Custom made chrome bridges, anyone?

[johmica]

I'm a left handed player, trying to build a lefty partscaster with a B5 Bigsby. Problem is, I cannot find a left handed bridge plate anywhere. The B5's are available in abundance, but no traditional bridge plate. Elderly used to have one for sale, but they are indefinitely out of stock. So I'm looking for someone to take a righty bridge plate, countersink the screw holes on the back side, inevitably enlarging the holes a bit, and then chrome-coating what is traditionally the underside of the plate. Who might be up for the task?

[glen smith]

Are you looking for a left-hand telecaster bridge?

[R. Stratenstein]

Originally Posted by glen smith

Are you looking for a left-hand telecaster bridge?

Glen, yes, I think what the plan is, is to take a right-hand plate, flip it over, then countersink the holes on what will now be the front side, so the mounting screws will fit flush, then re-chrome so the holes and the underside (which will now be the top), will have the same finish as the regular topside.

The countersink job would not be a bad job at all, but I don't have any way to chrome plate, (or nickel plate), or otherwise, "bright-plate".

Hard to believe something like that is so hard to find, seems like there are a lot of lefty players, and a lot of Bigsby lovers, so there should be a decent market for that.

EDIT: If I understand correctly, a kit like this, only with a left-handed Bigsby. Take the plate, remove the bridge itself, which looks like it's riveted or bolted on, flip the bridge over, make the aforementioned changes, bolt or re-rivet the bridge back on, but only on the newly chromed underside of the plate (which is now topside), and Bob's your uncle!

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/acces...s?src=3WWRWXGP

[kdanie]

This one from GFS might be easier to modify, I have not held one but I would suspect the threaded holes go all the way through:



ken

[glen smith]

How about trying Bigsby: http://www.bigsby.com/vibe/products/spare-parts/
If you contact them perhaps they could help.

[glen smith]

Here you go: http://www.elderly.com/accessories/items/B5TBL.htm

You say that Elderly don't have any in stock but it doesn't show that on their website.
Sorry if I am wasting your time.

[Colt W. Knight]

Id just notch the rear side of a lefty tele bridge. You can use threaded saddles, or cut a groove in the brass.

http://www.allparts.com/TB-0020-L01-...ge_p_3535.html

[johmica]

glen, I found this link earlier this week, but it you click the "buy" button, the site tells you that the item is no longer in the catalogue. A quick email to Elderly confirmed my worst fears; namely, that they have no more in stock, and are not expecting any more soon.

Colt, I've seen that done before, and it may end up being my only choice, but I"m really, really wanting to find a vintage-style bridge plate.

Surely it's possible to get small items chrome plated somewhere, right?

[Jupiter]

Marc Rutters machines his own hardware; I think he plates his stuff (or sends it out to be plated). You could ask him about plating something for you. He's a TDPRI member and a real nice guy to work with. I'm a satisfied customer.

[chauncy]

http://www.allparts.com/TB-0020-L01-...ge_p_3535.html

[raito]

If you want to do your own plating:

http://www.caswellplating.com/

I've used their stuff plenty of times.

[guitarbuilder]

Nickle?
http://www.micromark.com/plug-n-plat...-kit,8326.html