Skip to main content

What Is the Difference Between the Different Bridge Types

In the guitar parts market, you’ll hear a lot of words thrown around that might not mean a lot. In fact, if you are new to the world of guitar upgrades and customization, some of the words thrown around might even make the process of sourcing the right parts for your instrument more of a challenge than it needs to be.

One term that you will hear a lot in your search for a new bridge is “Tune-o-Matic”, which is a blanket term used to describe the typical Gibson style bridge system with individually adjustable saddles for each string allowing the user to intonate each string separately.
Both the ABR and Nashville bridges are types of Tune-o-Matic bridges. The main differences between the two can be found in their adjustability.

ABR Bridges

The ABR style bridge is the “classic” bridge style. If you own a vintage Les Paul, Reissue or Custom Shop model, you will most likely have an ABR style bridge installed. The bridge posts are 6-32 threaded rods and will be screwed directly into the body wood. The thumb wheel is a separate part of the post that the bridge sits on and moves up and down as the thumb wheel is turned. Many players gravitate towards this style bridge as it’s the typical configuration on vintage and vintage reissue Gibson style guitars both functionally and visually. The Faber Guitar Parts ABR style bridge meets all the vintage criteria and is the perfect upgrade for your ABR-1 equipped guitar.

Nashville Bridges

The Nashville style bridge is similar to the ABR and is found on many more Gibson guitars than the ABR-1. The main difference between the two bridges is in their widths and how they are mounted to the body. The Nashville style bridge has a bridge post that screws into a metal body bushing, with an integrated thumb wheel. Height adjustment is carried out by turning the thumb wheel, which moves the entire assembly up or down as it screws into the metal body bushing. There are several reasons why players do not like the Nashville bridge system:

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Ultimate Beginner Guide for Guitar Lovers (Basic Tips)

  1)Acoustic guitars:   Acoustic guitar generates sound without an exterternal power supply- specially known for its organic and warm tones. The tones generally vary based on the body size, wood type, and craftsmanship. 2)Electric guitars:  Electric Guitars are heavy in general and are well-known for their versatility in pop, jazz, blues, and rock. It requires amplifiers and pedals to produce sound like distortion, reverb, delay, and more. Now, go  grab your fit . You must also know about the  guitar parts  as well. Tuning and Care: It’s important to know how to tune your guitar before you start performing. You can use a tuner or  tuning app . Also, cleaning and string changes are critical for better sound and the health of your instrument. Practice is the key: It takes time, patience, and constant practice to learn to deal with finger pain and chord transition. You have to be very consistent and add it to your daily routine. Explore learning reso...

Green Strings: Are Eco-Friendly Guitar Strings a Thing Yet?

  For guitarists, string changes are a regular ritual. Whether you’re a hobbyist or a professional musician, chances are you’ve gone through dozens—maybe hundreds—of sets over the years. But while we might lovingly preserve our instruments, upgrade our guitar bridge for better sustain, or treasure a vintage guitar tailpiece, our discarded strings usually end up in the trash. It’s an environmental blind spot. Strings are small, seemingly insignificant—but multiply that by millions of musicians worldwide, and the waste starts to add up. Which brings us to a pressing, planet-conscious question: Are eco-friendly guitar strings a thing yet? What Makes Guitar Strings Unsustainable? When it comes to sustainability in music gear, guitar strings often fly under the radar. Yet they’re one of the most frequently replaced items in a guitarist’s toolkit. Unlike the core  guitar parts  —such as the guitar bridge, tailpiece, or bridge saddles—strings have a short lifespan and are design...

How To Setup Gibson Les Paul Bridge – Installation Guide

  The Gibson Les Paul is a classic electric guitar that has been a favorite of guitarists for generations. One of the most important components of the Les Paul is the bridge, which plays a crucial role in determining the guitar’s sound and playability. Here, we’ll be discussing a step-by-step guide on how to set up a Gibson Les Paul bridge, with a focus on the Tune-O-Matic bridge and its components, such as the guitar bridge saddles and  guitar tailpiece . Before we get started, it’s important to have a basic understanding of the parts of a  guitar bridge . The bridge is part of the guitar that holds the strings in place and allows for adjustments in string height and intonation. The Les Paul bridge, also known as the  Tune-O-Matic bridge , is a popular choice for many guitarists due to its high level of adjustability and ability to improve the guitar’s intonation. Step 1: Remove the old strings. Before installing the new bridge, you’ll need to remove the old strings...