This is an incredibly helpful post. Thank you so much!hpr_hpr wrote: ↑Wed Feb 28, 2018 9:13 amIt depends on the wood of the body . . . if it's a hardwood (polar for the look of it) I would say you're probably OK screwing the posts directly into the body wood (wood has an undeserved bad rap for holding threaded pieces that can be adjusted), if it's basswood I would have some concerns . Not sure about how the posts will mate with the bridge though . . . the good news is that if it doesn't work you haven't lost anything, you can still drill out the holes for the correct bushings later. The reason FOR the business with modern bridges is that you can make adjustments 'ad infinitum' without problems, while it WILL work with the post screwed directly into wood it will get looser with every adjustment (just a little bit) and after the 134th adjustment it may just be to loose . . . and post/bushing combination just doesn't have that 'problem' as there is less wear . . . but then, how often do you change the height of your bridge, if you set it and don't futz with it every day there won't be any wear and things will be just fine pretty much forever.
Also it isn't that hard to enlarge the holes, run to your local hardware store and get drill bits in 1/32 increases from the size of the holes now to the size you want, and progressively ream the holes . . . reaming by hand or an eggbeater drill is the 'safest', a drill stand with a well set depth stop would be just fine, a hand drill with a depth stop collar on the drill bit will do but requires caution (make sure the stop is securely fastened), using hand drill without a positive depth stop (a piece of tape it NOT a positive depth stop) is possibly but risky . . . the bit might catch and pull THROUGH the body before you realize it.
Argh auto correct on rereading . . . corrected auto correct failures
Yes, the wood is poplar... but I see what you mean about it getting loose over time. Mind you, there are ways to tighten that up down the track as well...
However.. I am tempted to take your encouragement and enlarge the holes. I had not even considered using an eggbeater hand drill. That would be a LOT easier to control and stop it from "running wild" on me.
Talking metric here... I would be wanting to work up to an 11mm drill bit (according to ye olde StewMac). They have the bit to use for Nashville bridges listed at 6.35mm (1/4"). That would make sense as I have measured the holes in it now and they are closer to 7.5mm (my Nashville bushings are slightly looser than I would like, so maybe the hole is a tiny bit larger than it should be... but finish would fill that up and make it perfect if need be...).
Do you think upping the hole 1mm at a time would be a safe enough bet? Start with a 7mm (because I would also need to make it a bit deeper than the Nashville bushings) and progress through 8mm, 9mm, 10mm, and finally 11mm? If I take my time and use a hand drill, this should be totally doable, I think.
The "safe" option of using the Nashville roller bridge has the downside of being 12" or 14" radius instead of the 9.5" that my Mighty Mite neck will be... not horrible, but not ideal either.