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Wired ABR Bridge?

harveyP

Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2003
Messages
199
This is a good illustration of a short and long collar. the extreme right hand screw is considerably shorter than the one to its left if that makes sense.

P1010709.jpg
 

guitarvoodoo

Formerly fishnose, Les Paul Forum Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2006
Messages
2,000
This is a good illustration of a short and long collar. the extreme right hand screw is considerably shorter than the one to its left if that makes sense.

P1010709.jpg

Excellent pics!
Yes, there it is, the collar difference. And the long collar allows the screw to slide back and forth unless held very firmly in place by the wire on a wire ABR. Generally only the far left and far right screws are held firmly in place by the wire, the other 4 are pretty sloppy because the wire is rather hopeless.
Of course the strings hold down the saddles, but one needs to push the screws firmly into position so one can get the intonation just right.

/GV
 

Black Lab

New member
Joined
Mar 22, 2009
Messages
45
Great info, great photos! Everything you ever wanted to know about ABR. This stuff should maybe be collected and put into a reference area. All of those photos of original 50s bridges, etc.

One more question- what does "ABR" stand for, and what is the "-1" designation?
 

DavidFloyd

New member
Joined
Aug 5, 2003
Messages
96
Maybe slightly off topic, but does it matter if the ABR is setup with the adjusting screws are facing the pickup or the tailpiece? Any difference in terms of sustain or "sitar"effect? I've seen ABR's set both ways (I understand the Nashville is toward the tailpiece)and assumed facing the pickup for an ABR was what was "correct"?
 

BobV

New member
Joined
Jan 11, 2009
Messages
831
Besides the saddle notches are spaced and sized differently so turning the entire bridge around can cause problems - seen often enough on old guitars where the bridge fell off changing strings and someone put it back on backwards. Either way, it's not easy to get at the intonation screws.
 

Wannatone

New member
Joined
Feb 10, 2003
Messages
1,461
Where can I get authentic saddle screws and brass saddles that fit a vintage non wire ABR-1?
I would prefer the non beveled version.
 

harveyP

Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2003
Messages
199
Where can I get authentic saddle screws and brass saddles that fit a vintage non wire ABR-1?
I would prefer the non beveled version.


Vintage Clone sell nice nickel over brass ones with the correct tool markings but they tell me they are out of stock and not sure if there will be any more.

Steve Rowen might be able to help. The Allparts ones work but are not vintage correct.
 

harveyP

Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2003
Messages
199
Can anyone comment on bevelled and non bevelled? The sharp saddles are often seen on late fifties ABRs but I see a lot of the flatter stubbier saddles - are these just filled down sharp ones or were there different versions?

I'll try and do some pics to explain what I'm whittering on about.
 

harveyP

Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2003
Messages
199
OK... sharp saddle on the left... bevelled saddle on the right:

P1010717.jpg


Does anyone know the chronology of these versions?

This pic shows tooling marks on a vintage saddle:

P1010729.jpg
 

Wannatone

New member
Joined
Feb 10, 2003
Messages
1,461
I thought we were talking about beveled and non beveled saddle screws. Now we're also having beveled / non beveled saddles.

Is there a time frame for the variations, or are they totally random?
 
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