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

Gino753

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Jan 26, 2018
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187
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 )
Nice, i have an 2016 Gibson Custom shop SG Standard Historic, that i just installed Graphtech saddles on, to give the guitar more of a vintage correct look, as it has the Maestro vibrato, and small pickguard, so its basically 1963-1965 specced.

These MOD collection NPB saddles are so far on my2018 R0, and going to buy a set for my 2019 R9, i also have Vintage correct Absolute Vintage Collection nickel plated brass ABR-1 adjustment wheels on all 3 Historics, with a Domed set on my SG,

Coming from Les pauls, it took me a little while to figure out my SG, as a whole.It was strange ..using the same string guage on it, with the action set to Gibson specs 2MM Bass side 1.6MM treble side.The action felt really stiff, and it seemed like strings didnt want to ring out lively ....the notes kind of sounded “Muffled”....

Then i lowerd the action , alot to basically 1MM Bass side and 1MM treble side and the guitar completely came alive, ??? Ive talked to some other SG owners that said that the SG is its own animal, and that the SG does require or perform better with lower action? What do you think?

What i found is that on paper, the action is lower than my other guitars, but feeling wise, it feels like the strings are just as high, on the SG as my Les pauls.
 
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rockabilly69

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Jul 29, 2001
Messages
2,872
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
Would it be interesting to know that I DON'T agree with you :)

I have a 2010 R0 with BurstBuckers that slay and are the next thing since sliced bread. And I've owned, and played many Historics with aftermarket pickups, that were supposedly much better than the lowly Burstbuckers, and none of them sounded better to me than the set of BBs in my RO. I am slowly moving away from modding Historics and I'm now leaning towards just finding a good stock one to begin with. On other guitars I am a serial modder. But the only mods on my three historics are a MojoAxe bridge on my R4, which came with the guitar when I bought it and the stock bridge was long gone, and RS Steel Studs on the 2010 R0 which somebody gave me as a gift so I tried them. I think too many people write off the stock parts too quickly. I have sat many nights with my Les Pauls in front of multi thousand dollar microphones, so it's not for a lack of listening. Maybe people wouldn't like the tones I like, so to each their own.

Here is my R0 with the Burstbuckers plugged straight in for the fills on this acoustic little demo of a song I wrote a while back. The reason it sounds a bit rolled off is I play without a pick. As I said some people may not like this kind of tone, but the Burstbuckers work for me...

 
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thin sissy

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Jan 2, 2006
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2,691
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,
Great tip! Will have to store that in the old brain for future experimenting!

EDIT: I just saw now that you're having a Flying V replica built. So am I! May I ask who is doing yours?
 

TM1

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Jun 27, 2003
Messages
8,349
I have the RandK saddles on my guitars with ABR-1’s. The improvement is fairly substantial! They make connection on all three sides connecting the base and transferring the string vibrations better that the stock crap!
 

Joshabr1

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Joined
Apr 25, 2021
Messages
102
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.
Your just wrong. They aren’t original burst. They make more R-8s in any one year than all burst combined. And for many of those years the pickups absolutely suck compared to some of the aftermarket offerings. If your ok with mediocre sounding pickups then by all means.
 

Gino753

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Jan 26, 2018
Messages
187
Your just wrong. They aren’t original burst. They make more R-8s in any one year than all burst combined. And for many of those years the pickups absolutely suck compared to some of the aftermarket offerings. If your ok with mediocre sounding pickups then by all means.
Dude, you can do what ever you want...i gave my opinion, and thats my opinion.As far as

Also, i can assure you....lol...that the Custom Buckers in my “R” models may be “Mediocre” but the tones that i pull out of them....??? Are well...anything but....maby my hands are magic
 
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Joshabr1

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Apr 25, 2021
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Dude, you can do what ever you want...i gave my opinion, and thats my opinion.As far as

Also, i can assure you....lol...that the Custom Buckers in my “R” models may be “Mediocre” but the tones that i pull out of them....??? Are well...anything but....maby my hands are magic
I write things. And they don’t sound as assholish in my head as they come out on screen. I’m sure you get great sounds out of them. If your getting great tones out of custom buckers or burst buckers I will only say this. A set of throbaks ,, wizz , or OX-4s would 100% without a doubt be more clear and better to me. But it is subjective to say the least. Sorry to sound so assholish though. Not how I meant it.
 

Sol

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Oct 26, 2001
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775
Why are the RandK saddles so flattened on the top ? 50s Les Paul abr-1s had narrow peaks, whats the story ?
 

Joshabr1

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Apr 25, 2021
Messages
102
Why are the RandK saddles so flattened on the top ? 50s Les Paul abr-1s had narrow peaks, whats the story ?
Ok. The 50s saddles were all over the place. I have seen very flat ones and very sharp ones that are 100% correct and original. They were not cut on a cnc. If your talking about the “vintage mod” saddles I would say they are a little flatter than even the flattest 50s saddles I’ve seen. But they sound great and look great as well. They are a great upgrade for the newer historic Abrs.
 

Gino753

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Jan 26, 2018
Messages
187
I write things. And they don’t sound as assholish in my head as they come out on screen. I’m sure you get great sounds out of them. If your getting great tones out of custom buckers or burst buckers I will only say this. A set of throbaks ,, wizz , or OX-4s would 100% without a doubt be more clear and better to me. But it is subjective to say the least. Sorry to sound so assholish though. Not how I meant it.
Thats not a problem, man...i am totally not against, aftermarket pickups, believe me.The point i was making in my original post was that, usually ...or especially when you buy a guitar as expensive as these Custom Shop Gibsons cost.You usually play the guitar and test it first.If it passes your approval, and can afford it then you buy it.So with that said, no matter what pickups came in the guitar, i would figure would be great sounding...”I of course have bought 2 of my Historics, online so i guess i got lucky.


