Funny, I never got around to putting them on my PRS. Go figger.

For whatever its worth, here's TonePros marketing info for the Locking Studs:

quot;These Studs will look identical to your stock pieces but will turn your 'Wrap-around' including Badass, Schaller 455, and Wilkinson bridge/tail combos into a solid, locking system. These new TonePros Studs lock your existing 'Wrap-around' solidly in place creating perfect intonation and singing sustain...quot;

They don't guarantee proper fit for standard/metric tailpieces. They do make standard and metric locking tailpieces and are very much still in business.

TonePros Dealer

Thanks for the help guys. I'll call Blackrose tomorrow. I think I'm going to have to go with the non aluminum though, as I don't think they make the aluminum ones for metric. (My Epiphone) But I'll see what he says. This will probably be my last upgrade on my Epi, I've replaced uhhh..just about everything hehe.

TonePros does not make an Aluminum Tailpiece in metric.

I have a tonepros locking system and love everything about it except the string breakage issues I have with 3 of the saddles. I was thinking of getting the graphteck saddles but wonder how the tone would alter my LP goldtop classic

Klink, try topwrapping your tail piece. That'll help with the angle. Check the notches on the saddles where your strings are breaking. See if you can lightly go over them with a file to take whatever burr might be there.

Martin6, I think they tried to rewrite the locking studs blurb in an effort to sell more tail pieces. I got one of the first Tonepros when they first came out. Theydidn't offer tail pieces back then. So, the locking studs were perfect. Now that they're trying to sell Tail Pieces as well, they make the locking studs sound like they're only good for wrap arounds. Not so for sure.