This post is the fourth of five regarding an ongoing Floyd Rose to Hardtail (fixed bridge) conversion on a used ESP GrassRoots G-HR-49 solidbody. In this post, we'll talk about what needed to be done; as per the owner’s instructions: “install a strings-through-body hardtail bridge” and “make the guitar presentable and fully-functional.”
Before installing the hardtail bridge, the pickups and neck had to be temporarily reattached to the body to ensure proper string-fretboard and string-pickup polepiece alignment. Masking tape was also applied to the front of the guitar, accurate measurements taken; and lines drawn.
These measurements and lines enabled me to determine the correct position for the bridge. Two “dummy” strings (low and high E) were also used to determine side-to-side and polepiece alignment.
Once I was satisfied with the position of the bridge, holes were marked and drilled for the five bridge mounting screws. The bridge was then installed in preparation for the next step, drilling the string-through holes.
After carefully marking the positions of the six string-through holes, the bridge was removed to make way for my rotary tool and Dremel Plunge Router Attachment. I would have loved to have used my drill press, but its throat was too narrow to accommodate a guitar body. The Dremel attachment, albeit being a poor cousin of a proper drill press; is still capable of helping one to drill perpendicular holes.
The six string-through holes were then drilled into the top of the guitar. The holes for the high and low E strings were drilled all the way through to the bottom, while the remaining four were only drilled halfway.
The body was then flipped, and the bridge aligned with the two E string holes. In this way, it was possible to mark the position of the holes for the B, G, D and A strings on the bottom of the body.
Subsequently, these four holes were drilled from the bottom until they “met” the corresponding holes previously drilled from the top. Then, to accommodate the string ferrules that would be inserted later, a larger sized drill bit was used to countersink all six holes.
Test-fitting the ferrules went okay, and they were removed for safekeeping. They’d only be reinstalled after the body had been refinished. Meanwhile, a hole was also drilled into the top from underneath where the bridge would be, right into the bridge pickup cavity. This hole would allow me to run a ground wire from the bridge plate into the control cavity.
Now that all the drilling had been done, the whole body was given a final inspection. Any low spots were filled with Elmer’s Wood Filler and sanded level, while gaps were sealed with a mixture of wood dust and super glue. Next, after a light scuffing with 0000 steel wool, the whole body was wiped down with naphtha.
And of course, in order to “make the guitar presentable,” I’d have to refinish the body. Samurai 29/109A Flat Black was my choice of color coat, and for top coat; Samurai F1 Flat Clear. After the final coat of clear had been applied on March 6th, the body was set aside to give the finish adequate time to cure. Thanks for dropping by. Now, since you're already here; do check out this YouTube video I uploaded to complement this post. Muchas gracias :)
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