The only time i have however changed pickups in a guitar, was on a guitar that needed them.A 1995 Fender Made in Mexico stratocaster, as the pickups were junk, and a set of 1997 Fender Custom Shop Texas specials turned that guitar into an absolute tone monster, so you are correct as well....its just that ive had good luck with the stock Custom Buckers soo far so i do feel they are great pickups

I will be using a set of aftermarket pickups, for a new build that i am having done, i am having a 1958 Gibson Flying V clone built, and will be using a set of Doyle Coils, so im excited about that.

And yes i am interested in Throback pickups as well, and love what those guys do to try and make an authentic PAF, so i might even go with a set of those.

Happy Thanksgiving
 

Joshabr1

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Apr 25, 2021
Messages
102
Thats not a problem, man...i am totally not against, aftermarket pickups, believe me.The point i was making in my original post was that, usually ...or especially when you buy a guitar as expensive as these Custom Shop Gibsons cost.You usually play the guitar and test it first.If it passes your approval, and can afford it then you buy it.So with that said, no matter what pickups came in the guitar, i would figure would be great sounding...”I of course have bought 2 of my Historics, online so i guess i got lucky.


The only time i have however changed pickups in a guitar, was on a guitar that needed them.A 1995 Fender Made in Mexico stratocaster, as the pickups were junk, and a set of 1997 Fender Custom Shop Texas specials turned that guitar into an absolute tone monster, so you are correct as well....its just that ive had good luck with the stock Custom Buckers soo far so i do feel they are great pickups

I will be using a set of aftermarket pickups, for a new build that i am having done, i am having a 1958 Gibson Flying V clone built, and will be using a set of Doyle Coils, so im excited about that.

And yes i am interested in Throback pickups as well, and love what those guys do to try and make an authentic PAF, so i might even go with a set of those.

Happy Thanksgiving
I just got a set of his Ed A. Just a little hotter 8.3 and 8.0 w long A2 mags. They are sublime. To my ear they are as good as the real deal. The difference is so small it’s inaudible.. but that’s a whole other can of worms as well. That’s only my opinion. I will add that my main misgivings with gibsons offerings have been the potting. I play old Marshalls and fenders and that just kills a whole element of my sound if there is wax in the pickups.
 

Gino753

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Jan 26, 2018
Messages
187
Why are the RandK saddles so flattened on the top ? 50s Les Paul abr-1s had narrow peaks, whats the story ?
Like Josh, said as i research these vintage les pauls as a hobby.I originally thought that all vintage ABR-1 saddles were fat on top, ..then i started seeing them both ways...with as it seemed..the majority of them being fat on top.I then started seeing them pointy as well like the new ABR-1 saddles.Some research showed that perhaps most of them were in fact pointy, however due to the soft brass that was used, allowed them to be rounded over from years of playing, as a persons hand grazed over them.

?? However these things look and sound awsome, and are made really well
 
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Gino753

Active member
Joined
Jan 26, 2018
Messages
187
I just got a set of his Ed A. Just a little hotter 8.3 and 8.0 w long A2 mags. They are sublime. To my ear they are as good as the real deal. The difference is so small it’s inaudible.. but that’s a whole other can of worms as well. That’s only my opinion. I will add that my main misgivings with gibsons offerings have been the potting. I play old Marshalls and fenders and that just kills a whole element of my sound if there is wax in the pickups.
Thats actually my next step, getting an Marshall amp, that is...i am dreaming of the Marshall 1959HW...i think a big part of the LP tone
 

Joshabr1

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Apr 25, 2021
Messages
102
Thats actually my next step, getting an Marshall amp, that is...i am dreaming of the Marshall 1959HW...i think a big part of the LP tone
If your gonna spend that kinda of cash find you a pre 71 Super lead/bass You’ll thank me later👌
 

Sol

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Joined
Oct 26, 2001
Messages
775
Id need to see more evidence to persuade me that 1950s abr-1 saddles, originally came with the variations you suggest.
Looking throgh the book BOTB, I see pointed tops on all but those 'bursts that have clearly been used over many yrs, including the image on page 189 titled "Hardware". It illustrates what an original abr-1 looked like.

Speaking personally, I have used a file to take down the hight of all my Les Paul saddles as the pointed tops dig into my right hand, and find the slightly broader saddle tops once smoothed and polished to be much more comfortable.

Im sure Im not alone in this regard and would suggest that at least some of the broader topped saddles on vintage Les Pauls were modified in the same manner as mine.
 

Joshabr1

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Apr 25, 2021
Messages
102
Id need to see more evidence to persuade me that 1950s abr-1 saddles, originally came with the variations you suggest.
Looking throgh the book BOTB, I see pointed tops on all but those 'bursts that have clearly been used over many yrs, including the image on page 189 titled "Hardware". It illustrates what an original abr-1 looked like.

Speaking personally, I have used a file to take down the hight of all my Les Paul saddles as the pointed tops dig into my right hand, and find the slightly broader saddle tops once smoothed and polished to be much more comfortable.

Im sure Im not alone in this regard and would suggest that at least some of the broader topped saddles on vintage Les Pauls were modified in the same manner as mine.
Man. Just look at pictures. They are out there. We are not lying to you.
 

Joshabr1

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Apr 25, 2021
Messages
102
Does that have a PCB board? And what do i search for ? Its called a superlead/Bass?
Pre 73 will be turret board. Pre 71 gets you better iron. Plexi iron. Super lead and superbass are 100 watt version just lead and bass for 50 watts.
 
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