Grateful Dead Music Forum

Hi Good People,

I've done the Alligator DIY thing, pictured. I have two questions:
1. The bridge I have is 3.25" or 82.5MM. Does anyone know where to source the same size brass sustain block?
2. I had filed the saddles down to get the right action but then I didn't have enough downward string tension on the saddles and had to purchase new saddles. I want the downward tension but I also want the action to be lower. How have people dealt with this? I am thinking about putting a shim in the neck....thoughts?

Jerry liked VERY high action. I prefer it MUCH lower. I ran into this issue when I built my first Alligator. (The second is still a collection of parts … but when I find the time … ). I solved it by trimming the wood block so it butts up against the bridge rather than extending under the bridge. I also routed the top so the bridge could be recessed a little. I didn't install a brass sustain block. I plan to on the next one, and it will be recessed enough to lower the bridge. Of course, you can always shim the neck. As for the brass block, I will be fashioning my own using brass bar stock I purchased from onlinemetals.com. I also purchased brass U stock and smaller bar stock and made my own bridge and saddles. Here’s a link to the reverb listing when I sold mine so you can see the bridge mod. Good luck with yours.

https://reverb.com/item/37204718-jerry- ... 20-natural

Bill, tgo

As far as I know, JG did have a shim in the neck of Alligator. My build was spec’d on the final iteration (late ‘72-mid ‘73) and it has a shim.

Does anyone have the specs on the riser? I know there are pictures with rulers out there but I am looking for the angle (if it is angled) from the bridge to the tailpiece?

The riser I used wasn’t angled. And I’ve never read that Jerry’s was angled.

Bill, tgo

lbpesq wrote: ↑Mon Dec 15, 2025 10:39 am The riser I used wasn’t angled. And I’ve never read that Jerry’s was angled.

Bill, tgo

Thanks Bill. So the riser you have on yours is just a stock piece cut to shape and the same thickness throughout?

I can only make assumptions as to how it was made, but yes, same thickness throughout..

Bill, tgo