This was my second ABM TOM bridge. The first is on my 76 Les Paul Custom. This chrome one replaced the Wilkinson Roller bridge that was also brass on my 1982 Carvin DC100. Both guitars have bone nuts, so be aware that this is a big difference in sound compared to Corian, Earvana and brass (I have mostly had Earvana and brass nuts). Your experience with bridge could be different if you do not have a bone nut. The bone nut resulted in a brighter, clearer tone and a much more stable note based on my strobe's reaction.
The DC100 is naturally a bright guitar (solid all hard rock maple). The roller sounded too bright for me. It did not seem to have the fullness I was expecting from brass. It may be a function of the steel rollers. The overtones of the notes are brighter sounding so the notes ring differently. It made the guitar very bright sounding. Combined with the bone nut and hard rock maple wood, this guitar could pierce your ears if that is your thing. For chicken picking it would be the guitar to have.
This ABM made the difference especially when playing chords. There is a fuller sound as if more of the mid and lower tones of the notes are heard. The difference is greatest when using the bridge pickup. The tone/quality of the notes are not as harsh sounding to me. It is what I expected of a brass bridge.
Both bridges were clear in their sound. How the Wilkinson sounded on the DC100 was just not for me.
Both bridges are very well made. The ABM was a breeze to intonate. Tuning is smooth, no binding. I think this bridge might even be ok with a tremolo even. Playing the guitar now feels as I was hoping it would when I purchased it as a project.
I have a video up on youtube of the difference between the Wilkinson and the ABM on the Carvin. The strings have been well played in that they don't hold a tune. It was time to change them, thus now was the time to change the bridge. You really get to hear the difference the ABM makes as I only changed the bridge for the video keeping the old strings. Yes, I then put on new strings after the video. Just search ABM bridge, Carvin DC100. At the end is some sound of the LP just for comparison of the Carvin to the LP.
