Stock Gibson bridges?

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BloodRose

Professional Scapegoat
This may be a dumb question, but here tis.. Not long ago, I bought an Epi LP. It had a crummy bridge on it that had a retaining wire holding the saddles in. I replaced it based on the advice of guys on the forum here. (thanks!!) Couldnt be happier. Last night I was playing with my LP Trad Pro and was wondering about the bridge.. Now I know its night and day different than the on my epi bridge was. But, I wondered if there would be any benefit to upgrading the bridge on my Gibson LP and Explorer? Im guessing not as guys have been gigging with stock Gibby bridges for decades.. But, I do know they change materials and such.. Im all about making a good thing better... thanks
 
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Re: Stock Gibson bridges?

Stock bridges on LP's really aren't that great either. Having an inferior bridge or tailpiece doesn't physically stop you gigging, nor does the universe explode. And if you've never tried anything else, how would you know if your guitar could sound more like you really want.

They're a cheap item, and often the metal (zamak) isn't that great from a resonance/energy transfer point of view (let alone the loose tolerances between the nashville stud components). The Tonepros stuff even within the Nashville construction is way better - most people who swap seem to like the results tonally, plus the locking version helps with string changes. The Abr has a more solid construction again, but limited intonation adjustment. Check out Faber as they have a few setups that can drop in to convert between the two.

Another tonal alteration is in the tailpiece material. Aluminium was the material for the original LP tailpieces. A swap to this is also another possible tonal improvement.
 
Re: Stock Gibson bridges?

Can't comment really, because on my two tune-o-matic guitars (Gibson LP and ES335) I went to Callaham Steel bridges straight away based on what I heard of a good friend's upgrade. I do know that the guitars with Callaham's sound ACE.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Re: Stock Gibson bridges?

What is a good upgrade? Gotoh? I may do a tone pros set for my explorer. will a tone pros work on the existing studs?
 
Re: Stock Gibson bridges?

What I've noticed with the Tone Pros is the string spacing is just a hair wider than stock and often places the high E a little too close to the edge of the board for me.

I generally stay with the stock bridges on Gibsons even though they tend to flatten out over time. Sometimes very quickly unfortunately, I don't know if it's because of how I play or the metals they are made of these days.

Never had a quality issue with Tone Pros fwiw.
 
Re: Stock Gibson bridges?

I think the Gibson bridges are fine. ABR-1s sound different than the Nashville bridge, but are prone to collapse. The Nashville has a wider and finer range of intonation, and is far sturdier. But the vintage guys love those old-school ABR-1s.

I'm having issues with a Tone Pros ABR-1 that the original owner installed on my '59 Historic. I probably would not buy any Tone Pros myself. This one is going in the drawer.

I am a big fan of lightweight aluminum stop tails. My Historics came with them; I added them to my two 1960 Classics, my two Supremes, and my Elegant. I get the Gotoh from Stew-Mac, about $45 USD. They make the guitars sound airier; more resonant, dynamic and definitely more vintage-sounding.

So, you can experiment with after-market bridges and stop tails. The good news is that you don't have to spend a lot, and it's a reversible mod.

Bill
 
Re: Stock Gibson bridges?

GilmourD said:
If you get the correct model TonePros it'll drop right in.
Click to expand...

Thats what I thought. I wouldnt want to attempt replacing the posts..

Wattage said:
What I've noticed with the Tone Pros is the string spacing is just a hair wider than stock and often places the high E a little too close to the edge of the board for me.

I generally stay with the stock bridges on Gibsons even though they tend to flatten out over time. Sometimes very quickly unfortunately, I don't know if it's because of how I play or the metals they are made of these days.

Never had a quality issue with Tone Pros fwiw.
Click to expand...

The saddles flatten or the bridge itself?? Wow..

Boogie Bill said:
I think the Gibson bridges are fine. ABR-1s sound different than the Nashville bridge, but are prone to collapse. The Nashville has a wider and finer range of intonation, and is far sturdier. But the vintage guys love those old-school ABR-1s.

I'm having issues with a Tone Pros ABR-1 that the original owner installed on my '59 Historic. I probably would not buy any Tone Pros myself. This one is going in the drawer.

