best ABR-1 replacement for Gibson SG with Bigsby

[kracdown]

I've got a Gibson SG with a Bigsby that's had about everything changed on it, except for the bridge. I changed the ABR-1 on my 339 to the Faber ABR-1 (nickel saddles) and noticed a significant improvement in sustain and resonance. My SG feels a little bit dull in comparison. I just wanted to know whether one saddle material is better than another.

I was thinking about nickel... since i had great results with my 339. How about brass? or nickel and brass combo? or titanium? What's best with a Bigsby? Does it even matter?

Maybe try the callaham to see how the Faber compares?

I already know I need to have a conversion for the current nashville style bridge. Faber makes one that allows me to put any ABR-1 style bridge on the guitar.

Thanks

[Gevalt]

Nickel plating over brass won't affect tone much at all, since the string grooves will unlikely stay plated.
Zinc alloy, aka zamac, is not a great saddle material, but brass is. Titanium are pricey and loud. I'm considering one for my low E, but I'll work on the slot, first.

Replace the saddles first, mounting posts second. Brass saddles and stainless steel posts will bring your bridge to nirvana.

Most ABR-1 bases are made the same, 90% Zinc/10% Aluminum. Faber's base pushes it to 30% aluminum, and Callaham's is 100% stainless steel. A set of brass saddles is about $6 on Stewmac. Steel posts do a lot: google the mapleflame mod.

[kracdown]

I planned with going with these steel posts:
http://www.cvgshop.com/Faber-Parts-B..._48/index.html

then this bridge:
http://www.cvgshop.com/p127/Tone-Loc...duct_info.html

or:
http://www.callahamguitars.com/abr1.htm

using either their conversion or Faber's conversion with the Callaham bridge

[Rockinrob86]

It doesnt seem right, but the graph tech saddles actually sound great! Plus, with the bigsby, they are AMAZING. I know you can properly file metal saddles and they will work perfectly fine with the bigsby, but the graph tech ones are a whole other level. I abuse my bigsby a la neil young and only have to tune every few songs with heavy, heavy use!

[kracdown]

My tuning has never been off with the original saddles. The issue is the resonance isn't as good as it should be. i think i'm just going to go with nickel saddles.