ONLY 20 Bridges build for Crazyparts! Incl. Domed Thumbwheels and Posts! This
ABR-1 is a vintage shaped repro bridge (based on Genuie Gibson
TH-Collection Vintage shaped ABR-1) it was likely manufactured between
1960 and mid-1963, based on the nylon saddles and no retaining wire.
Some time in the middle of the 1963 production year, Gibson began using
"wired" ABR-1 bridges which implemented a retaining wire to hold the
saddles in place. this bridge was manufactured before that transition
took place and is correct for several models including SG/Les Paul
Custom, ES-345, and ES-355 guitars manufactured from late 1960 - 1963.
It would also be a great substitute for the difficult to find "thin" or
"low profile" ABR-1 bridges used on ES-345 and ES-355 guitars with
shallow neck angles manufactured from 1958 - 1960. Perfect for a vintage
Gibson restoration or to add some vintage mojo to a modern Gibson
guitar. This bridge comes with Area59 Soft Brass saddles and screws. The Da Vinci Code Project...why old Gibson ABR-1 bridges sound (better) different compare to new ones...???? Everybody
which goes deeper into the reseach of the secrets of the difference in
sound know (from testing or google) that the old Nonwire ABR-1 bridges
and some later Pat.No bridges sound better compare to new ones. There
are 3 factors! 1st the alloy (Zamac5) of the bridge itself 2nd the brass screws 3rd the brass saddles So
its well known that its impossible to recreated the formular of the
Zamac5 alloy today, this is in case of the raw materials/alloys and the
overall production technique used today! You can came close but nobody can recreate this exact like in the old times! Thats FACT!
A huge factor of the overall sound was the screws and saddles! And not just the material itself it was also the "FIT" of the combination of screw and saddle! Since
its not possbible to recreate the bridge itself we do a lot of research
and testing with the screws and saddles (thumbwheels)....
The
old screws and saddles was made of a softer kind of brass (if you check
pictures of old ABR1 saddles you see that they often rounded! This was
in case of the used over the years and the softer material itself! We
tested over years several old bridges and finally rebuild screws and
saddles made of the "VINTAGE SOFT BRASS"...The hard part was to find a
supplier which has the knowledge and finally was able to build this
parts. Its not just the softer brass which makes a difference its
also the "FIT" of the parts in the bridge itself! If you own an old ABR1
you will notice the bridge and saddles have much more space in the
bridge compare to newer ABR-1, here the parts fit very hard, you need to
press the saddle and screw into the bridge, this is in case of Gibson
change specs, the screws and saddles dont fall out of the bridge. The
disadvantage is the screws and saddle cant breath and finally this is
killing part of the overall tone. Now after 2 YEARS reseach and testing the screws arrive some month ago and now the saddles are on the way from USA....