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Post by Scott on Mar 7, 2011 9:56:47 GMT -7
My Les Paul, is getting a Callaham Bridge! www.callahamguitars.com/g_brdgv2b.jpgI will have my local guitar luthier slot, and install the bridge... Just ordered minutes ago: Callaham ABR-1 Bridge with Vintage Studs and Thumbwheels. $131.00 for parts $11.00 for shipping. Will get sent out the door tomorrow!
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Post by Keith on Mar 7, 2011 10:18:46 GMT -7
Hi Burstbucker I hope you ordered the Nashville conversion studs, your Les Paul looks like it has a Nashville bridge with thick studs. Maybe you should double check.
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Post by Corey on Mar 7, 2011 11:31:04 GMT -7
Man, I've ordered a ton of parts from Mr. Callaham. 100% Satisfaction. I'm anxious to read your review Scott.
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Post by Scott on Mar 7, 2011 12:53:37 GMT -7
Hi Burstbucker I hope you ordered the Nashville conversion studs, your Les Paul looks like it has a Nashville bridge with thick studs. Maybe you should double check. Gasp! You were right!! They also confirmed it for me. I have the inserts going into the wood for my studs.... This is what I'm now getting: www.callahamguitars.com/g_brdgn2b.jpgCalled them back, and changed my order to the Nashville bridge. Nice people... Thank you so much for the timely post. ;D
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Post by markT on Mar 7, 2011 20:00:34 GMT -7
The Callaham bridge is the only mod I've done or will do to my 59RI. Awesome piece od work. You're gonna love it!
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Post by Scott on Mar 7, 2011 20:07:17 GMT -7
I am sitting here reading the text over and over... www.callahamguitars.com/abr1.htmIt sounds real good... Snip... Gibson has manufactured some of the most beautiful guitars in history but their tone, especially of the models made in the last 40 years, drives me crazy. The bass response is too muddy and on the majority of instruments is fuzzy like a mini fuzz face is on. The high end is harsh and brittle so moving from wound strings to plain strings is very unbalanced. The sustain is really quite poor. This problem is masked by the use of strong P-90 or humbucking pickups. If Fender style single coils were used, the lack of sustain would become very apparent.snip... What you will hear with the change to steel is a low end that is tight but full. The fuzz should be gone, if it is not, you need to look at your pickups. The tone will be balanced correctly when moving from wound to plain strings. The plain strings will be full without the harsh high end spike. Sustain is improved substantially making vibrato childs play. Many of you have also been victim to the collapsing of the stock bridge from string pressure. You will not collapse our steel bridge. The rigidity of the steel will allow the use of heavy string gauges and again maintaining the strings energy far better than zinc, aluminum, or brass.
Since the mid 80's Gibson started equipping the majority of their models with the Nashville bridge. This bridge which was marketed as an improvement is in fact a step backwards. The honeycombed zinc casting is weak and the extra width of the bridge causes problems with obtaining the correct back angle to the tailpiece. Our Nashville conversion kit allows the seamless replacement of a Nashville bridge to our ABR-1 bridge. With this change you not only gain the undeniable tonal improvements but the vintage look without any modification to the instrument.They are making me a believer that this will be an upgrade for sure... Bracing for impact!
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Post by jb on Mar 8, 2011 17:22:07 GMT -7
Me too! I have a 2000 LP Custom, anyone know what they were using on those models?
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Post by Scott on Mar 8, 2011 17:32:32 GMT -7
Are you asking if you would also need the Callaham ABR-1 Bridge with Nashville Conversion Studs and Thumbwheels? If your bridge studs look like this... www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar,_Tune-o-matic_bridges/Nashville_Tune-o-matic_Bridges_and_Parts/Nashville_Tune-o-matic_Studs_&_Bushings.html yes you would need a Nashville Conversion. If you can look through your bridge, on both sides of the screws and see clean through to the wood on your guitar... yes you would need a Nashville Conversion.
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Post by Scott on Mar 8, 2011 18:05:28 GMT -7
I would love to confirm this as fact, or fiction... www.harmonycentral.com/products/125117"The perfect bridge for any Gibson. There is however one glitch in the works. If you have the newer style NASHVILLE bridge on your Gibby, then you must remove the (threaded) inserts in the body of the guitar before inserting Callaham's (one-piece) body insert and pin, (to which the thumb wheels go on). I tried to remove the threaded inserts from the body of a new SG Standard by both: pulling, and un-screwing. NO DICE! I think Gibson is gluing them in. What you'll end up doing is cracking the finish around the holes (or worse). I would suggest to Callaham, that they make their one piece steel (insert and pin), with a THREADED bottom that just screws right into the existing Gibson inserts, and make it less complicated." Is Gibson now gluing the threaded inserts into the guitar, or was this dude just unlucky? Will my guitar luthier have a major fight on his hands during install, backing my stock inserts out? Guess they would know that when I walk in the door... I can't be the first one, who wanted to swap his bridge on a Gibson.
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Post by Corey on Mar 8, 2011 19:08:13 GMT -7
Scott, I've dealt with Mr. Callaham a lot.. just email and tell him your concern (briefly, as he seems to prefer). He will answer quick and concise.. he always has with me. Fact: I've never waited longer than 18 hours for an email response, or four days for a shipment to hit my doorstep [from Virginia to New York]. I'm a customer-for-life. ..can't wait to hear your review...
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Post by Scott on Mar 8, 2011 19:46:43 GMT -7
Thanks.
I'll find out if Gibson has been wild with the glue soon enough...
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Post by Keith on Mar 9, 2011 1:01:21 GMT -7
Check out KTS Titanium parts, you could have replaced the Nashville without removing the studs.
