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

Gino753

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Jan 26, 2018
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187
What is this?? Four Uncles? Where do i get this vintage correct ABR-1?
 

15Window

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May 5, 2020
Messages
58
Are they still plated brass saddles? I find it hard to believe a Murphy lab can be improved, tone wise..mine encapsulates all the nuances that I’ve ever imagined a real burst would..that’s a beautiful guitar you have there!
 

Gino753

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Jan 26, 2018
Messages
187
Are they still plated brass saddles? I find it hard to believe a Murphy lab can be improved, tone wise..mine encapsulates all the nuances that I’ve ever imagined a real burst would..that’s a beautiful guitar you have there!
The only thing , that i improved my my 2 Historics, were i replaced the steel ABR-1 Adjustment wheels with Nickle plated soft brass wheels, as my 2018 R0 and 2019 R9, as well as 2016 Custom Shop Historic SG Standard came steel wheels.Im not sure if Gibson Custom started making these or installing correct nickle plated brass abr-1 wheels after 2019 , but i did that.I then also upgraded the allready nickle plated brass saddles that came stock, with Vintage mod Nickle plated Brass saddles, that are fatter.Also the Nickle plated brass abr-1 adjustment wheels that i bought for my SG are also “Domed” since it is a Lyre vibrato model
 

CK6

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Feb 5, 2020
Messages
449
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat improved tone, really, my Murphy Lab sounds a lot better with this bridge ! Clear and warm tone on all strings, notes are richer fatter fuller.

View attachment 16069
You play lefty! Do you prefer a standard guitar to left-handed out of curiosity?
 

marshall1987

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Jan 30, 2005
Messages
3,278
Hmmm.....interesting guitar. 😁 Right-handed Les Paul model .....strung upside-down?? How's intonation?
 

GastonG

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Jul 25, 2001
Messages
1,397
Hmmm.....interesting guitar. 😁 Right-handed Les Paul model .....strung upside-down?? How's intonation?
Intersting guitar indeed ! the first time I pluged this Les Paul, it became my new number one !
Intonation is OK by moving the saddles the way you see on the pix.
 

GastonG

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Jul 25, 2001
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Gotta tell you that over the years, we did a lot of bridges and saddles tests: they all have their differences and worked good but I choose to keep the Gibson ABR-1 on Pearly. When I got The Murphy Lab at the end of march 2021, That was it ! the tone that I was seeking buying Historics since 1994 ! And then I went with the Four Uncles ABR-1 replica, and was not that surprise to hear the A/B test between them two bridges: huge fuller clarity and definition with the Four Uncles. I am very happy with the choice I made.
 

CK6

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Feb 5, 2020
Messages
449
Gotta tell you that over the years, we did a lot of bridges and saddles tests: they all have their differences and worked good but I choose to keep the Gibson ABR-1 on Pearly. When I got The Murphy Lab at the end of march 2021, That was it ! the tone that I was seeking buying Historics since 1994 ! And then I went with the Four Uncles ABR-1 replica, and was not that surprise to hear the A/B test between them two bridges: huge fuller clarity and definition with the Four Uncles. I am very happy with the choice I made.
Gaston, where do you buy this thing? Can’t find it anywhere. Thanks!
 

GastonG

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Jul 25, 2001
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1,397
Gaston, where do you buy this thing? Can’t find it anywhere. Thanks!
Make a search on Facebook : Four Uncles Restorations
also on the forum here there is a few post mentioning US distributor. Look for Four Uncles ABR-1
;)
 

GastonG

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Last edited:

CK6

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Feb 5, 2020
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449
Just fooled around with the chords pattern that is on the vintage post (Emarald City) at 1m44:
https://www.lespaulforum.com/index.php?threads/emerald-city-does-it-again.218244/

my Murphy Lab equipped with the Four Uncles ABR-1 "clean" with both pickups at full volume into a Valve Jr at very low volume: just into an ipad no fuss just loving that tone !
MurphyLab R9 equipped with Four Uncles ABR-1 bridge

Enjoy


Gaston
Sounds good Gaston - is yours the vintage or NOS version? Did you get the saddles notched?

Also, what can you tell me about the highs especially on the E & B strings? Are they more mellow? Or less strident?

And lastly, do you have brass or stainless steel thumbwheels?

Merci!
 

GastonG

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Jul 25, 2001
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Sounds good Gaston - is yours the vintage or NOS version? Did you get the saddles notched?

Also, what can you tell me about the highs especially on the E & B strings? Are they more mellow? Or less strident?

And lastly, do you have brass or stainless steel thumbwheels?

Merci!
- My Four Uncles ABR-1 is the NOS version. The saddles came unnotched, now they are, but notches are tiny !
- The strings are more balanced all the strings sound fuller . You don't get more "this" or less "that", you get more TONE period.
- Since september 2020, Gibson Custom Les Pauls come with brass thumbwheels. A must !
You can see on that pix here, that the Four Uncles ABR-1 is truly an "oeuvre d'art" (a work of art) !

NOS_FourUncles_ABR-1.jpg
 
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CK6

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Feb 5, 2020
Messages
449
- My Four Uncles ABR-1 is the NOS version. The saddles came unnotched, now they are, but notches are tiny !
- The strings are more balanced all the strings sound fuller . You don't get more "this" or less "that", you get more TONE period.
- Since september 2020, Gibson Custom Les Pauls come with brass thumbwheels. A must !
You can see on that pix here, that the Four Uncles ABR-1 is truly an "oeuvre d'art" (a work of art) !

View attachment 16123
Merci Gaston! I’m in Quebec too btw - Montreal - so would be great to catch up sometime and talk guitars! Merci encore
 

GastonG

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Jul 25, 2001
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Merci Gaston! I’m in Quebec too btw - Montreal - so would be great to catch up sometime and talk guitars! Merci encore
CK6, you can order from Europe, it took me less than a week to get it after they send it.
 

CK6

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Feb 5, 2020
Messages
449
CK6, you can order from Europe, it took me less than a week to get it after they send it.

Ok cool, thanks! I just did a test on my CC13 and Frehley Burst only to find that the thumb wheels were not brass!

Which aftermarket wheels should I get? I assume Philadelphia Luthier “thin vintage” ones should be fine?

Thanks!

8BA9AC15-CD74-47F3-8E1D-B976FF6A87C0.jpeg
 
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CK6

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Feb 5, 2020
Messages
449
Ok cool, thanks! I just did a test on my CC13 and Frehley Burst only to find that the thumb wheels were not brass!

Which aftermarket wheels should I get? I assume Philadelphia Luthier “thin vintage” ones should be fine?

EDIT - I ordered the the thin ones
 
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