So that's how to get them out... I'm converting my les paul into a floating bridge design for a custom look I just couldn't figure out how how to remove these suckers
Jesus, this is like one of those cyst popping videos!
I'm guessing an aftermarket mod for "maximum resonance" since things like that and a whole lot of brass was used back then for resonance improvement. Kinda like how people would inlay brass blocks where the bridge was located.
Obviously not a Nashville bushing. But what is it? It seems to have a greater diameter than the Nashville bushing. I replaced mine with iNserts from Faber & a Faber locking abr. Great product.
I had great success in taking the inner part off and replacing it with a screw exactly the same diameter, then screwing against the bottom until the whole piece comes out.