MIMF

I'm in the final-planning stage of my long-considered attempt at an "authentic" Gibson Moderne- that is, one made as much as possible as a genuine one would have been had it ever existed.

When it comes to hardware, however, there is a limit to "authenticity" vs. budget. I could, but won't buy the stuff from Hyperprice Inc. You know the sort: "Our Hyperprice(tm) vintage parts are handmade in Tibet by the legendary Guitar Monks, in personal communion with the spiritual essence of Ted McCarty. Our components are more authentic than the originals! Why settle for cheap junk that doesn't cost as much as even a small house? Specify solid gold, solid platinum or solid unobtanium..."

So, does anyone have any personal experience with the more terrestrially-priced repro tuners, bridges and TPs? In particular I'd like to know if anyone has tried the WD/"Kluson" single-line, single ring tuners because they seem to be the only SLSR on the market (aside from Hyperprice, of course). Also interested in wire-retainer ABR-1's, preferably original-spec (not metric like the Gotohs)

The only piece of hardware I can help you with is a source for the string trees used on the Moderne. Go to Ebay and search "Gibson Moderne String guides set of four".

While we're at it, can anyone point me to a source for 4-ply WBWB pickguard material like Gibson used at the time? All I can find is 3- and 5-ply

It is nice to get the right pickguard, but it was never really made in the 50's just a couple of examples, so for me, not an important detail. however for you may feel different.

Jedi Clampett wrote:It is nice to get the right pickguard, but it was never really made in the 50's just a couple of examples, so for me, not an important detail. however for you may feel different.

While the Moderne wasn't made, the Flying V and Explorer were and therefore there is a "correct" p/g material. Based on its siblings, we know that if the Moderne had seen production it would have had Kluson keystone tuners, ABR-1 TOM, twin PAFs, Vol-Vol-Tone pots with bonnet knobs etc.