I decided to modify my Tokay LS-Custom 2008 (Honduras mahogany, Brazil fretboard, Rolph pickups, bought from Villager ) in order to get closer to some original features and improve the tone if possible.
This photo shows three types of bushing:
.- At the center of the image there is the original brass bushing that came with the LS-Custom.
.- To the right, there is a Pigtail replica, made from steel, US threaded and thicker with lager diameter.
.- The left one is a Gotoh bushing, made from zinc plated steel.
Original Les Paul bushings and tailpiece screws were made both from steel.
You can see that the Tokai brass bushings have a smaller diameter and only has grooves at the top, making a smaller contact area with the wood than the other two and only at the maple top and not at the mahogany.
Clearly, Pigtail studs will have better grip to the wood, both at the maple and at the mahogany so I decide to put the Pigtails and send the guitar to a local luthier for enlargement of the original holes.
Pigtail screws tightly fits, without gaps, the original aluminum Tokay tailpiece.
Also I replaced the bridge with a Pigtail ABR1 (zinc alloy body with brass saddles). Tokai bridge was good, but Pigtail has taller saddles with tighter fit. I have to enlarge the holes of the Pigtail bridge to fit M4 screws.
Finally, I replace original Tokai bridge posts, made from steel, with nickel plated brass M4 screws.
All this worth the trouble? for me, without doubt, YES!
As I expected, when plucking any string you feels more vibration both at the body and at the neck. Unplugged, the guitar is louder and has more rich harmonics than before. With an amp is also louder, with fuller bass, more mids and richer in harmonics, more compensated than before.
This photo shows three types of bushing:
.- At the center of the image there is the original brass bushing that came with the LS-Custom.
.- To the right, there is a Pigtail replica, made from steel, US threaded and thicker with lager diameter.
.- The left one is a Gotoh bushing, made from zinc plated steel.
Original Les Paul bushings and tailpiece screws were made both from steel.
You can see that the Tokai brass bushings have a smaller diameter and only has grooves at the top, making a smaller contact area with the wood than the other two and only at the maple top and not at the mahogany.
Clearly, Pigtail studs will have better grip to the wood, both at the maple and at the mahogany so I decide to put the Pigtails and send the guitar to a local luthier for enlargement of the original holes.
Pigtail screws tightly fits, without gaps, the original aluminum Tokay tailpiece.
Also I replaced the bridge with a Pigtail ABR1 (zinc alloy body with brass saddles). Tokai bridge was good, but Pigtail has taller saddles with tighter fit. I have to enlarge the holes of the Pigtail bridge to fit M4 screws.
Finally, I replace original Tokai bridge posts, made from steel, with nickel plated brass M4 screws.
All this worth the trouble? for me, without doubt, YES!
As I expected, when plucking any string you feels more vibration both at the body and at the neck. Unplugged, the guitar is louder and has more rich harmonics than before. With an amp is also louder, with fuller bass, more mids and richer in harmonics, more compensated than before.
