Source for vintage style ABR-1 saddles?

[pinefd]

I'm trying to find a good source for replacement vintage style ABR-1 saddles, that are the correct material and fit for a vintage ABR-1. I guess the vintage ones were nickel plated brass (correct me if I'm wrong).

I see that Allparts has "nickel" saddles, but it's unclear whether these are brass underneath the nickel; and Pigtail has "brass" saddles, but it's unclear whether these are nickel plated. Guitar Parts Resources has a "nickel" saddle, but again, it's unclear whether this is actually a brass saddle. The only one I was able to find that actually states nickel plated brass is at GM Vintage Restorations at $60 for a set.

Does anyone have any first-hand knowledge about the specs of any of these...or any others that are accurate reproductions?

Thanks in advance!


Frank

 

[bigtomrodney]

DMC make a set like this, as do Vintage Clone. I've seen them at CrazyParts.de

There's also a guy on eBay who sells a set made by someone else, I bought from him and they were great. Possibly solid nickel however.

 

[zombiwoof]

The Allparts saddles are nickel-plated brass. I just bought a set to replace some worn ones in my SG, but haven't installed them yet. They look really nice, and don't seem to have any off-center holes that some people are reporting with the Gibson ones. Also, I was surprised to see that they are made in Germany. I got them for $15 from an Ebay seller.

Al

 

[RandK]

The Pigtail saddles are made of the same brass as the originals and nickel plated. You want the ones that say "Standard ABR-1" which will give you 6 identical saddles and it's up to your slotting and the bridge body to establish radius.

 

[pinefd]

Thanks for all the great info, guys! I'll check into these and let you know what I end up doing.


Frank

 

[Noel Grassy]

The originals have a steeper taper than what's currently available from Gibson. I bought a package of Gibson ABR-1 saddles with the intention of
filing down the rear slant and re-plating them with nickel in my small scale
electroplating device. I'm trying to fabricate a jig to hold the saddles in the
position that will allow me access to the entire sloped area. I'll know what their base material is in a few file strokes once the jig is finished. Cheers,

Noel Grassy.

 

[zombiwoof]

The originals have a steeper taper than what's currently available from Gibson. I bought a package of Gibson ABR-1 saddles with the intention of
filing down the rear slant and re-plating them with nickel in my small scale
electroplating device. I'm trying to fabricate a jig to hold the saddles in the
position that will allow me access to the entire sloped area. I'll know what their base material is in a few file strokes once the jig is finished. Cheers,

Noel Grassy.

Have you tried the Allparts saddles?. I don't know if they are closer to vintage than the current Gibson ones, but they sure look nice to me. AFAIK, the Gibson saddles (and the Allparts version) are brass. That's what I have always heard, and have no reason to believe otherwise.

Al

 

[BluePat]

I'm trying to find a good source for replacement vintage style ABR-1 saddles, that are the correct material and fit for a vintage ABR-1. I guess the vintage ones were nickel plated brass (correct me if I'm wrong).

I see that Allparts has "nickel" saddles, but it's unclear whether these are brass underneath the nickel; and Pigtail has "brass" saddles, but it's unclear whether these are nickel plated. Guitar Parts Resources has a "nickel" saddle, but again, it's unclear whether this is actually a brass saddle. The only one I was able to find that actually states nickel plated brass is at GM Vintage Restorations at $60 for a set.

Does anyone have any first-hand knowledge about the specs of any of these...or any others that are accurate reproductions?

Thanks in advance!


Frank

Only $60 for a set?.. :wah

Unreal!..

 

[zombiwoof]

And by the way, the saddles at Guitar Parts Resource ARE the Allparts saddles. Most of their parts come from Allparts.

Al

 

[Buzz]

I needed some screws only for ABR-1s and sent Pigtail an email. When I thought they'd never answer, they did..
Pam said sure, paypal the funds directly to her account with X amount for each screw and also for shipping.

So, I got the parts very fast and am happy with them. I'm sure they'd take your order for the saddles only, and it's silly to evan think they would not be nickel plated. Pigtail's complete ABR-1s saddles are nickel plated so I don't get why you'd think they wouldn't be.

But buying saddles and screws separate from ABR-1s is like the biggest rip off next to a 12oz. can of soda bought as a single. They don't charge much more for an entire new bridge complete with them. :hmm

I used to make saddles out of ivory, but quit when they'd almost always break during the tapping, plus a real vintage guitar never had them so nobody wanted to pay anything for them. It was during this development that I wished I knew more about how to machine metals, tap and die. I was die ing for some knowledge So, using a drill press and vise, tap and die set is not the same as using a machinist's lathe (if that's the right name for it).

To the other poster, a Stu-Mac nut vise works good for holding them while filing.

 

[Scott Lentz]

To much money for saddles,now that’s some funny shit! If this was an original guitar one would buy original saddles and be blessed just to find them at any price. Anyone that does anything with metal understand fast, that getting what you want, and what the plating shop delivers are worlds apart.!

 

[zombiwoof]

I needed some screws only for ABR-1s and sent Pigtail an email. When I thought they'd never answer, they did..
Pam said sure, paypal the funds directly to her account with X amount for each screw and also for shipping.

So, I got the parts very fast and am happy with them. I'm sure they'd take your order for the saddles only, and it's silly to evan think they would not be nickel plated. Pigtail's complete ABR-1s saddles are nickel plated so I don't get why you'd think they wouldn't be.

But buying saddles and screws separate from ABR-1s is like the biggest rip off next to a 12oz. can of soda bought as a single. They don't charge much more for an entire new bridge complete with them. :hmm

I used to make saddles out of ivory, but quit when they'd almost always break during the tapping, plus a real vintage guitar never had them so nobody wanted to pay anything for them. It was during this development that I wished I knew more about how to machine metals, tap and die. I was die ing for some knowledge So, using a drill press and vise, tap and die set is not the same as using a machinist's lathe (if that's the right name for it).

To the other poster, a Stu-Mac nut vise works good for holding them while filing.

I got a set of German-made Allparts nickel-plated brass saddles for $15 (I think the screws were another $4-5). $20 is too much money?. If you're buying some boutique saddles, you're going to pay those kind of higher prices.

Al