ES 335 Bridge

[sheraton]

Hi All,

 

I recentely acquired a dot ES 335 (Figured Wine Red) beauty. Should the ABR - 1 style bridge include a retainer wire for the intonation screws?

 

Opinions welcome.

[ant7629]

My figured Wine Red came with the wire, but I took it off because it buzzed. I think a lot of people do this.

[sheraton]

My figured Wine Red came with the wire, but I took it off because it buzzed. I think a lot of people do this.

 

Interesting, as mine didn't come with a wire, has no holes for a wire, and I think it's "buzzy".

[L5Larry]

As Sheraton has observed above, Gibson does now make a "non-wire" ABR-1 bridge.

 

On the original ABR-1, the wire serves to hold the "drop-in" saddles in place. Without the wire retainer the saddles (with adjusting screws attached) can/will fall out without the string holding it down. Therefore, if you break a string while playing, you will have to crawl around on the floor to find the saddle before you can replace the string. Not a pleasant scenario, especially on stage.

 

The "non-wire" version is probably an improvement, but many people want the "true vintage" bridge. I would not recommend just removing the wire retainer. There are a few "micro" adjustments that can be made to suppress any rattling or buzzing you might encounter from the ABR-1.

 

With the wire version, the bends and arches in the retaining wire can be adjusted to fit differently in it's mounting holes and how it lays across the screws. What I have found to be the buzz culprit most often is how the shoulders of the adjusting screws sit in the slots of the base. Make sure that the screws are sitting tightly with one of the shoulders pressed firmly against the base (generally pushed toward the neck). On the wire version, the wire also serves as a spacer to help facilitate this.

[sheraton]

As Sheraton has observed above, Gibson does now make a "non-wire" ABR-1 bridge.

 

On the original ABR-1, the wire serves to hold the "drop-in" saddles in place. Without the wire retainer the saddles (with adjusting screws attached) can/will fall out without the string holding it down. Therefore, if you break a string while playing, you will have to crawl around on the floor to find the saddle before you can replace the string. Not a pleasant scenario, especially on stage.

 

The "non-wire" version is probably an improvement, but many people want the "true vintage" bridge. I would not recommend just removing the wire retainer. There are a few "micro" adjustments that can be made to suppress any rattling or buzzing you might encounter from the ABR-1.

 

With the wire version, the bends and arches in the retaining wire can be adjusted to fit differently in it's mounting holes and how it lays across the screws. What I have found to be the buzz culprit most often is how the shoulders of the adjusting screws sit in the slots of the base. Make sure that the screws are sitting tightly with one of the shoulders pressed firmly against the base (generally pushed toward the neck). On the wire version, the wire also serves as a spacer to help facilitate this.

 

Thank you.

 

I wonder if the tiniest dot of thread locker on the newer non wire version would keep things more quiet?

[vincentw]

non-wire ABR is standard now on 335s. I believe since about 2010, in fact.

[sheraton]

non-wire ABR is standard now on 335s. I believe since about 2010, in fact.

 

Thanks