ABR1 or Nashville Bridge?

[Maguchi]

Nashville!

 

[Maguchi]

Dupe

 

[papagayo]

Nashville!

The bridge on your SG is a Gibson ABR-1

 

[RGX_Custom]

I wonder what ABR stands for? Apple Butterscotch Ripple?

 

[Maguchi]

The bridge on your SG is a Gibson ABR-1

I know and I'll keep it as it came from the factory. I got other guitars with the Nashville Bridge and prefer the Nashville bridge. YMMV

 

[Gary Gretsch]

My SG Tribute and Standard have the Nashville bridge and I have no problem with them. I think they fit a bit tighter and have no wire that rattles.

 

[plankton]

I wonder what ABR stands for? Apple Butterscotch Ripple?

Annoying Bridge Rattle?

I really don't mind the ABR style bridge, I've only replaced them when I don't have enough saddle adjustment for proper intonation. The retaining wire rattle is easy enough to fix, so that's not a deal breaker for me.

 

[papagayo]

Gibson ABR-1 or Gibson ABR-1

 

[RGX_Custom]

Avocado Bacon Rigatoni

 

[Gary Gretsch]

I used the non wire version on my worn Casino. Now something else rattles lol.

 

[papagayo]

I used the non wire version on my worn Casino. Now something else rattles lol.

Ok but without the wire it' s easy to loose saddles, I put an ABR-1 bridge from Philadelphia Luthier Tools (metric) on my Casino, it' s per-fect, no strange noises and the saddles stay in place.

 

[MrvanB]

I put an ABM bridge on the guitar. Looks of the abr but the benefits of the Nashville. Build like a tank!

 

[Wound_Up]

Nashville wins for adjustment range, a lack of rattles, no annoying retainer wire, and the saddles don't pop up and down when you're trying to intonate it.

Weird. I've never had any of those issues with any of my ABR1 bridges. No rattles. No retainer wire. The saddles don't pop up and down(?). And they all intonate fine.

 

[ezypikins]

Given a choice, I like the ABR1. Have had both, on SG, as well as Les Paul.

I tend to like the original designs.

 

[Gary Gretsch]

Ok but without the wire it' s easy to loose saddles, I put an ABR-1 bridge from Philadelphia Luthier Tools (metric) on my Casino, it' s per-fect, no strange noises and the saddles stay in place.

View attachment 52291

I don't think my rattle was the bridge to start with.

 

[axemanv90]

I have a guitar that I am working on and I need some opinions. What do you think is better the ABR1 or Nashville? The only thing I am thinking is that the Nashville gives more room for intonation. Either bridge will be going into a bushing so that is not a problem
Thanks.

If you are using Nashville posts into bushings for both choices, the only advantage with the ABR-1 is that you are less likely to have strings touching the back of the bridge going to the tailpiece when the tailpiece studs are screwed down tight. If that isn't a problem, I'd go with the Nashville for the wider adjustment. I wouldn't use the ABR-1 style bushing adapter posts because of the unnecessary extra part with the thumbwheel. The fewer parts in the connection chain, the better the connection.

 

[Les’s Nemisis]

Annoying Bridge Rattle?

I really don't mind the ABR style bridge, I've only replaced them when I don't have enough saddle adjustment for proper intonation. The retaining wire rattle is easy enough to fix, so that's not a deal breaker for me.

LOL, beat me to it.

Discussions about the ABR transferring more sound to the body, and the desirability of that, Nashville wins for eliminating the problems and fixing the poor engineering design of the ABR.

If you want the tailpiece locked down for "more tone" (see above discussion pointer) but you don't like the strings breaking across the back edge of the ABR, just get a couple thick washers of appropriate finish and put them under the stop piece so that it "bolts down" at a higher point.

 

[Les’s Nemisis]

Weird. I've never had any of those issues with any of my ABR1 bridges. No rattles. No retainer wire. The saddles don't pop up and down(?). And they all intonate fine.

Consider yourself lucky!

 

[waca]

I used the non wire version on my worn Casino. Now something else rattles lol.

Did you look inside the guitar?

 

[Gary Gretsch]

Did you look inside the guitar?
View attachment 52301

Looked all over. Tried it without pickguard also. I am going to open up a whole new Pandora's box but I think the trapease tailpiece is a terrible design.