gaxeman Posted February 8, 2012 Posted February 8, 2012 I have a project that I'd love some advice from those more experienced than I. The SG below was purchased out of fascination with the look, knowing that there was a defect got me a slightly better price. The defect regards the bridge - when fretting the high E string up high (above around 12-14th fret), it buzzes against the intonation screw. It "appears" to me that the bridge is installed at too steep an angle towards the tailpiece, thus causing the screw to poke up enough to be a problem for this string. Check the pics below for what I mean. I figure 3 options: 1) Modify existing ABR-1 bridge, somehow push screw down, bend posts, etc, any other ideas here? 2) Remove bridge, fill holes and redrill at proper angle, reinstall, not sure how easy this would be, 3) Replace with nashville type bridge - drilling out the holes required for the bushings - there ain't no turning back on this one. I'd love any and all comments regarding which of these, or other solution, you think I should attempt. Thanks for any help!
pfox14 Posted February 8, 2012 Posted February 8, 2012 If it were me, I'd grind down the front of the part of the bridge that sits on the height adjustment screws thus titling the bridge towards the pickups, and dropping the height of the intonation screws. OR replace the intonation screws with something smaller - they look way too big for this bridge.
Lungimsam Posted February 8, 2012 Posted February 8, 2012 Have you tried flipping the bridge around to see if the screw heads facing the bridge will work. You will have to reverse the bridge pices, too. But it looks easy to do. Worth a try before doing any drilling. You might have to raise the tailpiece a little to reduce the break angle to make it work, but it might.
Jeff-7 Posted February 9, 2012 Posted February 9, 2012 I'd try what Lungimsam posted first. Nothing to do with your issue but can you post a full pic of that guitar? That finish looks cool.
gaxeman Posted February 9, 2012 Author Posted February 9, 2012 Thanks a bunch guys! I knew I wasn't thinking of everything, now I have a few things to go with that don't involve changing anything beyond the bridge itself, which was my goal. I am in a nutshell book-learned (guitar players repair guide), but nothing substitutes for experience. I have been quite smitten with quilt tops over the last couple years, and upon seeing this one, fell in love immediately. Without regard to playability or sound, even though it does have the 57 classics and sounds great. I'll probably take the bridge off and tinker with it over the weekend, thanks again for the ideas.
GibSinCity Posted February 9, 2012 Posted February 9, 2012 Have you tried flipping the bridge around to see if the screw heads facing the bridge will work. You will have to reverse the bridge pices, too. But it looks easy to do. Worth a try before doing any drilling. You might have to raise the tailpiece a little to reduce the break angle to make it work, but it might. +1
pfox14 Posted February 9, 2012 Posted February 9, 2012 Have you tried flipping the bridge around to see if the screw heads facing the bridge will work. You will have to reverse the bridge pices, too. But it looks easy to do. Worth a try before doing any drilling. You might have to raise the tailpiece a little to reduce the break angle to make it work, but it might. That's actually a way better idea than mine. Give it a try.
Lungimsam Posted February 9, 2012 Posted February 9, 2012 Is that a '61 RI quilt top or something? It has big bevels and that lip where the body meets the neck like a'61RI. Cool inlays. What are they made out of. Neat axe!
Twiz Posted February 9, 2012 Posted February 9, 2012 It's tough to tell from your photo, but I can't see the little wire that holds the screws in place. Is it missing? That may be causing the saddle screw to kinda pop up. If it is there, yep, definitely try turning the bridge around. I did that with my 94 SG Standard. I switched out the saddles so they were still with the corresponding strings.
gaxeman Posted February 9, 2012 Author Posted February 9, 2012 In reply to the last two posts: No, it is not a 61' RI, but maybe they modeled it after that? It is a 2010 and called SG Elegant, here's an info link: http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/SG/Gibson-Custom/SG-Elegant-Quilt-Top/Features.aspx The inlays are standard abalone, but as you noticed REAL NICE abalone. They have enough green in them to match the body nicely. And yes there is a wire, sorry the camera auto focused where it wanted, that's the only answer I have as to why it cannot be seen. And the first thing I did was make sure the screw was being held down tight. Thanks again for all the replies, advice, and nice comments about the guitar.
ampman72 Posted February 9, 2012 Posted February 9, 2012 gaxeman, yours looks better than the one in the online catalog. I guess every one of them is a little bit different. I have seen these in a new light.
