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Vintage ABR1

Jean-Christophe

New member
Joined
Oct 6, 2017
Messages
6
Hi

I would like to know if someone can tell me what is this ABR1 ? The saddles looks not original to me.
This ABR1 is on my original 58 LP that I bought last year. I don't think it is original to the guitar.

Thanks
Jean Christophe
 

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Wilko

All Access/Backstage Pass
Joined
Mar 11, 2002
Messages
20,854
Looks reissue to me. Lines/edges are way too clean.
 

marshall1987

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
3,278
Four photos of a nickel-plated, Gibson Historic ABR-1, Les Paul bridge. The bridge saddles, set screws, and retainer wire are not shown.

The OPs "vintage ABR1" has a distinct hallmark on the bottom immediately after the raised "GIBSON ABR-1". Contrast that with my photos of a Gibson Historic ABR-1. There is no hallmark after "GIBSON ABR-1" on the recent Gibson Historic bridge.










 

BSeneca

Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2011
Messages
128
Id keep it and put a wire on it. I hate when I restring and they fall out. Intonating can be a bitch. Hold the saddle while you try to lengthen or shorten it.
 

goldtop0

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 19, 2003
Messages
8,931
The modern ABR-1s tend to sink(squash down) so my guitar tech says(can happen after a few years or after 10 years or so).
He says because they're made of zinc they do this and it causes havoc with intonation etc.
I don't know what the old vintage '50s ones are made of.
 

Maxmc

Active member
Joined
Mar 15, 2015
Messages
652
The modern ABR-1s tend to sink(squash down) so my guitar tech says(can happen after a few years or after 10 years or so).
He says because they're made of zinc they do this and it causes havoc with intonation etc.
I don't know what the old vintage '50s ones are made of.
I don't know what the old ones were made of either but the ABR1 bridge on the 1960 burst that I used to own was collapsed like this when I got it. The guy I used then to service my guitars put it in a press to get it back into shape. I do recall that the bridge saddles were brass though.
 

duaneflowers

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 13, 2013
Messages
2,522
I don't know what the old vintage '50s ones are made of.

They are made of Zamak... a zinc/aluminum/magnesium/copper (Kupfer in German) alloy. There are several different recipes, the 50s bridges used the softest one, which caused quite a few bridges to collapse, hence the use of more solid (tone sucking) materials. Since Zamak is patented it may (or may not) cost Gibson a fair penny to use it... no doubt another board vote to use something less, er, just less. I don't think any bridge makers are currently using the correct Zamak formula (again, probably due to its softness) and until there is we are at the mercy of the various available alternatives. For better or worse...

I prefer the current Faber offerings myself and think they come closest in tone (albeit made of a different alloy) to what I'm looking for. :salude
 

goldtop0

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 19, 2003
Messages
8,931
They are made of Zamak... a zinc/aluminum/magnesium/copper (Kupfer in German) alloy. There are several different recipes, the 50s bridges used the softest one, which caused quite a few bridges to collapse, hence the use of more solid (tone sucking) materials.

Thanks for the info.
Love the 'tone sucking' bit:lol:dang
 
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