Stock Gibson bridges?

[MetalManiac]

Re: Stock Gibson bridges?

I have changed ALL my Gibson bridges to Steel or at least Brass. I could have bought another Gibson for what all those cost me.

IDK that there is anything wrong with Aluminum, i just drank the Koolaid maybe .

A new cold rolled ABR-1 TOM for my SG from Callaham will set me back a cool buck and 1/2. I have a brass stoptail already for it, so thats that.

I do not do stock Aluminum on any of my Gibsons-I even just got a new Kluson 335 Steel Harmonica bridge for my 73 335 to replace the stock aluminum one , but need to find someone to deepen the slots.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Stock Gibson bridges?

The Gibson bridges can flatten out under string tension over time, and the mounting bushings can also have a very poor fit. On my 2004 Les Paul Standard, if you turned the guitar upside down with the bridge off, both bushings would fall right out of the body! It is worth upgrading the bushings to tight fitting ones, if nothing else. I always tell myself I am going to plug the stock mounting holes and install a proper ABR-1, but in 12 years, I still haven't got around to it.

Oh yeah: the bridge is flattening out too...and it's a Nashville T.O.M., which is less susceptible to this than an ABR-1.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Stock Gibson bridges?

So, am I getting that the Faber stuff is better than Tone pros? Seems that way. Figures, cuz its alot more money.. Im I better replacing the bridge AND tail piece?

Oh, and as a PSA, FAber is on vacation, so from 2/6-2/15 You can get 20% off with code VAC1620 when you order..

How do I tell if I have the ABR1 or Nashville bridge on my guitars now? Cuz you have to order certain parts from Faber depending. I have a 2002 Explorer and a 2012 (I think) LP Trad Pro.

I just have to decide which to upgrade first.. I can only afford to do one at a time.. Wish I could do both since they are having the sale!!

 

[dystrust]

Re: Stock Gibson bridges?

I'm a little late to the party, but I figured I'll add my $0.02...

First of all, +1 for the Gotoh lightweight tail piece. The $120 Gibson one is a ripoff, but the $45 Gotoh is absolutely worth it. Much better clarity and the harmonics just seem more alive; it's especially noticeable the cleaner you're playing.

Bridge type is a bit more complicated. Both of your guitars will have Nashville bridges; I currently have 4 Gibsons; two with Nashvilles, one with a stock ABR, and one that I converted to an ABR.

My 1996 Explorer has the stock Nashville and I briefly tried an ABR conversion, but it seemed to loose a lot of low-end and emphasize the upper mids. It made the guitar sound like bright, nasal crap so I reinstalled the stock bridge. My 2007 SG Standard OTOH sounds good with both the Nashville and ABR, and I kept the Nashville because it works a bit better for the sound I'm after.

I changed the stock Nashville bridge on my 2001 LP Standard for an ABR in 2004 or so. The guitar had always been a bit heavy on the low mids, and the ABR really cleared that up and removed a lot of mud. I can't say the guitar sounded bad with the stock bridge, but the ABR is a definite improvement. I also have a 2007 ES-335 Fatneck with a factory ABR-1; before that I had a 335 clone with a Nashville bridge that always had this mud I could never completely dial out. They're not the same guitar, but every 335 I've ever played with a Nashville sounded muddy so take that FWIW.