2021 Gibson Les Paul Standard 50's Gold Top:

Robert Herndon said:
I keep gravitating to this 2021 for some reason, despite how heavy it is...

Shot from Saturday/Sunday marathon sessions...

View attachment 83743

I never play it without a strap as a safety consideration. I don't want any more practice fixing broken headstocks!!!!
Click to expand...

I get it. I've been drawn to mine lately too (mine is a 2020). Actually been playing it every day for the last week or so.

As Robert knows, I've made a few changes; Kluson Revolution tuners for the higher ratio, a machined brass bridge to get rid of the ABR thing that I don't like, and I just had to put a metal jack plate on it or for sure I would break the stock plastic one, but even before that this guitar screamed.
 
gball said:
I get it. I've been drawn to mine lately too (mine is a 2020). Actually been playing it every day for the last week or so.

As Robert knows, I've made a few changes; Kluson Revolution tuners for the higher ratio, a machined brass bridge to get rid of the ABR thing that I don't like, and I just had to put a metal jack plate on it or for sure I would break the stock plastic one, but even before that this guitar screamed.
Click to expand...

I been thinking about my plastic jack plate. Only one I have is a Gibson gold plate.
 
syscokid said:
More info on your bridge of choice, please!
Click to expand...

Pinnacle machined bell brass from Philadelphia Luthier:

www.philadelphialuthiertools.com

Pinnacle Machined Bell Brass Nashville TOM guitar bridge for Gibson Les Paul, SG

Pinnacle CNC machined bell brass Nashville bridge for Gibson USA guitars. This TOM bridge is made from a single piece of machined brass and features brass saddles and brass bridge post/anchors.
www.philadelphialuthiertools.com www.philadelphialuthiertools.com

Their description is no lie - it punches up the mids and makes them more detailed, but just as important (at least to me) it softened the high end and made it a bit more airy. Overall it just really helps the dynamics over the dainty little stock ABR hybrid thing. Also a lot more comfortable under the palm for muting.
 
gball said:
Pinnacle machined bell brass from Philadelphia Luthier:

www.philadelphialuthiertools.com

Pinnacle Machined Bell Brass Nashville TOM guitar bridge for Gibson Les Paul, SG

Pinnacle CNC machined bell brass Nashville bridge for Gibson USA guitars. This TOM bridge is made from a single piece of machined brass and features brass saddles and brass bridge post/anchors.
www.philadelphialuthiertools.com www.philadelphialuthiertools.com

Their description is no lie - it punches up the mids and makes them more detailed, but just as important (at least to me) it softened the high end and made it a bit more airy. Overall it just really helps the dynamics over the dainty little stock ABR hybrid thing. Also a lot more comfortable under the palm for muting.
Click to expand...
Did you need to convert the original bridge posts?
 
syscokid said:
Did you need to convert the original bridge posts?
Click to expand...

No, it's a direct replacement if you have the newer (and quite ridiculous IMO) type of ABR that uses Nashville-style bushings. You do have to use the posts that come with the bridge but it's a simple and quick upgrade.

I bought the same bridge for my new Classic, just have not had a chance to put it on yet.
 
Update on the Weird ABR's that a lot of the newer Gibsons are sporting; as mentioned earlier in this thread I have never liked ABR bridges and find these new ones that use Nashville bushings particularly stupid, so I changed out the ones on both my '20 Standard and my '22 Classic to a machined bell brass Nashvile not long after getting the guitars. In both cases I felt that the new bridge improved the tone immensely and also helped increase sustain pretty significantly.

Fast forward to yesterday and I got an itch when I was about to change the strings on my Classic: I decided to put the ABR thing back on to see if there was as big a difference as I thought. And, not only was there, but it's an even bigger difference than I realized! The goofy ABR hybrid thing sounded tinny, thin, and unresponsive compared to the Nashville. The sustain suffered dramatically, and also the midrange volume, almost as if it was scooping the mids some. It really made a great-sounding guitar pretty average sounding.

I couldn't rip that thing back off the guitar fast enough, even though it wasted a new set of strings. Anyway, just a public service announcement in case anyone that has one of these fake ABR-stricken Gibsons and was wondering.
 
gball said:
Update on the Weird ABR's that a lot of the newer Gibsons are sporting; as mentioned earlier in this thread I have never liked ABR bridges and find these new ones that use Nashville bushings particularly stupid, so I changed out the ones on both my '20 Standard and my '22 Classic to a machined bell brass Nashvile not long after getting the guitars. In both cases I felt that the new bridge improved the tone immensely and also helped increase sustain pretty significantly.

