flwjr24 - Posted - 04/08/2025:  13:42:42

I was wondering if anyone has any knowledge on the presto makers for the early 2000’s gibsons and how a current prucha presto would compare to it. They are very similar to the eye but I was mostly wondering who made those around that time for Gibson.

Edited by - flwjr24 on 04/08/2025 13:43:18

Old Hickory - Posted - 04/08/2025:  15:53:04

I believe it was Prucha.

The Old Timer - Posted - 04/08/2025:  19:07:54

You can tell a Prucha from other brands because it has FIVE "grooves" or channels on the 90 degree bend for the strings to rest in. Non-Pruchas have only 4, even if punched for a 5th string.

flwjr24 - Posted - 04/08/2025:  21:25:23

Gotcha, thanks for the info. I’ll end up trying them to see the sound difference but i wanted to figure out who made the “Gibson” prestos in that era.

Emiel - Posted - 04/09/2025:  09:14:02

quote:

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Originally posted by flwjr24

Gotcha, thanks for the info. I’ll end up trying them to see the sound difference but i wanted to figure out who made the “Gibson” prestos in that era.

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Maybe Prucha made them (with 4 grooves and the Gibson name on them). Prucha still sells original Gibson-Presto tailpieces…

Old Hickory - Posted - 04/09/2025:  14:02:10

quote:

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Originally posted by flwjr24

Gotcha, thanks for the info. I’ll end up trying them to see the sound difference but i wanted to figure out who made the “Gibson” prestos in that era.

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You can buy a "Gibson"-stamped Prucha Presto at GregBoyd.com. But currently out of stock. They do tend to get them back in stock, so you can wait if you'd like it to say "Gibson." You can even ask to be notified.

Have to admit I didn't notice a fifth notch beyond the hole for the third string, and can't see it in the product photo on Greg Boyd's site.

I bought one. It's a quality tailpiece. But I seem never to like the sound of a Presto, so I sold it.

Tim Mullins - Posted - 04/09/2025:  18:58:08

I've owned both versions of the Prucha Presto and, if I remember correctly, they both have the five notches. The only difference is the marking on the cover.

The Old Timer - Posted - 04/10/2025:  09:22:48

Did Prucha make the infamous Gibson Prestos in the Reissue years that typically broke right across the 90 degree bend? Or were those some other supplier -- causing Gibson to switch to Prucha? Inquiring minds want to know...

islandgirl - Posted - 04/11/2025:  13:18:59

Dick Bowden, I have a reissue ‘97 Granada that had the “infamous” breaking Presto tailpieces, and I replaced it with one from Prucha. I kept the broken one (no idea WHY), and I just compared them. There are no markings to say who made the original, but I noticed they have used differing scripts to put the “Presto” name on the bottom. The metal differs, too. Mine has GRANADA engraved on gold plate, so we may be talking about a different product, although the original did break at the place you mentioned.

RioStat - Posted - 04/12/2025:  04:49:13

quote:

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Originally posted by Old Hickory

quote:

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Originally posted by flwjr24

Gotcha, thanks for the info. I’ll end up trying them to see the sound difference but i wanted to figure out who made the “Gibson” prestos in that era.

---

You can buy a "Gibson"-stamped Prucha Presto at GregBoyd.com. But currently out of stock. They do tend to get them back in stock, so you can wait if you'd like it to say "Gibson." You can even ask to be notified.

Have to admit I didn't notice a fifth notch beyond the hole for the third string, and can't see it in the product photo on Greg Boyd's site.

I bought one. It's a quality tailpiece. But I seem never to like the sound of a Presto, so I sold it.

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Ken, the fifth notch is above where the "fingers" are, that the strings loop over, at the 90* bend. 

The original Grover,and Asian-made replicas, throughout the years had 5 "fingers" for strings, but only 4 "dimples" (notches) for the strings to rest in. That is, one notch located between, and above, each string finger, the Prucha has a notch directly above each of the five fingers

Old Hickory - Posted - 04/12/2025:  06:03:27

Thanks for the explanation.

Learn something new every day.

The Old Timer - Posted - 04/12/2025:  18:13:44

Ken I believe the old Presto with 4 notches but 5 hooks was for BALL END STRINGS! 5 hooks secured 4 ball ends!