removing the tailpiece studs on a Les Paul

[Gartron]

I have a black LP that I swapped out most of the hardware to black, however the one part I haven't changed yet are the screws for the tailpiece as I cant get the studs out the body, so currently I have a black bridge with silver screws.

relising that brute force , ignorance and guitars don't mix I thought it best to came ask for some advice.

So has anyone got any tips to get them out?

[jtr]

Why not just replace the screws they schould be the same size. There is no reason to pull the studs. Tring to pull the studs if you don't have the right tool can really damage the guitar.

[Gartron]

That was my first thought, I got a set, same size, however threads don't match , which has lead me to believe I need to replace the studs as well, I was kinda hoping there was a way to get the studs out, but I'd rather have the silver screws than a fucked guitar!

[Axewielder]

Well I just got done wrestling with a similar post issue. My guess is your "same size" set is not really the same size, maybe you have a metric vs. imperial issue going on?

[nor]

Paint the bolts black and be done with it. The studs should only be pulled if there is a serious problem. Besides, if the bolts don't match - the studs probably wont either.

[straycat]

Some studs are fine thread some are coarse thread take the studs you have and try to match them with what you need.Imp and metric is my guess as the problem you have.
Don't pull the stud anchors if you don't have to.

[Newc]

StewMac has a tool for that.

[Bengal65]

Gartron,
Here is a post when I pulled the posts from my 1965 Gibson SG Jr. You might want to use some felt backed with some plastic under the washers. My StewMac tool just bent to pieces. The SG was old wood. I had to use fender washers, some smaller washers (for the bolt to bear down on), and a bolt to match the threads.

http://www.jcfonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51405&highlight=Pulling+Studs

In the pic, page down in the thread you can see how I pulled them.

[zeegler]

It's an easy job to do. First off, they shouldn't be THAT tight in there anyway, unless Gibson have a bunch of idiots working there. Hmmm, on second thought....

Seriously, they should be lightly tapped in to place, which means they can be easily levered out with the screws in the studs. I've seen all kinds of ingenious but simple methods that people have come up with.

[Gartron]

No, they're in there nice and tight!!

Thanks everyone for your advice,I had never even thought that it may be that the existing studs will be imperial, I'll give that a go, failing that it's the paint pot cause no way in hell am I attempting what you did Bengal65!!!(kudos my man!!)

[MartinBarre]

That was my first thought, I got a set, same size, however threads don't match , which has lead me to believe I need to replace the studs as well, I was kinda hoping there was a way to get the studs out, but I'd rather have the silver screws than a fucked guitar!

Get another set with the same thread as what you already have.

I replaced my Epi Black Beauty's tailpiece and bridge with one I got from eBay and it all slotted in fine. I just left the old studs where they were.

[DonP]

There are a lot of people on the les Paul Forum who do this to replace the parts with steel part (for tone, because the 50's LP's were steel). If you do a search there, you'll find lots of advise.

I personally didn't take it that far with any of my LPs.