Fast forward to yesterday and I got an itch when I was about to change the strings on my Classic: I decided to put the ABR thing back on to see if there was as big a difference as I thought. And, not only was there, but it's an even bigger difference than I realized! The goofy ABR hybrid thing sounded tinny, thin, and unresponsive compared to the Nashville. The sustain suffered dramatically, and also the midrange volume, almost as if it was scooping the mids some. It really made a great-sounding guitar pretty average sounding.

I couldn't rip that thing back off the guitar fast enough, even though it wasted a new set of strings. Anyway, just a public service announcement in case anyone that has one of these fake ABR-stricken Gibsons and was wondering.
Click to expand...

Interesting....

Ive switched them out for people and put on Gotoh and Faber, making back to back recordings for my own benefit and ive noticed no change....maybe a material density issue???

The ABR-1 on my 2021 50's Standard is aluminum, FWIW
 
Inspector #20 said:
Interesting....

Ive switched them out for people and put on Gotoh and Faber, making back to back recordings for my own benefit and ive noticed no change....maybe a material density issue???

The ABR-1 on my 2021 50's Standard is aluminum, FWIW
Click to expand...

The one that came on the Classic is an aluminum one as well. Not sure what the Gotoh or Faber parts are actually made of, but the brass made a huge difference, so you may be on to something with the density. That bridge probably weighs 3 times what the original one does FWIW.

Inspector #20 said:
faberusa.com

Difference between the "original" style ABR-1 & New Gibson ABR-1 Bridge

The ABR-1 Tune-o-matic was the only adjustable Bridge used on stoptail equipped Gibson guitars from 1957-1974. You need to understand that your ABR-1 Bridge is the same one used on any other Gibson ABR-1. The difference is how your bridge mounts to the guitar.
faberusa.com faberusa.com
Click to expand...

I do think, on some level, you could have a valid debate between the ABR and Nashville when you are talking about the original-style ABR, with the posts screwed directly into the wood. But the current ones that ulilize the Nashville bushings are a different beast entirely in my experience.

***

Side note is that I tent to rest the edge of my palm on the edge of the bridge when I play and pivot it a lot, and the Nashville is much more comfortable under the hand so that's anice benefit.
 
gball said:
The one that came on the Classic is an aluminum one as well. Not sure what the Gotoh or Faber parts are actually made of, but the brass made a huge difference, so you may be on to something with the density. That bridge probably weighs 3 times what the original one does FWIW.



I do think, on some level, you could have a valid debate between the ABR and Nashville when you are talking about the original-style ABR, with the posts screwed directly into the wood. But the current ones that ulilize the Nashville bushings are a different beast entirely in my experience.

***

Side note is that I tent to rest the edge of my palm on the edge of the bridge when I play and pivot it a lot, and the Nashville is much more comfortable under the hand so that's anice benefit.
Click to expand...
How does one know what they have? I have a 2016 Classic and Standard...also a 2019 335...
I bought a roller bridge but have not installed yet.
 
Last edited:
Jethro Rocker said:
Ah ok so the LPs from that year would be a decent bridge. But your 2020 has the ABR?
Click to expand...

I think they started using these ABR's with the Nashville bushings in 2019, maybe late 2018. When the new management took over.
I have found the stock Nashvilles to be fine but once I discovered these brass ones I started fitting them to all my guitars because they make a big difference - the only one that doesn't have one is the '79 Custom and I have even thought about putting one on there and probably should.
 
@gball what brand are the bell brass bridges? I would be interested in trying one. My 2001 Classic still has the studs threaded into the wood. Of course the whole guitar is different with press in tuners and the narrow head stock. I think they changed that around 2007 or so.
 
Cadorman said:
@gball what brand are the bell brass bridges? I would be interested in trying one. My 2001 Classic still has the studs threaded into the wood. Of course the whole guitar is different with press in tuners and the narrow head stock. I think they changed that around 2007 or so.
Click to expand...

Its a Pinnacle, from Philadelphia Luthier.
Not sure you could put one on that guitar without irreversible modification (drill out and insert bushings in place of the ABR posts) but check it out. They are only about $90.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top