Guys, we've spent considerable money converting the Les Paul Forum to this new XenForo platform, and we have ongoing monthly operating expenses. THE "DONATIONS" TAB IS NOW WORKING, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY DONATIONS YOU CAN MAKE TO KEEP THE LES PAUL FORUM GOING! Thank you!
One important thing that not many people talk about are thumbwheels and posts. Many older Historic guitars have these components made of steel and not brass (soft brass is the best). Changing just these parts is already a big step forward regardless of which bridge you use. My 2 cents.
In my experience, doing many tests, the only CAPS that make the difference are the PIO (paper in oil) of any brand. Even the soviets you find on Ebay are fine. I took a few packs and selected them by pairing them with a capacitance meter. For pots maybe try the VIP pots.
It is fortunate for you that you have very good people like RSGW. Here in Europe, really good people can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Over the years I've wasted a fortune entrusting restoration work to the wrong people. If I lived in the USA I would go to RSGW without thinking about it.
I don't understand how you can say that posts and thumbwheels vibrate. What should vibrate next? Assuming that the bore of your ABR1 is larger than the posts, what vibrations can it induce with strings mounted and with the "weight" of the tuning? Or if it were the threaded hole of the...
Strange. Why should there be hum? Once you have mounted the strings and they "press" from above everything is blocked. I also have a Faber bridge that does not have very small holes but when it is mounted it is all fixed and does not move. Rather how did you put up the strings? Aren't they...
Royal Mount '50 conversion kit in soft brass!
https://reverb.com/item/56830259-gibson-soft-brass-50-thumbwheels-and-posts-adapters-for-abr-1-bridge-les-paul-sg-es335-2022-nickel
:)
Extracting a conversion stud is not difficult. Just use a cylinder and screw in the thumbwheels until the base is unscrewed. I used a Kluson bush for Firebird which has a perfect diameter and height but something similar can also be used.