Selecting a Bridge for Epiphone and other “Imports”
How to select the correct bridge for an Epiphone, Tokai, Ibanez, or other imported guitar
Note: New information, as of October 1, 2026, regarding Epiphone “Inspired by Gibson” and “Inspired By Gibson Custom” (IGC)
Epiphone’s “Inspired by Gibson” lines are easy to confuse when trying to select the correct Faber parts. Regular Inspired by Gibson (no IGC prefix) uses large bushing-mounted bridge posts — the ESWKIT™ / E-Sert™ path on this page. Inspired By Gibson Custom uses the IGC model-name prefix and normally a smaller bushing-mounted design that takes Faber® IBG-Sert™ posts (exception: the single-cut Les Paul Custom on the large posts, not IBG-Sert).
Stay on this page for a regular Epiphone Inspired by Gibson model (no IGC prefix) or for the single-cut IGC Les Paul Custom. Both use large bushing mounted bridge posts. Both take the ESWKIT™ / E-Sert™ path on this page.
Any other Inspired By Gibson Custom guitar (IGC prefix) uses smaller bushing-mounted posts. Do not use the bridges or posts on this page. Those guitars take Faber® IBG-Sert™ posts.
Guide: Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Custom (IGC) and Faber® IBG-Sert™ posts.
Separate bridge and stop tailpiece
Imported guitars use more than one bridge arrangement: a separate bridge and stop tailpiece, a separate bridge and trapeze tailpiece, a wraparound (bridge and tailpiece as one unit), a rosewood block, and others. Most Les Pauls, 335s, and similar guitars use a separate bridge and stop tailpiece. This page is about that guitar setup.
Two types of bridge posts
On the separate bridge and stop-tailpiece guitars this page covers, there are two types of bridge posts. Tell them apart before you choose a Faber® ABRM or a Tone-Lock™ bridge.
The photos are direct-mounted posts (no bushings) and large bushing mounted bridge posts. They are not the smaller Inspired By Gibson Custom posts. That smaller system is the note at the top, not the ESWKIT™ / E-Sert™ section.
Direct-mounted posts
Direct-mounted posts have no bushings. They are thin 4mm threaded posts mounted directly in the wood. Separate thumb wheels rotate on the posts to raise or lower the bridge. There is no screw slot on top of the post.
With this system the bridge choice is straightforward. The non-locking bridge is the Faber® ABRM for direct-mounted posts. It is a direct replacement on these posts. The Faber® Tone-Lock™ bridge for direct-mounted posts can be used the same way.
Large bushing mounted bridge posts
On regular Inspired by Gibson, and on the single-cut IGC Les Paul Custom, these are large bushing mounted bridge posts.
A metal bushing is mounted in the body. The bridge post and thumb wheel are one unit, and that unit threads into the bushing. The top of the post has a screw slot. This is the large bushing mounted system, not the smaller Inspired By Gibson Custom posts.
Parts selection takes one extra step. The original one-piece post has to come out before a Faber® ABRM or Tone-Lock™ bridge for large bushing mounted bridge posts will fit. Faber® offers two conversion posts for this path: ESWKIT™ and E-Sert™.
Faber® “E-Z” ESWKIT™
ESWKIT™ is the steel “E-Z” post. It is not brass. It screws into the bushings already in the body, using the same thread as the original post, and it replaces that pot-metal post only. The bushing stays. No modification of the body is required.
That is an improvement, but it is not the full upgrade. The body bushings are pot metal as well. Replace them with Faber® “TPM” metric bridge/tailpiece bushings when you want the bushings changed too. If you would rather replace the bushings and the posts together, use E-Sert™ instead of ESWKIT™.
Faber® “Plus” E-Sert™
E-Sert™ is a German bell brass conversion post, not a bushing. It replaces the pot-metal body bushings and the original posts. Separate thumb wheels raise or lower the bridge.
Each kit includes an 8mm bolt to help pull the body bushings. The bottom of those bushings is hollow, so threading the bolt into the bushing lifts it once the bolt meets the wood. This video shows the procedure. The video is the Faber® iNsert™ conversion post for a Gibson Nashville bridge. Installing the E-Sert™ is the same procedure. iNsert™ and E-Sert™ are both German bell brass conversion posts. E-Sert™ is the post for the large bushing mounted path on this page.
Other parts
Besides the bridge and the bridge posts, these parts are the usual upgrades on an Epiphone or other imported guitar with this stop-tailpiece setup:
- Tailpiece: the lightweight aluminum TP-59 stop tailpiece is much lighter than the stock tailpiece and gives a woodier, more vintage tone.
- “Vintage Steel” tailpiece studs: “Vintage Steel” tailpiece studs replace the stock non-locking tailpiece studs. These studs are steel.
- Tone-Lock™ tailpiece studs and spacers: steel Tone-Lock™ studs and spacers lock the tailpiece and add sustain that the other locking arrangements do not.
- Tone-Lock™ tailpiece kit: the Tone-Lock™ kit is a TP-59 aluminum tailpiece plus a pair of Tone-Lock™ studs and spacers, priced below the same parts bought separately. The lock-nut and stud tool is included. It tightens the tailpiece studs without marring the plating the way a screwdriver can.
- Tone-Lock™ Master Kit: the Tone-Lock™ Master Kit on this page is for the large bushing mounted path. It is a Tone-Lock™ locking bridge, a TP-59 aluminum tailpiece, and a pair of Tone-Lock™ studs and spacers, priced below the same parts bought separately. The included lock-nut and stud tool tightens the Tone-Lock™ bridge lock nuts and the tailpiece studs. You can also order a pair of steel bridge/tailpiece bushings with the kit. This is not the Inspired By Gibson Custom Master Kit (#6063 / #6064), which includes IBG-Sert™ posts.