ALFA ROMEO CORSE Posted February 10, 2012 Posted February 10, 2012 The bridge on your SG Elegant is strange,not stock. This is not a Gibson ABR-1 and I' m not sure this is a Nashville Here is the Gibson ABR-1, Posts/Thumbwheels and bridge are different, you should change the E saddle
strat-o-steve Posted February 10, 2012 Posted February 10, 2012 Your bridge has simply been put on backwards during a string change. Remove the strings, turn the bridge around, put a fresh set of strings on. Also, it looks like your bridge posts are bent, quite badly too. While the strings are off and the bridge is off, unscrew the metal threaded posts from the body and see how bent they are. Straight posts, and flipping around the bridge will have your guitar playing just fine. Of course, if the guitar intonates fine now, dont flip the bridge...but your posts are bent...fix that at least or you will not ever resolve your issue with your current bridge.
pfox14 Posted February 10, 2012 Posted February 10, 2012 That is a really cool looking SG. Normally I don't like green guitars, but that's an exception. Congrats
PP_CS336 Posted February 10, 2012 Posted February 10, 2012 ,... it looks like your bridge posts are bent, quite badly too. While the strings are off and the bridge is off, unscrew the metal threaded posts from the body and see how bent they are. Straight posts, and flipping around the bridge will have your guitar playing just fine. Of course, if the guitar intonates fine now, dont flip the bridge...but your posts are bent...fix that at least or you will not ever resolve your issue with your current bridge. +1 Yes, I agree with strat-o-steve, as when I first looked at your initial post and photo I noticed that the posts on your guitar's bridge were bent and figured that was the real culprit to you buzzing problem more than anything else. P.S. It also looks like the wire is missing on your ABR-1 bring and as someone else said, that's why the screws may be rising up out of the bridge saddle the way they are. Look at the picture of Alfa-Romeo-Corse's SG. That ABR-1 bridge clearly shows the retainer wire.
gaxeman Posted February 11, 2012 Author Posted February 11, 2012 I want to thank everyone for all of your ideas, probably would not have had the guts to delve into this otherwise. One of my prior responses was incorrect, there is no wire on the bridge (must have been thinking about another guitar). The link below shows a similar one for sale, and a pic of mine. I don't think the design is the best, but I guess it works. I took the bridge off, took it all apart, made sure everything was clean, put it back together. Lo and behold, when I made sure everything was installed right, the screw was safely out of the way, apparently all the screws just were not properly seated in their grooves, and it took more than I was willing to force on it while it was mounted on the guitar. The mounting screws are not bent, they are simply installed at a slight angle as the prior pics showed. I don't know if this would be a problem to someone else. It ain't to me, because now the guitar intonates perfectly, and there is no buzzing. I wailed on this thing for the first time since I owned it. Man those '57 classics sound beautiful for bluesy lead! http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/gibson-historic-non-wire-abr-1-bridge
ALFA ROMEO CORSE Posted February 13, 2012 Posted February 13, 2012 http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/gibson-historic-non-wire-abr-1-bridge I didn' t know this version without saddle retainer wire
stein Posted February 13, 2012 Posted February 13, 2012 The original ABR bridge had no retainer wire when it first came out. The wire wasn't added until about 60 or 61. Other than that, they are the same. Said that to say that from what I have seen, you can find both versions of the "reissue" on various Gibsons. Glad you were able to sort it out. I think that a lot of people find the ABR 'cool' as opposed to the Nashville. So, double glad you were able to keep it AND keep the screws facing the "ABR" direction. Usually, the screws of the ABR face the pup, and the Nashville faces the tailpeice.
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