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

ajtonly1

Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2022
Messages
43
Sent you my mail, never received anything yet lol can't wait to read your opinion
but ere's my two pennies, I had an original non-wired and wired ABR-1 two compare it two, fyi the guitars I used were my 2001 Historic Makeover deluxe & a 2004 R7 the look was spot on compared to others I have seen posted here (if that is someting you are interested in) and the sound was nearly Identical compared to to the bridge that was originally on my R7

FYI both guitars used brass posts and rings and nylon nuts from Historic Makeovers
The HM LP has kluson deluxe tuners and the R7 has original 50s waffle backs, so I think have a semi-decent test bed

YMMV but I'm happy with it, pricey yes but people don't complain about dropping the same coin on a pedal when this is actually a main part in the start of your tone chain

resized.jpg
 
Last edited:

Gino753

Active member
Joined
Jan 26, 2018
Messages
187
Want to hear an amazing vintage tone ? Custom made Les Paul equipped with a Four Uncles ABR-1


youtube]4d-fJ8ofy1k
and very tasty playin' by Peter van Dorst; this is what can be called: "hitting the note" !

Enjoy and go grab your guitar !
Very nice can I ask what make the guitar is?
 

Gino753

Active member
Joined
Jan 26, 2018
Messages
187
Sent you my mail, never received anything yet lol can't wait to read your opinion
but ere's my two pennies, I had an original non-wired and wired ABR-1 two compare it two, fyi the guitars I used were my 2001 Historic Makeover deluxe & a 2004 R7 the look was spot on compared to others I have seen posted here (if that is someting you are interested in) and the sound was nearly Identical compared to to the bridge that was originally on my R7

FYI both guitars used brass posts and rings and nylon nuts from Historic Makeovers
The HM LP has kluson deluxe tuners and the R7 has original 50s waffle backs, so I think have a semi-decent test bed

YMMV but I'm happy with it, pricey yes but people don't complain about dropping the same coin on a pedal when this is actually a main part in the start of your tone chain

View attachment 20135
So the (FU) bridge sounded identical to the stock Gibson Custom bridge? If i read that correct?
 

Gino753

Active member
Joined
Jan 26, 2018
Messages
187
It matters how it is manufactured because if you are after the 50’s sound it has to be die casted. Even if it is made with the right alloy and not die casted it will not be the same. I personally cannot hear any difference but that doesn’t mean that you don’t. I have tried all the different Zamaks.
Then the Cooper components ABR-1 is out…that one is one I was considering, but they mention that they CNC machine it , for accuracy…however I think it’s because it’s easier and cheaper to run a program on a CNC, and push play..then too have a mold made..then melt the metal and pout it in the mold…then when it hardens..you have to file off the flashing, and clean it up…then prep it for chrome, or Nickle plating?

Nothing against the Cooper model, but if the original was cast, then thats what i want
 

Gino753

Active member
Joined
Jan 26, 2018
Messages
187
I think removing the Gibson name from under the bridge can possibly influence performance due to weight/mass removal and thus impact the dynamic response and harmonic spectrum of the fundamental. 🤣
The problem with that, would be that , the consistency of the bridges,.. would all be increased….where Bursts were not..

Lol
 

m bernardi

Active member
Joined
Jul 17, 2002
Messages
534
Sent you my mail, never received anything yet lol can't wait to read your opinion
but ere's my two pennies, I had an original non-wired and wired ABR-1 two compare it two, fyi the guitars I used were my 2001 Historic Makeover deluxe & a 2004 R7 the look was spot on compared to others I have seen posted here (if that is someting you are interested in) and the sound was nearly Identical compared to to the bridge that was originally on my R7

FYI both guitars used brass posts and rings and nylon nuts from Historic Makeovers
The HM LP has kluson deluxe tuners and the R7 has original 50s waffle backs, so I think have a semi-decent test bed

YMMV but I'm happy with it, pricey yes but people don't complain about dropping the same coin on a pedal when this is actually a main part in the start of your tone chain

View attachment 20135

Sent you my mail, never received anything yet lol can't wait to read your opinion
but ere's my two pennies, I had an original non-wired and wired ABR-1 two compare it two, fyi the guitars I used were my 2001 Historic Makeover deluxe & a 2004 R7 the look was spot on compared to others I have seen posted here (if that is someting you are interested in) and the sound was nearly Identical compared to to the bridge that was originally on my R7

FYI both guitars used brass posts and rings and nylon nuts from Historic Makeovers
The HM LP has kluson deluxe tuners and the R7 has original 50s waffle backs, so I think have a semi-decent test bed

YMMV but I'm happy with it, pricey yes but people don't complain about dropping the same coin on a pedal when this is actually a main part in the start of your tone chain

View attachment 20135
all my sound samples and bridges are done on one guitar
 

ajtonly1

Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2022
Messages
43
So the (FU) bridge sounded identical to the stock Gibson Custom bridge? If i read that correct?
No, I said original ABR non wired and 1 original wired. The non is from the 50s and the gold wired is from the early 60s
So the (FU) bridge sounded identical to the stock Gibson Custom bridge? If i read that correct?
sounded almost identical to the original ABRs I said
 

Gino753

Active member
Joined
Jan 26, 2018
Messages
187
no worries glad I could offer my 2 pennies. Sorry for the short reply earlier was on the road
No problem..soo one last thing..I have a passion for guitars in general, and vintage guitars like I think we all do here.

