Bigsby Route Substitute

[Sj Benetone]

I'm planning on a Thinline project. Bigsby B5 with plate, I'm just wondering what Bridge routing option I should take since I can't find the Jazzmaster style bridge.

 

[-CB-]

regular tele bridge, with little cutouts for the strings....

 

[Sj Benetone]

Thanks, I have seen this in the past, and I did think that it looked cool... at the time. The plate that I was referring to was the one that has the jazzmaster style tune-o-matic and comes with the $200 B5 kit (source: musiciansfriend.com). Also, the standard tele (as well as vintage) bridge route are string through body, which I would like to avoid. Would it be best to just order it without any routing and do it myself, or is there a hardtail with the same measurements?

 

[Sj Benetone]

Also, I do plan on using one of those mastery bridges. I've seen nothing other than good reviewes.

 

[BigBeard]

A telecaster bridge doesn't get routed, it is mounted on top of the body.  There is a rout for the pickup, and the string holes.  They will omit the string holes for you.  They will probably charge you an extra $15, but in this instance it's probably worth it.

 

[Sj Benetone]

Thanks Bigbeard, your reply was helpful. However, it did not entirely answer my question, and it influenced a new question of my interest.

          You said that they would omit the string holes in the body for $15. Are you referring to the "Omit Inner Bridge Chamber" option? because I can't find anything that says that they'll omit the strings. Also, the only reason I refer to the tele bridge route as a "route", is because warmoth can do all of the drilling for that option, but I'm not here to debate that topic. I'm just wondering if one of warmoth's hardtail "routes" with a TOM has measurements that are equal to that of the TOM of a bigsby B5 or Jazzmaster.

 

[BigBeard]

Thanks Bigbeard, your reply was helpful. However, it did not entirely answer my question, and it influenced a new question of my interest.

          You said that they would omit the string holes in the body for $15. Are you referring to the "Omit Inner Bridge Chamber" option? because I can't find anything that says that they'll omit the strings. Also, the only reason I refer to the tele bridge route as a "route", is because warmoth can do all of the drilling for that option, but I'm not here to debate that topic. I'm just wondering if one of warmoth's hardtail "routes" with a TOM has measurements that are equal to that of the TOM of a bigsby B5 or Jazzmaster.

Oh, sorry I didn't quite understand what you were going after.  You want to use a TOM? What is a mastery bridge exactly?  I would guess that if you were going TOM and a bigsby, you would order a body without a tailpiece and TOM studs drilled.  StewMac has a great fret position calculator with measurements for the bridge placement.  If you have access to a drill press, I would order it with no bridge route or holes drilled and do it yourself.  But on the other hand isn't it free to have the holes drilled for a TOM anyway?  I don't know I'm confusing myself  :icon_scratch:

 

[Sj Benetone]

I think I can answer most of those questions.
1) this is a mastery bridge: http://www.masterybridge.com/home.html It is supposed to be interchangeable with the TOM on a jazzmaster (w/ trem) as well as a Bigsby B5, and from my research, it can improve the tuning stability of a bigsby tailpiece.
2) from what I can tell, all of the TOM style bridges that Warmoth will drill on this guitar cost 10-15 dollars. The stud install is optional and costs an extra $10, and I don't mind spending that $20 if I can. I just don't want to fudge up this guitar. I've been dreaming of this guitar since I was 15, or in other words, the dream is 2 years old. So, to clarify my original question, is there a TOM that warmoth drills that is the same width (stud center to stud center) as a jazzmaster?

 

[BigBeard]

Directly pasted from the Turtle's site:

Ask us about doing
these bridge routs by hand for you!
FISHMAN TELE 101 BRIDGE
FISHMAN POWERBRIDGE HARDTAIL
FISHMAN T.O.M.
FISHMAN TSV POWERBRIDGE
LR BAGGS T.O.M
LR BAGGS X TREM
LR BAGGS HARDTAIL
SCHALLER 494 STOP TAIL PIECE W/FINE TUNERS
SCHALLER STM MODEL 451, 452 OR 453
GIBSON B-0510-010 SG STYLE T.O.M.
HIPSHOT TREMOLO
HIPSHOT FLAT MOUNT SB 5105-010
GOTOH 510 TS-RS1 2-HOLE TREMOLO
GOTOH 101
CARVIN FTG HARDTAIL

Please keep in mind there may be different variations of these bridges
or manufacturer changes in the dimensions. For this reason you must send the
exact bridge you plan to use to us for dimensional verification.

This custom feature is $45 extra.

There you go!!