Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Custom (IGC) vs Inspired by Gibson: Faber® IBG-Sert™ Bridge Posts
Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Custom (IGC) vs Inspired by Gibson: Faber® IBG-Sert™ Bridge Posts
Epiphone’s Inspired by Gibson and Inspired By Gibson Custom lines look related on paper, and that is exactly why the wrong bridge posts get ordered.
They are not the same bridge system.
- Regular Inspired by Gibson (no IGC in the model name) uses large bushing-mounted bridge posts.
- Inspired By Gibson Custom uses the IGC model-name prefix and, with one important exception, smaller 4mm bridge posts. The Faber® ABRM drops right onto those original posts, with no conversion posts. Faber® IBG-Sert™ posts are the alternative, for a Tone-Lock™ bridge or German bell brass posts.
- The IGC prefix applies only to Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Custom guitars (example: “IGC 1960 Les Paul Special Double Cut Reissue”). Never apply IGC to Gibson.
- IGC posts are not mounted directly into the wood, but the ABRM still drops right onto the original 4mm IGC posts, just as it does on direct-mounted imports.
This guide shows how to tell which series you have, which Faber® parts fit, and where the single-cut Les Paul Custom exception sits (the only IGC model on the large posts).
If you only need photos of bushing-mounted vs direct-mounted imports, start with Which Bridge System Is On Your Epiphone and Selecting a Bridge for Epiphone and other Imports. Come back here when the guitar is an Inspired by Gibson / Inspired By Gibson Custom model.
Inspired by Gibson vs Inspired By Gibson Custom (IGC)
| Series | Model-name clue | Factory bridge posts | Faber path |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inspired by Gibson (regular) | No IGC prefix | Large bushing-mounted posts | E-Sert™ (Plus) or ESWKIT™ (E-Z), not IBG-Sert™ |
| Inspired By Gibson Custom | IGC prefix on the model name | Original 4mm posts | ABRM drops right onto the original posts; or IBG-Sert™ with the Tone-Lock™ IBG bridge or Master Kit |
| Exception, single-cut Epiphone Les Paul Custom (IBG Custom / IGC line) | Still an IBG Custom / IGC-family model | Large bushing-mounted posts (only IGC model on the large posts) | Not IBG-Sert™. Use E-Sert™ / ESWKIT™, the large bushing-mounted path. |
Shop pages for IBG Custom parts carry a live caution that intentionally names the regular “Inspired By Gibson” series (without Custom) so those buyers do not order the wrong kit. That wording is deliberate. See Products for Epiphone “Inspired By Gibson Custom”.
What is Faber® IBG-Sert™?
IBG-Sert™ is Faber’s Plus-style German bell brass conversion post set for Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Custom guitars that use the smaller bushing-mounted bridge system. The Faber® ABRM also drops right onto the original 4mm IGC posts as they are, so IBG-Sert™ is an upgrade, not a requirement.
It replaces the factory pot-metal body bushings and integrated bridge posts with a tone-first brass post system and separate thumbwheels. After install, you can run a Faber® ABRM or Faber® Tone-Lock™ bridge.
Important naming:
- The factory body sleeve is a bushing. Never call it an insert.
- IBG-Sert™, E-Sert™, and iNsert™ are Faber conversion post product names (German bell brass).
- Steel stud kits (ESWKIT™, NSWKIT™, BSWKIT™) are a different family.
- IGC’s smaller posts are still bushing-mounted. They are not direct-mounted, and they are not “no bushings.” The Faber® ABRM still drops right onto them.
IBG-Sert™ vs E-Sert™ vs ESWKIT™
| Product | Material | Typical guitar | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| IBG-Sert™ (#3118) | German bell brass | Inspired By Gibson Custom (IGC) with smaller bushing-mounted posts, except the single-cut Les Paul Custom | Plus conversion posts for the smaller IBG Custom bushing system (optional: the ABRM also fits the original posts) |
| E-Sert™ (#3160) | German bell brass | Epiphone and other imports with large body bushings, including regular Inspired by Gibson and the Les Paul Custom exception | Plus conversion posts for the large bushing-mounted path |
| ESWKIT™ (#3551) | Steel | Same large-bushing Epiphone / import path | E-Z posts that screw into the existing body bushings (no bushing replacement) |
E-Sert™ is not a shortcut for IBG Custom. If the guitar is true IBG Custom on the smaller posts (and not the Les Paul Custom exception) and you want new posts, order IBG-Sert™. For the ABRM alone, the original posts work as they are.
How to tell which Epiphone you have
- Read the model name. Look for an IGC prefix. Example pattern: “IGC 1960 Les Paul Special Double Cut Reissue.” No IGC means treat it as regular Inspired by Gibson / standard import identification, not the IBG-Sert path.
- Confirm Inspired By Gibson Custom vs regular Inspired by Gibson. Regular Inspired by Gibson uses large bushing-mounted posts. Inspired By Gibson Custom uses smaller 4mm bushing-mounted posts, which take the Faber® ABRM as they are or IBG-Sert™ posts, unless it is the single-cut Les Paul Custom exception.
- Check the exception. If it is the single-cut Epiphone Les Paul Custom from the Inspired By Gibson Custom / IGC line, stop. It uses large bushing-mounted posts (the only IGC model on the large posts) and is not compatible with IBG-Sert™ or IBG Custom-only kits.
