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ABR1 String Placement

Joined
Apr 26, 2018
Messages
93
I’m currently replacing the saddles on a true historic Les Paul and could use a little help with the placement of the strings on the saddles of the ABR1. In the past I've always just placed the strings center on the saddles and called it a day. After all, every other factory stock Gibson I own that has an ABR1 seems to have the strings almost dead center of the saddle. However, shouldn’t the strings be evenly spaced and sit above the pole pieces? When I space the strings out perfectly they do not sit center of the poles nor are they evenly spaced. I know it’s not crucial that they sit directly above the poles but I am concerned about the string spacing and its correlation to both E strings near the edge of the board. As it stands right now with the strings perfectly spaced and sitting above the pole pieces, they are sitting well off-center of the saddle.

Thoughts?
 

MuleTrain

New member
Joined
Jan 9, 2004
Messages
11
I would be more concerned with the string pulling straight from the tailpiece as it goes over the saddle
 

renderit

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
Nope.

Only if you have an F-Spaced bridge pickup.

Center -em on the saddles and call it a day.

The pole pieces should be close enough you should at least be part way over them on each side.
 

Strings Jr.

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 17, 2016
Messages
670
The string alignment on the fingerboard should be your first priority. In a perfect world, the strings would sit in the middle of each saddle and over the center of each pole. But that's not always the case. That's why the bridge doesn't come pre-notched. It's better to have the strings a little off center on the saddle, and / or the poles, than to have your high E string too close to the edge of the fingerboard.
 

renderit

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
Strings is right.

I was wrong.

But don't worry about the poles being centered.
 
Last edited:

Wallaby

New member
Joined
Dec 14, 2019
Messages
12
StewMac sells a "String Spacing Rule" that I've used to locate nut slots and saddle grooves on my projects.

IMO proper spacing relative to the fingerboard is the goal as others have mentioned, pickup alignment isn't as important. Although it's annoying if it isn't pretty close visually!
 
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