Area59' AOA ABR-1 Vintage Softbrass Saddles/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....
Specs:
-Set of 6 Ver.II soft brass saddles now with softer top edges!
-Type 2 (most common 1959/60' with slightly wider top)
-Copperless (thin) nickel plated
-Vintage tooling markings like org. saddles
