Faber Bridge & Tailpiece for Newer USA Gibsons

[badbluesplayer]

I upgraded the bridge and tailpiece on my '22 LP Std. 60's to a Faber "Tone Lock" set with an aluminum tailpiece, in aged nickel.  It turned out fine.  Faber stuff is really nice.

Here's the original modern ABR style bridge and tailpiece.  Newer USA guitars have Nashville style bridge anchors and they're adapted to the ABR bridge.  The bridge and tailpiece both rock a little -

Faber hardware kit, including tools -

Old hardware removed -

Removing old bridge post anchors -

Anchors removed -

Setting the new post/anchors -

New one-piece anchor/posts installed.  These posts are 8-32 threaded, just like normal ABR posts, so you can use the old bridge or any other ABR bridge -

New bridge and tailpiece installed -

Nice!  Action is still maybe a little high.  The bridge and tailpiece lock really solid.  I like the Faber stuff better than Tonepros.  The tailpiece has different sized spacers that go under the tailpiece so you can get the right break angle over the bridge and still have the whole thing locked solid to the body.  The bridge is way more solid than the old hardware, and the guitar sounds a little different.  I'll probably notch the saddles a little more.

 

Edited November 19, 2023 by badbluesplayer

[sparquelito]

Nice job!!

I'm thinking I might like to put a roller bridge on my Les Paul BFG.

Reckon Faber might make one of those?

🙂

[Guest]

Interesting, so there's an extra ferrule that screws down the bridge mount stud until it's locked? 

That's quite clever. 

[Strong Heavy]

I use Faber® iNsert™ studs, they are 6/32" upper threaded posts, ready for a  Gibson ABR-1 bridge or Faber® Historic bridge.

Faber studs are firmly inserted into the body, the threaded rods and the guitar make only one, same result than a Gibson with a stock ABR-1. More sustain, good vibrations, an awesome upgrade.

 

 

 

 

[Strong Heavy]

On 11/20/2023 at 3:52 PM, sparquelito said:

Nice job!!

I'm thinking I might like to put a roller bridge on my Les Paul BFG.

Reckon Faber might make one of those?

🙂

I don' t think, did you visit Faber USA ?   https://faberusa.com/product-category/faber-bridges/

[sparquelito]

3 hours ago, Strong Heavy said:

I don' t think, did you visit Faber USA ?   https://faberusa.com/product-category/faber-bridges/

Thanks for the link.

It appears they do not make them.
But many are available, even on Amazon.

I'll have to think on it.
I don't have a Bigsby on any of them, so maybe a roller nut isn't really going to be a value-added installation.

😐

[Strong Heavy]

 

The best solution for a Gibson with Vibrola or Bigsby is a low profile bridge and domed  thumbwheels:

https://www.crazyparts.de/bridges--tailpieces/abr-1-bridges-new/gibson-low-profile-nonwire-abr-1-nickel-set.html

[Strong Heavy]

13 hours ago, sparquelito said:

Thanks for the link.

It appears they do not make them.
But many are available, even on Amazon.

I'll have to think on it.
I don't have a Bigsby on any of them, so maybe a roller nut isn't really going to be a value-added installation.

😐

If your Gibson have a stopbar a roller bridge is not an upgrade, prefer FABER INSert  Studs + ABR-1 bridge, this setup give the same results than real ABR-1 bridge screwed into the body.

[sparquelito]

2 hours ago, Strong Heavy said:

If your Gibson have a stopbar a roller bridge is not an upgrade, prefer FABER INSert  Studs + ABR-1 bridge, this setup give the same results than real ABR-1 bridge screwed into the body.

I just have it in my head that rollers (at the nut and at the bridge) would make things utterly friction-free, and therefore minimize wear and tear on the strings.

I'm not going for any change or improvement in tone, to be clear.

My Strat Plus has the roller nut.
(As rarely as I use the trem on that Strat, it's a nice feature when I do.)
As ugly as it is, I really like it.

It's all just brainstorming, I guess.
I have never once in my life broken a string while playing, so I really ought to let it go.

🙂

[Strong Heavy]

The Stratocaster have a vibrato.

[Pinch]

How did the bridge change the sound? Did it? 

[badbluesplayer]

21 hours ago, Pinch said:

How did the bridge change the sound? Did it? 

It made the guitar a little brighter overall.  Like as if you turned up the presence knob on the amp a little.

[badbluesplayer]

On 11/22/2023 at 11:48 AM, Strong Heavy said:

I use Faber® iNsert™ studs, they are 6/32" upper threaded posts, ready for a  Gibson ABR-1 bridge or Faber® Historic bridge.

Faber studs are firmly inserted into the body, the threaded rods and the guitar make only one, same result than a Gibson with a stock ABR-1. More sustain, good vibrations, an awesome upgrade.

 

 

 

 

Yup.  Those are the anchors included in the kit.  6-32 threads, not 8-32 like I said.  They're the best part of the whole thing.  This is the third guitar I've used those studs on.  They really make the guitar sing.

[badbluesplayer]

On 11/20/2023 at 3:56 PM, Farnsbarns said:

Interesting, so there's an extra ferrule that screws down the bridge mount stud until it's locked? 

That's quite clever. 

Yes.  The thumbwheel is right under the bridge, like usual, but the ferrule screws right into the top of the bridge, nice and snug.  Some oomph was required on this guitar, 'cause the posts were a hair too far apart.  Worked out fine though.  These studs will accept any ABR type bridge.  I have a Tonepros bridge on my SG with the same studs.  I don't like the Tonepros as much, because it uses set screws to fix the bridge, and they bear against the threaded posts, which isn't really that great of a design.

[Strong Heavy]

On my Tanlucent Ebony SG I made an assembly with those parts ,  they are glued at the the right height with LOCTITE 648 High Strength, Retaining Compound.

LOCTITE 648 Specifications :  https://www.henkel-adhesives.com/ar/en/product/retaining-compounds/loctite_6480.html#Features and Benefits0

The black anchors are large enough  to be firmly inserted into the body.

 

The result is very discret, perfect !

Edited November 26, 2023 by Strong Heavy

[Guest]

20 hours ago, badbluesplayer said:

Yes.  The thumbwheel is right under the bridge, like usual, but the ferrule screws right into the top of the bridge, nice and snug.  Some oomph was required on this guitar, 'cause the posts were a hair too far apart.  Worked out fine though.  These studs will accept any ABR type bridge.  I have a Tonepros bridge on my SG with the same studs.  I don't like the Tonepros as much, because it uses set screws to fix the bridge, and they bear against the threaded posts, which isn't really that great of a design.

Grub screws set against the threads have always struck me as totally sh1te engineering. Not nly destroying the threads but also, a tiny point of contact probably not making for a truly solid connection. This is a much nicer solution. 

Edited November 26, 2023 by Farnsbarns