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Four Uncles ABR-1 bridge just in and...

Professortwang

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Joined
Dec 16, 2009
Messages
761
Guitar players are a superstitious lot particularly in this section of the Les Paul Forum! A post that acknowledges the effect of confirmation bias, self fulfilling prophecy, placebo effect, etc. Is warranted particularly given the amount of time and money spent chasing the elusive Vintage Les Paul tone. There are some blind A/B tests floating around the web. I'd love to have more blind A/B comparisons however the reality is people pay for the latest and greatest invention and then sing its praises. Forum lore is a strange thing.
 

GastonG

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 25, 2001
Messages
1,397
Guitar players are a superstitious lot particularly in this section of the Les Paul Forum! A post that acknowledges the effect of confirmation bias, self fulfilling prophecy, placebo effect, etc. Is warranted particularly given the amount of time and money spent chasing the elusive Vintage Les Paul tone. There are some blind A/B tests floating around the web. I'd love to have more blind A/B comparisons however the reality is people pay for the latest and greatest invention and then sing its praises. Forum lore is a strange thing.
Just go back to
This video of Johan Segeborn was the push to get this ABR-1 replica going for the Four Uncles. Players of a vintage Les Paul also, will be glad to store their 60+ years old ABR-1 and install this new FU bridge !

p.s. did achieve a better tone when I replace the Gibson Custom Shop ABR-1 by this FU bridge on my 2020 Murphy Lab LP.9 0910_5jan2022_a.jpg
 

CK6

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 5, 2020
Messages
449
Guitar players are a superstitious lot particularly in this section of the Les Paul Forum! A post that acknowledges the effect of confirmation bias, self fulfilling prophecy, placebo effect, etc. Is warranted particularly given the amount of time and money spent chasing the elusive Vintage Les Paul tone. There are some blind A/B tests floating around the web. I'd love to have more blind A/B comparisons however the reality is people pay for the latest and greatest invention and then sing its praises. Forum lore is a strange thing.
Just buy one and try it out. That’s the only way to know for sure. Everybody has an opinion but honestly you’ll only know with your guitar and your ears if it makes a difference and inspires you to pick up the instrument and play it. That’s what I did, and I think it sounds great. Maybe it won’t work for you, maybe it will!
 
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rockabilly69

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Jul 29, 2001
Messages
2,872
Just buy one and try it out. That’s the only way to know for sure. Everybody has an opinion but honestly you’ll only know with your guitar and your ears if it makes a difference and inspires you to pick up the instrument and play it. That’s what I did, and I think it sounds great. Maybe it won’t work for you, maybe it will!
Oh Professortwang has dropped some coin on replacement parts for Les Pauls, he's just stirring the pot :) I think he's just getting a little pissy about the price tag, And btw, he's one of my best friends!
 

renderit

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Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
Oh Professortwang has dropped some coin on replacement parts for Les Pauls, he's just stirring the pot :) I think he's just getting a little pissy about the price tag, And btw, he's one of my best friends!
As am I.

Were it maybe 300 or less I would actually try one (or two or three).

Price is a bit too dear.

And I think that will kill them.

And I think that is purely why the bias comes up.

As much of a possibility of "
sour grapes" for the have-nots as "confirmation bias" on the haves.
 
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renderit

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Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
Just watched his video.

He does not do himself a lot of favors (IMO).

Lots of explanations, a few pictures (where I can see many visual differences between his and the old one).

Then he starts a sound demonstration with an LP that is kinda a hermaphrodite to begin with.

Mistake.

Give me a bog standard Custom Shop R7, 8, 9, 0 WITH GIBSON PARTS on it, not some other type that had on somebody else's bridge, has been rewired, SS parts, has other pickups, etc.

His starting point is worthless for most of us to compare to.

Mind you, I think the product could be fantastic;


but I am unwilling to part with that large a coin given that example. No basis for my comparison...
 

Professortwang

Active member
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Dec 16, 2009
Messages
761
I wonder how the FU tailpiece compares to pigtail and later Gibson hardware. I owned a 2006, still have a 2010, 2013, and 2014. My newer les pauls are better guitars. I stopped chasing and changing after I bought my new guitars. They are stellar!
 

Professortwang

Active member
Joined
Dec 16, 2009
Messages
761
Oh Professortwang has dropped some coin on replacement parts for Les Pauls, he's just stirring the pot :) I think he's just getting a little pissy about the price tag, And btw, he's one of my best friends!
Yes, perhaps we should get all these parts together and do a blind taste test shoot out. We just need someone to part with their vintage bridge. Pigtail was the flavor of the month a few years ago. I have a box full of parts and lots of whiskey!
 

CK6

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Feb 5, 2020
Messages
449
Yes, perhaps we should get all these parts together and do a blind taste test shoot out. We just need someone to part with their vintage bridge. Pigtail was the flavor of the month a few years ago. I have a box full of parts and lots of whiskey!
I have lots of parts and whiskey too! I’m in Montreal though….!
 

El Gringo

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Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
Just watched his video.

He does not do himself a lot of favors (IMO).

Lots of explanations, a few pictures (where I can see many visual differences between his and the old one).

Then he starts a sound demonstration with an LP that is kinda a hermaphrodite to begin with.

Mistake.

Give me a bog standard Custom Shop R7, 8, 9, 0 WITH GIBSON PARTS on it, not some other type that had on somebody else's bridge, has been rewired, SS parts, has other pickups, etc.

His starting point is worthless for most of us to compare to.


Mind you, I think the product could be fantastic;


but I am unwilling to part with that large a coin given that example. No basis for my comparison...
Looks wise it looks vintage correct but that price is a turn off for an ABR-1 . I think Gibson's hardware works good . Now where I always upgrade is the pickups and depending on the guitar a wiring harness . That's exactly where I focus for myself in the tone dept.
 

m bernardi

Active member
Joined
Jul 17, 2002
Messages
534
gibson's is making the best guitars the last 4years! Some sound very "50s" some need help to sound more"50s" and its not that they sound bad! I have spent about 4000 or more on pickups over the years, some of you probably spent 300 to 500 on one pair . 400 not completely outrageous for a bridge when a vintage 57,58,59,60 one is double that if you can find one. And putting one on does not mean it will make your guitars sound that much better it is the sum of its parts maybe a cheap 40 dollar will do the trick
 

Tonetweaker

New member
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Jan 8, 2022
Messages
1
Gotta tell you that over the years, we did a lot of bridges and saddles tests: they all have their differences and worked good but I choose to keep the Gibson ABR-1 on Pearly. When I got The Murphy Lab at the end of march 2021, That was it ! the tone that I was seeking buying Historics since 1994 ! And then I went with the Four Uncles ABR-1 replica, and was not that surprise to hear the A/B test between them two bridges: huge fuller clarity and definition with the Four Uncles. I am very happy with the choice I made.
How long did you have to wait for that bridge? The maker was telling me the list is long and the supply short since they only make so many, so fast.
 

tdarian

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Jun 25, 2008
Messages
3,575
How long did you have to wait for that bridge? The maker was telling me the list is long and the supply short since they only make so many, so fast.
I inquired and they said “late January” on December 31st.
 
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