Installed in combination with ABM 2504n Bridge
My 2010 USA Les Paul Studio is one of the rare models without maple top she´s 100% mahogany. While the guitar always had great sustain and delivered very nice blues tones through the neck PU, she´s been lacking the bite and brightness I was looking for for the rockier parts of the spectrum and leads. I already had the stock PUs swapped for Seymour Duncan SH18s (Whole Lotta Humbuckers) with moderate Vintage output. They basically are slightly overwound PAFs with roughcast Alnico 5s. Very cool!
The combination of the ABM 3020na Stop Tail with the 2504n Bridge maintains the rich bluesy sounds from the neck PU (maybe with some additional separation) and the bridge PU now delivers sweetest vintage tones with additional bite and chimes. While in the past I had to dial in all the treble I could get, now I am back to 12 to 2 on the amp (OR 15H mostly at the moment) and even find myself dialling treble back on the guitar. I am playing mostly classic rock, blues to hard rock. The combination of the ABM bridge and tailpiece has worked out exceedingly well.
Craftsmanship 10/10:
Both are precision milled out of solid billets (Aluminium for the tail, bell brass for the bridge). Quality is amazing, in particular when compared to the original Gibby cast parts. Plain and simply no comparison. Both parts came with the required studs and fit perfectly. Snug fit for solid sound transfer. BTW ? when I investigated this, I was in direct contact with ABM and they referred me to Thomann. And yes ? for some strange reasons Gibson USA mix metric and imperial threads, the ABM guys got it right.
The machined geometry of the bridge allows for additional intonation flexibility. And yes ? bell brass instead of die cast zinc improves sustain and definition noticeably.
The striking characteristic of the tail is its low weight when compared to the cast original. It almost floats? My guitar tech and I had various discussions which way to go (he has been building guitars for over 20 years). He was blown away when I delivered the ABM tail ? nothing he had seen in the US (including custom Titanium tails) was tonally close. The guitar sounds more transparent and airy. An additional benefit is the higher exit of the strings compared to the original. This allows the bridge to sit lower with less distance to the guitar´s body without the strings touching the back of the bridge.
Price 9/10:
Pricing is well within the alternatives in the market and as quality and improvement on tone are above expectations, I am prepared to pay premium.
Summary:
This mod has worked out over and and above expectations. A guitar I had struggled to get close to has become the flexible sound goddess I had hoped for. I have way overspent on this guitar (if including the PUs), which is fine with me. I know I will struggle with any new guitar from now on ? even if it is a custom shop ? as I now know the difference in quality between ABM and Gibson parts?
