My upgraded Traditional

[CreamTone]

the beauty of a locking bridge and TP is that they don't fall off the guitar when you do a string change.

I agree with you there!

 

[Lowdown]

Looks great,Lonnie.

What happened with the PhiladelphiaLuthier parts?
I have all the plastic on my Trad from there and had no issues whatsoever? Looked great.

He does use Allparts,you know that,right?

 

[CreamTone]

Thanks, Lowdown. I got several parts from PLT. Their blank trussrod cover is way nicer than Gibsons (it's nice and thin) and their toggle tip is just the right butterscotch, since I didn't know if those parts were Allparts I mentioned PLT. I knew their pickguard was Allparts.

Cheers!

 

[Slashperryburst]

The Bridge is a Faber Nashville Spaced ABR-1 with Stewmac Nickel posts.

Nice. Was any drilling required to convert from the nashville bridge?

 

[CreamTone]

Nice. Was any drilling required to convert from the nashville bridge?

None at all. The threads from the StewMac posts were a perfect fit, and the Faber ABRN is specifically designed to be a direct replacement for a Nashville bridge. I could put it back stock in a few minutes if I ever needed to.

 

[formula73]

That looks like a million bucks! The plastics did a number on it. So those are plain old Dimarzio rings, huh...I'm going to have to dig some of those up for my Pro. I actually pulled the zebra BB3/57 combo because I couldn't stand the color of the cream bobbins. I'm also in the process of Faber-izing (locking) all my Nashville stuff. Part of it's looks-the wider Nashville just never looked right, to me-and part of it's because I don't like the damned bridge dropping off when I pull all the strings to clean the board.

 

[Slashperryburst]

None at all. The threads from the StewMac posts were a perfect fit, and the Faber ABRN is specifically designed to be a direct replacement for a Nashville bridge. I could put it back stock in a few minutes if I ever needed to.

Thanks. I've been wanting to give my les paul a more traditional look. Think I'll do just that.

 

[CreamTone]

That looks like a million bucks! The plastics did a number on it. So those are plain old Dimarzio rings, huh...

Thanks for the kind comment!

Yep, those are plain old DiMarzio 5-dollar rings. Really good match for the Allparts guard. I like how tall the DiMarzios are. What I did was put a piece of 600-grit sandpaper on the top of the guitar and rubbed the rings back and forth over it until they had a slight arch on the bottom to follow the contour of the body. Took a little time but it's worth it.

 

[winexprt]

Thanks for the kind comment!

Yep, those are plain old DiMarzio 5-dollar rings. Really good match for the Allparts guard. I like how tall the DiMarzios are. What I did was put a piece of 600-grit sandpaper on the top of the guitar and rubbed the rings back and forth over it until they had a slight arch on the bottom to follow the contour of the body. Took a little time but it's worth it.

Interesting method. I recall reading on here a member boiling his to make them pliable, and then quickly installing them so they'll match the carve of the top. That's what im going to try on mine.

 

[formula73]

If I were to go for them, I'd have to drop the bridge ring down just a bit. There's something odd about where I hold my right hand and if the ring's too high I get the pick snagged in there. Don't ask me. I don't know.

 

[Lowdown]

Damn! I keep coming back to check out that top.
That would have to equal some of the nicer R9's I've seen.
Hang onto that puppy. She's a beauty

 

[CreamTone]

Damn! I keep coming back to check out that top.
That would have to equal some of the nicer R9's I've seen.
Hang onto that puppy. She's a beauty

I plan on hanging onto it as long as I can. My wife and I are planning on buying a house in the coming months and some of my gear is going to have to be sold for the down payment. If this one has to go, I'll be sure to put it up here first.

 

[Adambomb]

None at all. The threads from the StewMac posts were a perfect fit, and the Faber ABRN is specifically designed to be a direct replacement for a Nashville bridge. I could put it back stock in a few minutes if I ever needed to.

Question: Why did you change your original bridge posts? Could you have took the tail piece all the way down without the top wrap or would that be too much string breakage? I'm interested in the same bridge upgrade but I was wondering if it was necessary to change bridge posts.

 

[Shawn Lutz]

Adambomb, for the Faber ABRN bridge I got I changed the posts on mine with the NWSKit so I could use the locks. The posts are just a tad higher that existing ones that let you put the lock nut on them to lock the ABRN down.

NSWKIT Steel Bridge Studs - CV Guitars


I dunno why he top wraps however In my case I also upgraded the TP studs for the Faber ToneLock. They come with spacers they you can use if putting it flush with the body is too great of an angle and hit the back of the ABR before it hits the saddle so if you don't have to top wrap. I haven't tried the top wrap but I don't think I'd like felling the strings over the top of the TP.

Reading their FAQ and watching the video helped me

CV Guitars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ansL7Gq2V9o

 

[Adambomb]

Adambomb, for the Faber ABRN bridge I got I changed the posts on mine with the NWSKit so I could use the locks. The posts are just a tad higher that existing ones that let you put the lock nut on them to lock the ABRN down.

NSWKIT Steel Bridge Studs - CV Guitars


I dunno why he top wraps however In my case I also upgraded the TP studs for the Faber ToneLock. They come with spacers they you can use if putting it flush with the body is too great of an angle and hit the back of the ABR before it hits the saddle so if you don't have to top wrap. I haven't tried the top wrap but I don't think I'd like felling the strings over the top of the TP.

Reading their FAQ and watching the video helped me

CV Guitars

Faber Locking Bridge Installation - YouTube

Ok, I think you have answered all my concerns and gave me a solution to what I'm looking to do. Thanks alot buddy!!

 

[CreamTone]

Question: Why did you change your original bridge posts? Could you have took the tail piece all the way down without the top wrap or would that be too much string breakage? I'm interested in the same bridge upgrade but I was wondering if it was necessary to change bridge posts.

I changed the posts because the originals were chrome and I wanted nickel. I know it's a tiny detail but I'm a bit anal like that. LOL. The originals fit fine.

As for the top wrap, I do like my tailpiece all the way down on the body for better tone. The top wrap puts less tension on the strings; easier bending and less chance of breaking one. Plus I'm a big fan of Reverend Willy G. and I think it looks cool.

Cheers!

 

[SmooveG]

Why does norton give me a red x when going the the CV Guitars site?

 

[winexprt]

Cool. Found them on eBay:

DiMarzio Tall Creme Humbucker Mounting Ring $5.00 EACH | eBay

DiMarzio Short Humbucker Mounting Ring Creme$5.00 EACH | eBay

Received my DiMarzio rings from the above seller. VERY fast shipping! Great seller. He includes some nice extras too.

They are taller than the stock rings that came on my 2011 Trad Plus, more akin in height to historic rings, which is what I was after.

In terms of color, they are nearly a dead on match to the stock rings on my Trad. Maybe ever so slightly lighter, but honestly in person it's nearly an imperceptible difference. The colors aren't quite realistic in the photo below.

The stock rings are shown installed below, with the loose DiMarzio ring resting on the bridge pickup ring:

I can't recommend these DiMarzio rings enough for someone wanting a cheap cosmetic upgrade.

 

[JMB1984]

That turned out nice, it looks great. I may have to get one of those guards and DiMarzio rings as the pinkish hue of the plastics is starting t bug me

This is the downside to buying any of the finishes that have red in them... makes it stand out more.