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Any value in upgrading the ABR-1 on my R8?

Joined
Mar 19, 2017
Messages
20
I know there are some nice replacement ABR-1 bridges out there but I’m wondering if my 2008 R8 would benefit from this or is the stock bridge good?
 

Gino753

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Jan 26, 2018
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187
For me i upgraded the ABR-1 brides on my R9 and R0, with more vintage correct, “Fatter” Brass saddles, like the ones used on real bursts.
 

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Joined
Mar 19, 2017
Messages
20
first thing I would do it get rid of those nasty Burstbuckers and put in something like Lollars / OX 4 , WIZZ or some other proper pickup .....

then upgrade to Pigtail abr-1 and steel tailpiece studs and inserts
Oh no…. I don’t want to go down the pickup road! That’s a black hole that quickly sucks up all your money!! Haha
 

Gino753

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Jan 26, 2018
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187
The one thing you never...do to a Historic , is touch its stock pickups...Never...if you had a issue with the stock pickups, then pass on the guitar,since the total sound of the guitar is “ONE”

Lol...sorry ive just always had an issue with that, somone buys a Historic, and immediately thinks, HMM...what pickups should i put in it...

Imagine a real burst with its original PAF”s missing.
 

WillyW

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Apr 17, 2021
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125
I replaced a tone pros on my 2004 V with a generic ebay special bridge, no appreciable change in my "tone"
 

Dr. Green

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Dec 12, 2018
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683
The one thing you never...do to a Historic , is touch its stock pickups...Never...if you had a issue with the stock pickups, then pass on the guitar,since the total sound of the guitar is “ONE”

Lol...sorry ive just always had an issue with that, somone buys a Historic, and immediately thinks, HMM...what pickups should i put in it...

Imagine a real burst with its original PAF”s missing.

and you are basing this on what logic ?

IMHO the weak link on a pre 2013 custombucker historic is the burstbuckers

I know from first hand experimentation that those guitars can be GREATLY improved upon by doing a pickup swap

now of course this is just MY viewpoint and some folks might think burstbuckers are the best thing since sliced bread ...... it would be interesting to know if others on here agree with me
 
Joined
Mar 19, 2017
Messages
20
and you are basing this on what logic ?

IMHO the weak link on a pre 2013 custombucker historic is the burstbuckers

I know from first hand experimentation that those guitars can be GREATLY improved upon by doing a pickup swap

now of course this is just MY viewpoint and some folks might think burstbuckers are the best thing since sliced bread ...... it would be interesting to know if others on here agree with me
I think the Burstbuckers are good but I’m sure there are high end boutique offerings that are superior! The thing is it gets pricey “experimenting” with them… lol
 

Gino753

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Jan 26, 2018
Messages
187
and you are basing this on what logic ?

IMHO the weak link on a pre 2013 custombucker historic is the burstbuckers

I know from first hand experimentation that those guitars can be GREATLY improved upon by doing a pickup swap

now of course this is just MY viewpoint and some folks might think burstbuckers are the best thing since sliced bread ...... it would be interesting to know if others on here agree with me
Im basing it on my logic....you know, ..since Gibson Charges an arm and a leg for one of these guitars, and then there is the “If possible, you should play..Try the guitar before you buy it”

If that is able too be done, then, you should love the guitar for what it is.In that you bought the guitar, for how it played ,and sounded ..How it was made as a whole.

I dont know, guitars too me, are like people they are made the way they are,

Then there is the resale value..Not everyone thinks like me of course, but a Historic with changed Pickups is an automatic $1000 off, to be honest, in truth i pass on it all together.

My Logic may be , Taboo to some but thats me.
 

Gino753

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Jan 26, 2018
Messages
187
Oh ok! I didn’t know that was an issue but makes sense!
Well no...its not an issue, but if your anything like me, and other than Family and work,..Collecting Gibson Reissue’s and studying and learning about real “Bursts” is my life...that is literally all i do....Sad...lol..

But , yeah if your interested in this stuff, then there are guys out there that make, parts to make a current ABR-1 bridge, look more closer to a vintage piece, like the saddles i showed in my earlier post.The sound as well changed to a warmer snarl.

Also, another thing you can do, to upgrade your ABR-1, is to change those Nickle plates “Steel”adjustment wheels underneath, the bridge on the left and right of it, too nickel plated “Brass” like the real bursts had.

You can get those at Cremetone, they are made too the same specs as the origionals.
 

thin sissy

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Jan 2, 2006
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2,691
But , yeah if your interested in this stuff, then there are guys out there that make, parts to make a current ABR-1 bridge, look more closer to a vintage piece, like the saddles i showed in my earlier post.The sound as well changed to a warmer snarl.
Where did you buy those bridge saddles?
 

Gino753

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Jan 26, 2018
Messages
187
Where did you buy those bridge saddles?
Theres a member here called “RandK” that makes them, but you can get them on Ebay, as he sells them there.Honestly the quality is top notch, and he gives you one spare.They are made to , or Modified to fit the newer ABR-1 bridges, while being fat like the old ones.

Basically the newer ABR-1 bridges , have spots that are wider and thinner, there are thinner or narrower spots for the saddles too sit on the inside section of the bridge.So thats were the MOD set comes in.



Really cool pieces though,
 

Gino753

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Jan 26, 2018
Messages
187
I think the Burstbuckers are good but I’m sure there are high end boutique offerings that are superior! The thing is it gets pricey “experimenting” with them… lol
And yes of course there are, there are high end boutique sets that use all of the correct plastic parts and everything, like the M69 Pickups rings i bought for the 1958 Gibson Flying V clone im having built.They even smell like Sh$$ like the real ones did.Like Vomit basically..lol... i love that stuff.


Getting back too, boutique pickups, being made possibly better than Butstbuckers, sure there are, but my opinion was given to the guitar as a whole, thats just how i feel about it.Of course everyone does what they want.

Im going to be using a set of Doyle Coils, for my 1958 Gibson Flying V clone, not Burst buckers.In my R9 and R0 and Custom Shop Historic SG the Buckers sound great, but having the guitar come to life for the fist time, im using Doyle coils most likely

Or i might even buy a machine and wind my own set.Ive been learning how to make and slot Nuts and saddles, and building my Stewmac took collection, so i might get into building ...”Pickups
 

garywright

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Aug 17, 2002
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15,583
I have RandK saddles on two guitars ..really nice guy to deal with plus the saddles are beautifully machined 👍
 

garywright

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Aug 17, 2002
Messages
15,583
yes ..seemed to enhance a little more warmth and sustain …cosmetically they look wonderful installed ..I have them in the original chrome bridge on my 69 Sg as well as on my 2kr9 original abr ( retaining wire version )
 

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