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Post by Scott on Mar 9, 2011 2:11:12 GMT -7
Nice stuff... No entire bridge that I can find. www.allparts.com/KTS-Titanium-Guitar-Parts-s/392.htmI hope that I do get to use the stronger Callaham studs. They are better then the stock studs for sure. I only was wondering if Gibson was using glue now... not having buyer's remorse!
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Post by Keith on Mar 9, 2011 2:56:58 GMT -7
Hi BBP What tailpiece are you getting ?
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Post by Scott on Mar 9, 2011 3:48:35 GMT -7
This entire, (non-collapsing bridge from string pressure) unit... ;D www.callahamguitars.com/g_brdgn2b.jpgNot just Titanium Saddles for my stocker... If you are hinting that I would do well buying some additional part, you better rub my nose right on it... My bridge isn't even here yet. I still have plenty of time to change my plan. I can't find a KTS Titanium part that will allow me to install the Callaham bridge (Nashville conversion), without removing the studs.
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Post by Keith on Mar 9, 2011 7:56:15 GMT -7
Hi Burstbucker The KTS Titanium Nashville bridge uses the existing studs and treaded posts, therefore no alterations are required. I used a KTS Titanium bridge on my ES335 and the result was amazing. Just a thought, the trouble is these days there are too many to choose from and we all have different tastes.
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Post by Scott on Mar 9, 2011 9:00:26 GMT -7
OK... Understood. Found it... www.gpdusa.com/KTS_Tuneomatic_Bridges-KTS_Nashville_Style_Bridge_w_Titanium_Saddles_Ch_1.html" GSTS-6c KTS Nashville Style Bridge w/Titanium Saddles - Chrome" That is a Chrome bridge, just for the record. Saddles are Titanium. I have already bought my Callaham bridge, so the KTS is out... but thanks for the info. Hi BBP What tailpiece are you getting ? Tailpiece... Sorry, It just registered what you asked me. I am going to be running my Gibson TP-6. I just was reading some reviews on my TP-6...It was posted more than once that people thought they were getting longer sustain after install, due to the added mass over a Tune-o-matic/Stop bar. (And also due to the longer mounting posts that the TP-6 has, that extend deeper into the wood.) Unexpected... If true that Les Paul's by nature, have outstanding sustain partly due to their set-in neck, and that a TP-6 can add sustain due to it's greater mass, and longer mounting posts, and that the Callaham bridge gives a noticeable increase in sustain, I'm thinking this baby should about play itself!! By the way... Reading online, I believe the Callaham bridge saddles are actually brass, which is desired for slotting.
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Post by Ed M. on Mar 9, 2011 9:21:27 GMT -7
My Nashville studs pulled out pretty easily from my 2003 Les Paul standard. I would doubt that Gibson is glueing the studs in. They should just be pressed in but may be very tight and difficult to remove. I did have to enlarge the holes slightly for the posts because the spacing is slightly wider for the Nashville studs.
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Post by Scott on Mar 9, 2011 9:23:48 GMT -7
Thanks for the report... I better warn my luthier just in case.
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Post by rightsaidted on Mar 9, 2011 11:48:27 GMT -7
Hi,
Changed out the nashville bridge on a Heritage, not a Gibson, to the callaham abr1 6 months ago. Vast improvement in tone, string to string balance and sustain. No kidding! Unbelievable difference.
The nashville studs were tight but I removed them by hand. NO glue. Slowly and carefully does it. I doubt if Gibson glues them in, no need to waste the glue and add another manufacturing process. Its much easier if you leave the thumbwheels on as it allows for better purchase.
The callaham replacement studs fitted perfectly in the existing holes and needed a very slight tap home with a very small pin hammer. Use the plastic adaptor/protector as supplied by callaham with the bridge for this purpose. Job done.
Cheers
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Post by Scott on Mar 9, 2011 16:33:39 GMT -7
Thanks for the post!
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Post by rightsaidted on Mar 10, 2011 10:15:41 GMT -7
You're welcome! Enjoy the hardware. Slotting the saddles is not difficult if you have the files and the hands and patience. Measure twice, file once, a little at a time. Use some abrasive cord from StewMac or similar to finish to a smooth surface. I haven't broken a string at the bridge since I changed it and the string spacing and overall setup is better than when new! cheers
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Post by Scott on Mar 10, 2011 18:09:11 GMT -7
I am going to have my local guitar luthier install and slot for me. (1) Callaham ABR-1 Bridge with Nashville Conversion Studs was delivered today!! The thing is heavy for a bridge, and looks like a piece of art work.
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Post by Scott on Mar 11, 2011 6:20:30 GMT -7
Snapped a few pictures today, figured some might like to see? I think it's going to fit just fine... Sitting on top of my current bridge: Side shot: Bottom: Looking down: Bottom:
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2011 7:43:24 GMT -7
Looks great. I want one.
have you thought about getting a no moving parts tailpiece too?
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Post by Corey on Mar 11, 2011 7:51:07 GMT -7
..waiting for review...
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Post by rightsaidted on Mar 11, 2011 10:47:05 GMT -7
Looks great. I want one. have you thought about getting a no moving parts tailpiece too? thats what I was thinkin'. less is more. cheers
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Post by Scott on Mar 11, 2011 15:42:45 GMT -7
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Post by GuitarZ on Mar 11, 2011 16:28:53 GMT -7
Dude - You're freaking me out with those pictures. I didn't realize you were holding the new one about the old one. I was trying to figure out why the strings were going through the bridge instead of over it. Time for another beer I guess. I'm not even finished the first one.
Looks nice.
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Post by Scott on Mar 11, 2011 16:29:46 GMT -7
It must be the shiny-ness... TY!
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