- When in doubt, compare hardware photos on Which Bridge System Is On Your Epiphone before you order. Measure stud-hole depth before pressing in Plus-style posts.
A case is only a soft hint, not proof. Every Inspired By Gibson Custom (IGC) guitar comes with a case as standard, and that case has an IGC logo printed on the outside. A regular Inspired by Gibson does not include a case in the purchase price. A case for those is bought separately. The logo only helps if it is the case that came with the guitar. A case bought later does not identify the guitar, and if an IGC-logo case can be used on a regular Inspired by Gibson, the logo would point the wrong way. Nothing on the guitar itself proves whether it is Inspired by Gibson or Inspired By Gibson Custom, or which model it is.
Upgrade paths that fit
Path A. Inspired By Gibson Custom (IGC) to IBG-Sert™
For IBG Custom guitars that are not the single-cut Les Paul Custom exception (the smaller bushing-mounted IGC posts). The ABRM fits the original posts as they are, so this path is for new German bell brass posts or a Tone-Lock™ bridge:
- Install #3118 IBG-Sert™ German bell brass conversion posts, Gloss or Aged Nickel.
- Fit a Faber® ABRM or, for locking sustain, a Tone-Lock™ Bridge IBG, which includes IBG-Sert™.
- Or order the one-box Tone-Lock™ Master Kit #6063 / #6064: Tone-Lock™ bridge, TP-’59 aluminum stop tailpiece, Tone-Lock™ metric studs and spacers, lock-nut tool, and IBG-Sert™ posts included.
Shop the full IBG Custom hardware set: Products for Epiphone “Inspired By Gibson Custom”.
Path B. Regular Inspired by Gibson, and the Les Paul Custom exception, to large bushing-mounted parts
These guitars use large bushing-mounted bridge posts. Do not buy IBG-Sert™.
- Plus: E-Sert™ #3160 German bell brass posts, which replace the bushings and posts, then ABRM or Tone-Lock™. ABRM “Plus” kits such as #3060-0 include E-Sert™.
- E-Z: ESWKIT™ #3551 steel posts that screw into the existing body bushings. For best results, many players also upgrade the pot-metal body bushings with Faber® TPM metric bushings.
Full large bushing-mounted walkthrough: Selecting a Bridge for Epiphone and other Imports and Choosing conversion bridge posts for Epiphone and Imports.
Install tips (IBG-Sert™ / E-Sert™ / iNsert™)
Plus-style IBG-Sert™, E-Sert™, and iNsert™ share the same install approach:
- Measure bridge stud hole depth before you start.
- Remove the factory bushing and post assembly as shown in the video.
- Press in the Faber® conversion posts.
- Install your ABRM or Tone-Lock™ bridge, and set height with the separate thumbwheels.
Install video (IBG-Sert™ / E-Sert™ / iNsert™): https://youtu.be/WnsIKVStUok
More how-tos: https://faberusa.com/videos/
FAQ
What is the difference between Epiphone Inspired by Gibson and Inspired By Gibson Custom?
Regular Inspired by Gibson (no IGC prefix) uses large bushing-mounted bridge posts. Inspired By Gibson Custom uses the IGC model-name prefix and normally smaller 4mm posts. The Faber® ABRM drops right onto them; IBG-Sert™ posts are the alternative. The single-cut Epiphone Les Paul Custom from the IBG Custom / IGC line is the exception: large bushing-mounted (the only IGC model on the large posts), not IBG-Sert compatible.
What does the IGC prefix mean?
IGC means Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Custom only (example: “IGC 1960 Les Paul Special Double Cut Reissue”). Never use IGC for Gibson.
Will IBG-Sert™ fit my regular Inspired by Gibson?
No. Regular Inspired by Gibson needs the large bushing-mounted path (E-Sert™ or ESWKIT™).
Why didn’t E-Sert™ fit my IBG Custom?
E-Sert™ is sized for the Epiphone/import large-bushing system. Inspired By Gibson Custom (except the Les Paul Custom exception) uses the smaller bushing-mounted IBG Custom system that IBG-Sert™ is made for. The Faber® ABRM also drops right onto the original IGC posts, with no conversion posts.
Does the IBG Custom Les Paul Custom take IBG-Sert™?
No. That single-cut Les Paul Custom uses large bushing-mounted posts. Use E-Sert™ or ESWKIT™, not IBG Custom-only parts.
What is in Master Kit #6063 / #6064?
A Tone-Lock™ bridge, a TP-’59 aluminum stop tailpiece, Tone-Lock™ metric studs and spacers, a lock-nut and stud tool, and a set of IBG-Sert™ brass conversion posts, at a kit discount versus buying them separately.
Are IBG-Sert™ posts steel or brass?
German bell brass, with plated brass thumbwheels. ESWKIT™, NSWKIT™, and BSWKIT™ studs are steel.
Wrong series means wrong posts. Check for IGC, rule out the Les Paul Custom exception (large posts), then, on the smaller IGC bushing-mounted posts, fit the Faber® ABRM as is or choose IBG-Sert™. Otherwise take the large bushing-mounted E-Sert™ / ESWKIT™ path.
Questions on a specific guitar? Use the Sales and Tech Support form or email support@faberusa.com. Provide a photo of the bridge currently on your guitar, if possible.