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

Wilko

All Access/Backstage Pass
Joined
Mar 11, 2002
Messages
20,854
do the screws and saddles fit that loose and just fall out and if so is that how the vintage/original ones were ?
That is how they were vintage and are now. That's why the retaining wire was added.
 

MrNubs

Active member
Joined
Nov 2, 2019
Messages
153
so if you break a string on stage the screw and saddle will fall out ?

do they give you a spare set with the bridge ?

looking at the top of a 4U bridge , is it the same width as a historic or the original ?
 

tdarian

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 25, 2008
Messages
3,575
Yeah, if you ever break strings a spare saddle/screw would be warranted. Spares didn’t come with mine but I imagine that could be worked out. I’ve used 11-48 ga strings for the past 11 years and have never popped a string in that time, but if I was playing out now I’d have a spare.

As was mentioned the saddles fit nicely into the wells with very good contact with string pressure. The body of the bridge is the same familiar shape visually ( I have the NOS)
 

MrNubs

Active member
Joined
Nov 2, 2019
Messages
153
still waiting for my two FU bridges to arrive

my pigtail bridge is narrower than my custom shop reissue

is the FU narrower also ?
 

MrNubs

Active member
Joined
Nov 2, 2019
Messages
153
gnTone report after this weekend bubba or we pull your Members Only jacket.
MOJ , have to say i did have one back in the day

i do need some guidance

i know proportional string spacing (center to center changes but the distance from string edge to edge does not)

i know equal string spacing (center to center does not change but the distance from string edge to edge does)

i know i could align the string center with the center of the neck pickup poles piece and leave them as there are, which now that i think about it , it would put the strings at the equal string center to center. but then the bridge string spacing is all cattywampus

what to do

tuned to c at this time , don't want the strings to start making indents in the saddles yet until i know what i'm doing with string spacing

have a feeling getting replacement saddles may not be that easy if i fu the fu saddle

any advice peoples
 
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tdarian

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 25, 2008
Messages
3,575
MOJ , have to say i did have one back in the day

i do need some guidance

i know proportional string spacing (center to center changes but the distance from string edge to edge does not)

i know equal string spacing (center to center does not change but the distance from string edge to edge does)

i know i could align the string center with the center of the neck pickup poles piece and leave them as there are, which now that i think about it , it would put the strings at the equal string center to center. but then the bridge string spacing is all cattywampus

what to do

tuned to c at this time , don't want the strings to start making indents in the saddles yet until i know what i'm doing with string spacing

have a feeling getting replacement saddles may not be that easy if i fu the fu saddle

any advice peoples

I’ve got mine set up with 11s (not top wrapped) and have not notched the saddles. The strings do not appear to be etching themselves into the saddles. I just centered each string over the P90 pole pieces on my R6
 
Last edited:

MrNubs

Active member
Joined
Nov 2, 2019
Messages
153
I’ve got mine set up with 11s (not top wrapped) and have not notched the saddles. The strings do not appear to be etching themselves into the saddles. I just centered each string over the P90 pole pieces on my R6
thks
just centered over the neck pickup pole pieces also
 

MrNubs

Active member
Joined
Nov 2, 2019
Messages
153
FU is diff. doing something

but below is what came to mind initially

echoplex preamp boost circuit

kinda like the guitar is more in the pocket

seems clearer, bigger, like something was taken off the top but not, more color

so this is at edge of break up, going from clean to dirty, lower volume

i think at gig/band volume you may notice something different or not as much (didn't do that yet)
 

MrNubs

Active member
Joined
Nov 2, 2019
Messages
153
So I got two, one NOS and on AGED

both bodies look the same

only diff. I see is that on the AGED the saddles seem dirty, In a good way

both sound the same, anyway, I only need one

both are un-notched

so if someone wants one , let me know which. I have NOS on now but can swap it if that’s the one

i’m in the 48 east coast

paid 400 euro each, only one is available for 428 usd

F399B58A-0C87-4206-A2FE-C5DC626955BF.jpeg
 

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SGFan

New member
Joined
Feb 28, 2002
Messages
25
From pictures I have seen there appears to be inconsistency in the top of the saddles on these. I know they are supposed to be wider on top but for those that have the FU, are they even across the strings in terms of how wide the top of the saddle is?
 

MrNubs

Active member
Joined
Nov 2, 2019
Messages
153
From pictures I have seen there appears to be inconsistency in the top of the saddles on these. I know they are supposed to be wider on top but for those that have the FU, are they even across the strings in terms of how wide the top of the saddle is?
FU said in the beginning while evaluating the originals that there are inconsistencies in the widths of the saddle tops

these reproductions are the same

a couple of remarks ...

the tone chasing maniac Paul, his 594 started out with huge wide saddles and then went back to the thinner style, this was partially because of intonation issues while using different string gauges and i think he also wanted to get more downward pressure on the bridge for better tone

you can flatten the tops of all saddles if you wish on any abr-1 with ease if you wish, just remember not to go too low because if you notch your saddles afterwards your string may hit the saddle screw head, but there is definitely room to do so and there is room to do so with the FU bridge if you want

this bridge shines more because of the materials used than saddle top width
 

MrNubs

Active member
Joined
Nov 2, 2019
Messages
153
While I'm sure that the bridge is lovely, and you are pleased with your purchase, I'll add this piece of my experience.

I've been through all kinds of bridges and have tinkered with the different metals and all. I've found that the single biggest difference in tone comes from the setup. As the illustration shows, the top version is the most common setup. The bottom is the vintage, or used, many setups filed down saddles of an older guitar.

Filing the saddle to have a larger contact area has the effect of reducing vibration over the saddle and lost to sympathetic resonance. Limiting that transfer keeps the energy in the string making for fat tone.

View attachment 17006
also SGFan remember this comment above
 
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