The Gibraltar Bridge, what may it cost?

[gemberbier]

Quite a while back this vintage part was offered on eBay for $185.- by a certain seller. This was criticized and the price dropped, I think - $50.=
So then it was $135.-

Then after a while the same seller came up with a story that he had the very last few and that there would be no new supply. He had raised the price to $225.-
So that was + $45.=

My opinion then was that he just wanted to cause panic in order to compensate the discount he had given.

Now, what's realistic? Always difficult to say of course. Fact is that a decent bridge CANNOT be missed on ANY guitar (that's different for TRCs: they're just "beautiful" and in your way, when you want to adjust the truss rod).

So for those who are wondering what the actual situation for the Gibraltar I bridge (GOLD plated) is:
April 28th, 2008: Ebay Item Number #230245335923 $102.50 were PAID by bigappletreasures after only 2 bids.

To be continued...


Ginger

[BCy2k]

Here's one to watch Ginger - Ebay Item Number # 320244357431

Seller calls it a "harmonica" bridge but it looks like a gibraltar I to me.

[ChuckE99]

Without wanting to cause a stampede, I just got off the phone with Hoshino USA and have ordered four new Gibraltar I bridges in Gold directly from them. I'm not entirely sure I've ordered the correct ones, but the salesperson described them as the "original old style" bridge and I mentioned they would be replacements for the AR305RE. So I think I got the right ones. In any case, they are on their way.

Price: $70 each.

If you search the forum for something like "Ordering Parts from Hoshino" you should be able to find the thread with the phone number. I didn't note the part number so I can't help you there.

[ChuckE99]

Oh, and I also should say, that when these babies come in, I'll be putting 3 of "4GoodVibrations" bridges for sale on eBay, to try to recoup some cost. But I'd be happy to sell them to ICW members for just $50 a pop. Still, I'd go with the ones from Hoshino, if I were you.

[Mongo]

Price: $70 each.

Great...  I'm needing one to finish my 2619, but I sit on my wallet, cause I wouldn't pay $150+. 
I call 'the man' and he offers me one for $130. I'm thinking, Nope, still too much. 
I see he has them for $100 and I figure I'll throw $102.50 on it ($110 shipped). 

I no sooner find out I actually won it, send off the Paypal and I read here that we can get them for $70.   

Geeeeezzzz'  I've been expecting that Hoshino was going to make parts available from the Re-issue releases, but pulled the trigger out of impatience. 

We'll, this will either be a $40 lesson learned, or I'll toss it back on the bay when prices inflate because of another run of 'these are the last ones....' fire sale. 

Oh yeah, I'm bigappletreasures.... 

[gemberbier]

Mongo? Isn't the Big Apple New York?
Anyway, I thought $100.- was more reasonable than what we used to read in those eBay ads.

About that "Harmonica" bridge BC. Every Ibanez bridge with individually adjustable saddles is called "Harmonomatic", which is the alternative for "tune-o-matic" which is a Gibson name.
That includes ST bridges, L-5S bridges AND Gibraltars.

The one on eBay is indeed a slightly corroded Gibraltar I.
It would be wise to do something to remove the corrosion and protect the zinc against pitting.
With this new  price  knowledge, individual replating becomes relatively expensive I guess.
At least you have 6 good brass saddles and 6 adjustment screws when you buy this one, so it is probably fully functional already, or it will be after cleaning.


Ginger

[Mongo]

Mongo? Isn't the Big Apple New York?

Yup. I grew up there.

I created that account to sell the myriad of things my mom decided to buy during the years she was addicted to television shopping shows (QVC, HSN, etc..). We loaded a 19 foot u-haul floor to ceiling and trucked it to Texas. That was only the first floor of the house... She had a problem...   

Turns out it was more fun giving it to families that were in need. I've been doing it for years now and I'm close to closing my local storage account. How many Tupperware sets and misc household items does a guy really need... 

[acetan]

Bizarre Guitar in Reno sold me a couple of new Gibraltar bridges complete with anchors last year for $80 per set and said they can get as many as I needed.

[gemberbier]

Those television shopping shows are the worst.
In Holland we had Tel Sell, which seems to be bankrupt now, but they managed to push good stations from the cable here, just because they paid.
So I threw the cable out (for this and other reasons: IMO they suck).

Women and shopping addiction. I once had a girlfriend like that... My late mom and I worked 96 hours just to pack her clothes when I kicked her out... 'cause when I told her it had to stop she just smiled... her own apartment was already full, and she had started to use mine for storage.
Of course I have my own addiction, but mine is about goods that don't write off as long as I buy them second hand. The value even increases when I picked the right ones. Try that with Tupperware or clothes...
Two "collectors" in one apartment was just too much.
It was impossible to manage for me.
Managing my own collections of instruments and seashells, my business and household is enough for me.


Ginger

[Mongo]

I know your pain...

Investing in guitars is much better.
Music to my ears!

[ChuckE99]

My gibraltar I bridges arrived from Hoshino yesterday and they are exactly the same as the ones 4goodvibrations (and others) are selling on eBay. Same brassy gold finish. I was hoping the gold would be a better quality to match the tails and clouds that Hoshino/IbanezUSA sells direct, but they aren't.

In any case, these go on eBay for $110+. I'll sell you one, shipped to the US (via USPS Priority Mail, insured) for $80. That covers the original cost from Hoshino plus my PayPal fees. I would bill through PayPal, obviously. For international orders, PM me and I'll check on rates, but by USPS Priority Mail International, I think it would be something like $17 to Canada and $24 to elsewhere. Yeah, I know that sucks.

I have two to sell, maybe three. If anyone wants to trade two Super 80's gold pups for all three bridges (the pups can be tarnished a bit) I'd do that too.

There are no posts with it, but then the posts the other guys have don't fit 1970's/80's era sustain blocks or bushings anyway.

[BluesMeister]

Does anybody know where I could get hold of a tail-piece mounting stud for my 1982 AR305? A previous owner sheared off half the slot. It doesn't affect the performance at all, but it would be nice if I could replace it.

A couple of nylon washers would come in useful, too, they seem to have gone walk-about too.

[gemberbier]

I KNEW...
I bought their last gold plated tailpiece with their last gold plated anchor and anchor base, I had to add a chrome one in order to make it functional. Cloud was already sold too.
So I have one gold tailpiece with one gold stud and one chrome stud available (I don't know if that's interesting for you, because I'm in the Netherlands), and I have one complete set with cloud that I keep in the blister for myself.

There is at least one guy on ICW with a lathe who makes brass ones himself for members. I believe he's USA.


Ginger

[ihattwick]

Hmmm -  you still have any bridges left chuck? I just got a pf400 and the bridge is a little bent- the shop tried to fix it but I m still getting a lot of buzz of the top 2 strings so thought I'd just replace it and see if that helps.

[ChuckE99]

You can order one straight from Hoshino USA. I have one extra one, but for reasons I won't go into, I can't sell it at the moment. If you still need it in a month, let me know, but by then, you should be able to get one from Hoshino. They are only $70 plus shipping.