2018 Classic ABR vs ABR-1?

[kafka]

I noticed that Gibson describes the 2018 Les Paul Classic as having the "ABR" bridge, whereas some other Les Pauls from that year are described as having the "ABR-1". They seem to be making a distinction. Are these the same bridge?

 

[RayTorvalds]

I think the difference is in the posts. ABR-1 posts screw directly into the top whereas the ABR uses Nashville style inserts.

 

[shupe13]

I believe they're one in the same.

 

[PauloQS]

I think the difference is in the posts. ABR-1 posts screw directly into the top whereas the ABR uses Nashville style inserts.

No, they use the same posts.

Edit: Gibson USA re-introduced the ABR-1 bridge in 2017. Since its re-introduction, Gibson USA has never drilled the posts directly to the top. Now that Memphis production has moved to the Gibson USA factory, they are using bushings for the posts on models that have ABR-1 bridges, like the 335s. Prior to moving to the USA factory 335s had bridge posts drilled directly to the body.

Furthermore, saying that Gibson is using the Nashville posts with their ABR-1 is quite misleading. For the ABR-1 use considerably slimmer posts than the Nashville posts. Just pointing this out in case someone wants to convert their Nashville into ABR-1 or vice versar.

The difference is that, if I remember correctly, the 2018 uses a wire retainer. If you remove the wire retainer, then it’s the same bridge

 

[RayTorvalds]

Thank you for clarifying. I didn't say Nashville posts, though. I said inserts.

 

[PauloQS]

Thank you for clarifying. I didn't say Nashville posts, though. I said inserts.

That’s true. Sorry for my trigger happy comment. That was my bad entirety.

 

[RayTorvalds]

No problem at all. Cheers !

 

[kafka]

Ah, so the difference in the bridges themselves is the wire retainer, but otherwise, same spacing, same post holes, same saddles, same adjustment screws, etc. Is that correct? Thanks!

 

[PauloQS]

Ah, so the difference in the bridges themselves is the wire retainer, but otherwise, same spacing, same post holes, same saddles, same adjustment screws, etc. Is that correct? Thanks!

Yes, I believe that’s correct.

Just a heads up, Gibson is notorious for spec typos. They could have just left out the 1 by mistake in the 2018 spec sheet. However, I believe there is difference in the 2018 Classic in the sense that there is the wire retainer.

One example of these small typos are the neck profile on the spec sheet of the Standard ‘50s and the Slash Standard. One is listed as ‘50s vintage, while the other vintage ‘50s even though the neck profiles are the same.

 

[cosmefulanito17]

https://ibb.co/yfb5qDN


bridge abr 1 with Nashville type bushings (LPC 17-18-19/Standard 50´s , 60s)

 

[Justin_Case]

A good video on this page about the ABR1 on the classics on the FaberUSA.com page:

ABR1 vs Nashville on USA models