Bronco Vibrato parts and restoration?
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2022 11:41 am
Hello everyone, looking for some help and/or opinions.
Got a decent deal on a 1967 Fender Bronco. All original, save for some previous modifications on the bridge/vibrato system that I'd like to try to return to as close to original as I can get.
The two original bolts that held the upper bridge plate to the body had been replaced by the everyday drywall screws you see here. Right now the guitar is playing fine, just playing it as a hard tail.
As you can see, a previous owner installed a Mustang style vibrato. The dowels you see were installed by the shop from which I purchased the guitar. They are there to make the connection between the lower vibrato plate and the body more secure and seem to be doing that job well.
The missing bolts, from what I understand, originally screwed into threaded thimbles set in the body, allowing you to raise/lower the bridge, and securing the top bridge plate against the vibrato plate. The way this is set up now, the screws simply secure the plate to the body of the guitar, not allowing for much vibrato action, and not allowing any bridge height adjustment.
Finding similar bolts is probably not too difficult, but I would imagine that finding these original thimbles would be near impossible at this point. If I were able to find something resembling the original bolts, would it be a good idea to perhaps secure some 5/16" nuts to the underside of the lower vibrato plate, serving the same function as the thimbles in holding the bolts but also allowing for height adjustment and motion?
Got a decent deal on a 1967 Fender Bronco. All original, save for some previous modifications on the bridge/vibrato system that I'd like to try to return to as close to original as I can get.
The two original bolts that held the upper bridge plate to the body had been replaced by the everyday drywall screws you see here. Right now the guitar is playing fine, just playing it as a hard tail.
As you can see, a previous owner installed a Mustang style vibrato. The dowels you see were installed by the shop from which I purchased the guitar. They are there to make the connection between the lower vibrato plate and the body more secure and seem to be doing that job well.
The missing bolts, from what I understand, originally screwed into threaded thimbles set in the body, allowing you to raise/lower the bridge, and securing the top bridge plate against the vibrato plate. The way this is set up now, the screws simply secure the plate to the body of the guitar, not allowing for much vibrato action, and not allowing any bridge height adjustment.
Finding similar bolts is probably not too difficult, but I would imagine that finding these original thimbles would be near impossible at this point. If I were able to find something resembling the original bolts, would it be a good idea to perhaps secure some 5/16" nuts to the underside of the lower vibrato plate, serving the same function as the thimbles in holding the bolts but also allowing for height adjustment and motion?
