Can anyone confirm this is a real 60’s ABR-1?

[Andrew1225]

Hello everyone.

Recently, a supposedly unused 60’s ABR-1
with untouched nylon saddles is being sold
in Japan.

Can anyone tell if this looks legitimate?
And what is it roughly worth?

Thanks.

 

[mudface]

The post holes look rather large and bit rough on the bottom to be unused. Could be new saddles on an old bridge......and i could be wrong....sorry.

 

[emoney]

Gibson definitely used nylon saddles on some models in the 1960s. The ones I know for sure were the semi-hollow models and I think, even an SG came with them for at least a year model run. Having said all of that; a)I don't think there's any way to confirm what year that particular bridge came from....b)someone has definitely drilled out the post holes because I don't think Gibson every used anything except the threaded post, screwed into the body back in the day...and c), as for worth, I mean knowing you can't date it and the fact it's been permanently altered, outside of finding that one guy who really wants it, not sure it's worth any more than any other nylon saddled tune-o-matic. All of this is one guys opinion, so take it for what it's worth.

Edited for side note; zooming in on your pics, the nylon saddles don't look to have any type string groove in them. So someone has obviously replaced those recently. That pretty much insures the value is not something to long for. No way of knowing is this was a standard saddle bridge that someone just changed out the saddles for nylon, so now, it could be from 4 years ago for that fact. The washer "stain" on the bottom side, in my opinion, means this bridge has been used quite a bit.

 

[cmjohnson]

It's not unused. The nylon saddles are apparently new replacements, but the staining on the bottom around the stud holes tells me that this has spent some time on a guitar. It's just not clean enough, metal finish-wise, for me to accept the notion that it's new (old stock). It's in good shape. Leave it at that. Expect no more.

 

[fernieite]

Hmm, I've got one just like it. Mine is a nickel plated one with the original nylon saddles. I should probably get around to putting it up for sale, as it's just collecting dust. I'd be interested in hearing what the going rate is for one of these too.

Mine is nickel plated, but I'm not sure if this one is nickel or chrome?

Too bad you're not in my neck of the woods @Andrew1225 , I would have let you try it out.

 

[Mr French]

I do have a bridge from the 90's that looks in similar condition but with stock saddles. Those saddles sure do look modern though from what I've seen in the past.

 

[61LPSG]

I have a nickel ABR-1 that I bought new in '64 or '65. It's in the original box with the Gibson screwdriver, thumb wheels , rosewood saddle ,and 5 nickel saddles and 1 nylon. I lost one of the saddles and replaced it with '60s nylon...I have the other 5.
My bridge says " GIBSON ABR-! " with the Hallmark, not a patent no.
The saddles look much too white to be original.

 

[Joe Desperado]

There is a whole bunch of these on eBay from Japan. Stated as NOS. Could be. The stamped number looks correct for late 60s. Mid 60s would have pat number and a foundry stamp which this does not.

 

[Brek]

I have a few '65 bridges, two of which look exactly the same as your pics, so I would say they are authentic but as for NOS cannot say. The staining is odd, i have seen a few supplied on a wooden bridge type thing. Maybe the wood has left a stain?

 

[emoney]

I think even the archtop bridges supplied on the wooden riser still used the larger thumbwheels. It's really hard to say. As to the writing on the bottom, I've seen it both ways and who knows what the "rules" that Gibson applied back then. Maybe tune o'matics or Nashville's had the patent # and ABR-1's had that stamped? The hardest part about these type parts is there really wasn't a lot of identifying information. Funny how people will pay $200-300 for a "1960's Gibson Bridge" when there's not a great way to authenticate if it's from the 60's or the 00's, lol. But then again, I shouldn't be surprised I suppose.

 

[fernieite]

The stamped number looks correct for late 60s. Mid 60s would have pat number and a foundry stamp which this does not.

Am I missing something? It looks like the OP's patent number bridge does have a foundry mark.

 

[Joe Desperado]

Am I missing something? It looks like the OP's patent number bridge does have a foundry mark.

Good spot. I was not able to see that on my other device. But can on my laptop. So yet, this looks like a mid 60s Gibson bridge.

 

[angeldeville]

I just got a new gotoh for like $22.50.

 

[Brek]

I just got a new gotoh for like $22.50.

I got lucky with my purchases, paid £45, £60 and £66 for the three i have. I have had a tentative go at removing chrome plating as i want to nickel plate them, I will also thin the back wall slightly as 50's version was thinner than later ones.

 

[Brek]

I think even the archtop bridges supplied on the wooden riser still used the larger thumbwheels. It's really hard to say. As to the writing on the bottom, I've seen it both ways and who knows what the "rules" that Gibson applied back then. Maybe tune o'matics or Nashville's had the patent # and ABR-1's had that stamped? The hardest part about these type parts is there really wasn't a lot of identifying information. Funny how people will pay $200-300 for a "1960's Gibson Bridge" when there's not a great way to authenticate if it's from the 60's or the 00's, lol. But then again, I shouldn't be surprised I suppose.

there is a way, the foundry mark amd pat number isn't the same on later bridges. My reissue ones say gibson on the base.