I am a big fan of lightweight aluminum stop tails. My Historics came with them; I added them to my two 1960 Classics, my two Supremes, and my Elegant. I get the Gotoh from Stew-Mac, about $45 USD. They make the guitars sound airier; more resonant, dynamic and definitely more vintage-sounding.

So, you can experiment with after-market bridges and stop tails. The good news is that you don't have to spend a lot, and it's a reversible mod.

Bill
Click to expand...

Yeah, I like that its reversible. I cant really afford to experiment these days. So, Id like to try to get it right the first time. Sounds like there is definately a notable change when you go with the Gotohs. Im considering the switch on my 2002 Explorer and my LP Trad pro. You change just the bridge or the tail too?? How do I know which one is the Aluminum one in which you speak? Is it just the Gotoh or does it specify aluminum in the description? Thats probably what I just put on my Epi.
 
Re: Stock Gibson bridges?

The newer TonePros stuff is made by Sung-Il in Korea, not Gotoh like they used to be. You can tell if it simply says "TonePros" on the bottom. If it says "Gotoh" (the earliest ones did) or "TonePros by Gotoh" on the bottom, then they're much better quality and will last longer.
 
Re: Stock Gibson bridges?

masta' c said:
The newer TonePros stuff is made by Sung-Il in Korea, not Gotoh like they used to be. You can tell if it simply says "TonePros" on the bottom. If it says "Gotoh" (the earliest ones did) or "TonePros by Gotoh" on the bottom, then they're much better quality and will last longer.
Click to expand...

Yep. Was doing some research a while back for a tune-omatic and came up with a lot of comments that the TonePros stuff was now Sung-IL made. I have a Tonepros tuneomatic on one guitar and I think it's plated better but, and this is just my opinion but, it's a glorified Sung IL. Nothing wrong with it but I wont pay 2X as much next time.

I have a Godin with a Graptech Resomax wraparound bridge, adjustable saddles. I have no idea what Resomax is. It's probably a zinc based metal. It may be overpriced (at $125) but it is a nice bridge. And I doubt I'd pay $100 for a Graphtech tuneomatic. But, if I'm looking for a top quality tuneomatic to replace a stock Gibson, from what I've seen, I don't think the $40-$50 Tonepros is an upgrade. I'd look at Faber bridges for the price. More than Tonepros but not super expensive.
 
Re: Stock Gibson bridges?

treyhaislip said:
What does your bride have to do with it? ;) jk

I never had any issues with my stock Gibson bridges but I don't see the harm in trying to upgrade it :)
Click to expand...

Well, my bride hates everything guitar related. Should have replaced that YEARS ago... (oops. corrected)
 
Re: Stock Gibson bridges?

Where do I find info on Faber units?? tried a search yest after it was first mentioned by Alexr, but came up empty.

I hate when these cos have something good and farm it out to cheapen things and it turns to crap. Happened to all the big 80s guitar brands, floyd rose's, grover tuners, tone pros now I gather..
 
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Re: Stock Gibson bridges?

Fwiw , Gibson changed up their Nashvilles a couple times in the past few years..in late 2013 they started using titanium saddles. Doent seem to be any known proof they have gone back to zamack saddles, but some folks claim they have.

I have two guitars, same 2014 model year, and I have noticed swapping the bridges makes a noticable tone change on either guitar, despite the fact the bridges and saddles look identical...only difference is my early 2014 classic has standard posts, my trad has the hex head posts.

Ive thought about doing a faber abr conversion, but Philadelphia luthier supply has some incredible looking new nashville bridges machined out of aluminum or brass that have caught my eye.
 
Re: Stock Gibson bridges?

One of the 'contruction' elements of the Nashville is that the unit is effectively hollow.......the voids for the saddles go right through to the bottom. The ABR is solid, and not only that, most often made with a different metal mixture.
The downside of the abr is that its narrow shape and construction have led to some being weaker, hence the collapsing effect.
 
Re: Stock Gibson bridges?

BloodRose said:
Where do I find info on Faber units?? tried a search yest after it was first mentioned by Alexr, but came up empty.

I hate when these cos have something good and farm it out to cheapen things and it turns to crap. Happened to all the big 80s guitar brands, floyd rose's, grover tuners, tone pros now I gather..
Click to expand...

faberusa.com
 
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