I own, a 2019 Gibson Custom Shop R9, a 2018 Gibson Custom Shop R0, and a 2016 Gibson Custom shop SG Standard Historic

I am not wealthy, I had to fight tooth and nail for these guitars,

Now, $450 is a lot of money, for a bridge…a big part of me wants one of these but ..I don’t know…would you recommend spending the money? Could i get your opinion on that from someone who allready has
 

Mr. Legit

Active member
Joined
Sep 11, 2016
Messages
112
Then the Cooper components ABR-1 is out…that one is one I was considering, but they mention that they CNC machine it , for accuracy…however I think it’s because it’s easier and cheaper to run a program on a CNC, and push play..then too have a mold made..then melt the metal and pout it in the mold…then when it hardens..you have to file off the flashing, and clean it up…then prep it for chrome, or Nickle plating?

Nothing against the Cooper model, but if the original was cast, then thats what i want
The reason why we CNC it is ONLY partly because of cost. To get a mold made requires at least 15-20K for a decent mold. It actually isn’t as cheap or as easy as you’re making it out to be to do CNC either. If we were in this for money, this would be the last business we would want to be in. From a business perspective, it would take years to recoup those costs for people who are passionate about these details.

We also make these here in the USA. I would gladly charge you hundreds more if you’d be willing to pay for that, but at that point why buy a reproduction when you can buy a real vintage piece. I frankly think it is disrespectful to discount efforts you may or may not know anything about.

Do we wish we could cast them like the originals? Yes, but that doesn’t always translate into a better product either despite its vintage accuracy. A lot of handwork goes into getting these right still. CNC’s best strength is that it produces consistency and accuracy better than any cast can.

No disrespect, but the people who have tested our bridges against the FU have preferred them over the FU bridges, and those are apparently casted. This doesn’t mean that you would prefer our bridges either, but luckily, we live in a day and age where the choices are plenty. Instead of making presumptions about our products which we are always trying to make better, if you have any questions, feel free to message us at CMC.
 

Gino753

Active member
Joined
Jan 26, 2018
Messages
187
Yes im a machinist myself, soo I fully understand…I did not mean any disrespect to Coopers operation, and am still considering buying one anyway, as I am into this stuff.Also i wasnt trying to make it sound like it was a cheap wayy of doing it, i mentioned..as you said yourself the extra cost it would bring to the project if a cast was made first, then done from there
 

ajtonly1

Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2022
Messages
43
No problem..soo one last thing..I have a passion for guitars in general, and vintage guitars like I think we all do here.

I own, a 2019 Gibson Custom Shop R9, a 2018 Gibson Custom Shop R0, and a 2016 Gibson Custom shop SG Standard Historic

I am not wealthy, I had to fight tooth and nail for these guitars,

Now, $450 is a lot of money, for a bridge…a big part of me wants one of these but ..I don’t know…would you recommend spending the money? Could i get your opinion on that from someone who allready has
i'm not rich either, but I will say, instead buying a pedal, I would rather buy the bridge..............pedals come and go but for me I thought it was worth it. your figure the guitar and the sum of its components are the start of your tone chain....after the hands
but YMMV.

Also, I worked in a machine shop in the past so i understand what he means.

I wanted the sound and I nerd out on the look..........again, different strokes
 

Gino753

Active member
Joined
Jan 26, 2018
Messages
187
i'm not rich either, but I will say, instead buying a pedal, I would rather buy the bridge..............pedals come and go but for me I thought it was worth it. your figure the guitar and the sum of its components are the start of your tone chain....after the hands
but YMMV.

Also, I worked in a machine shop in the past so i understand what he means.

I wanted the sound and I nerd out on the look..........again, different strokes
Ok then thank you for replying, im going to grab both the Cooper components one, and the FU,
 

m bernardi

Active member
Joined
Jul 17, 2002
Messages
534
if members give me a e-mail, I'll send them sound samples of a 63-fu- crazy parts 59. let me know the one you like 1 -2 or3 and I'll tell you the one you picked!!!!
 

Gino753

Active member
Joined
Jan 26, 2018
Messages
187
I think its more or less, that people are cautious about openly sharing there email.

Nothing against you..But who knows
 
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