i think the stock abr-1 is a big weak link ....

I don't know if I am buying the metallurgy and mechanical construction used on the reissue abr-1

I replaced the stock unit that came with my historic 57 black beauty with a unit from Germany that was milled from a solid billet of bell brass and the improvement is astounding.

I am thinking much of the tone is being sucked out by the metal used in the body of the stock bridge

here is a photo of the bridge I am talking about from ABM Germany

anyone else purchase this piece - I think its a much bigger upgrade than doing the mapleshade mod

stumphead said:

I don't know if I am buying the metallurgy and mechanical construction used on the reissue abr-1

I replaced the stock unit that came with my historic 57 black beauty with a unit from Germany that was milled from a solid billet of bell brass and the improvement is astounding.

I am thinking much of the tone is being sucked out by the metal used in the body of the stock bridge

here is a photo of the bridge I am talking about from ABM Germany

anyone else purchase this piece - I think its a much bigger upgrade than doing the mapleshade mod

Click to expand...

why are 3 thumbwheels stacked on top of each other ?

Is that 3 thumbwheels that you're using?

:bigal did you do to that thang? Three thumb wheels? Why?

no - I am using the single thin brass thumbwheels - with brass posts like this:



what you are seeing i believe is a special nashville to abr-1 wheel he makes

the AMB bridge I have comes in aluminum or brass - I have brass

extreme improvement in the mids and bass with the historic taking on more of a semi hollowbody richness
unbelievable woody character - it now kills 2017 / 2007 r8 resissues I had as well as a 2013/ 2003 57 goldtops

bridge pup ice pick hardness or shrillness is gone - bass is silly good - highs rolled back but very sweet - needs a bump in treble on amp -improved sustain - great mid range honk - more 3D then stock which you may or may not like

acoustically the guitar is now almost twice as loud and vibrates like a tuning fork - even with the titebond glue and truss rod condom as I have a pre 2013 model

its sound a little different now - more modern maybe … might not be the worst way to spend a 100 bucks if you have several guitars you could try it on

would love to know what others think of it - I have on a blonde bassman 6g6-b clone thru a vintage EVF 12 L speaker into pine cab

cant say anything about high grain marsall or metal tones but I bet they are killer too …….

(I would never stack 3 wheels - that's funny )