So what are my options here?

[CrazyGrain]

Just won a hardtail strat body off ebay. I'm pretty sure it has the vintage strat flat pattern. Other than the two bridges that W offers (vintage and narrow), is there anything else out there that will work? I'll probably just get one from W and grab some Graphtech saddles but was just curious if I had any other options.

 

[Ribeye]

Babicz
http://www.fullcontacthardware.com/home.htm

 

[CrazyGrain]

Babicz
http://www.fullcontacthardware.com/home.htm

Wow, those are cool. Might be a little too modern looking for this build though. Would be fun to do a swap with something like that to see if you can really hear or feel any difference. If they really do sound/perform better, I wouldn't really care about the looks though. Have you tried any of those?

 

[Ribeye]

I have a Babicz on a tele.  The saddle cams work the same as the model that will fit your strat.  It's a very nice piece of hardware and worth the pretty penny you'll pay for it.

 

[bagman67]

I used the Hipshot stainless vintage-style hardtail:


http://store.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=328


A very solidly constructed, no-frills option.


Also available at guitarpartsresource.com for fifteen bucks less (which is where I bought mine):


http://guitarpartsresource.com/gbridge_hipshothardtail.htm

 

[Great Ape]

Hipshot=Great Stuff!!

 

[CrazyGrain]

I used the Hipshot stainless vintage-style hardtail:

So you went with the vintage (wide) instead of the modern (narrow)? Why? Just curious. Did you have any issues with the wider spacing? I do like a wider nut width but I've never given much thought to bridge spacing.

Also, did you have to enlarge the string-through holes (in the body) for the Hipshot to work?

 

[bagman67]

I used the vintage-spaced part because that's what my non-Warmoth body was drilled for.


THere's a modern-spaced part that is otherwise identical to the one I used:


http://guitarpartsresource.com/gbridge_hipshothardtail.htm


The modern and vintage parts are side-by-side in the bottom row.


Bagman

 

[Kostas]

I have a similar question. I want to use a smaller bridge on my tele so I can hide as less wood as I can. It was a showcase body routed by Warmoth for the Gotoh standard tele bridge http://www.warmoth.com/Gotoh-Standard-Tele-Bridge-Chrome-P599C708.aspx Do you know if any of these Hipshot bridges http://guitarpartsresource.com/gbridge_hipshothardtail.htm will fit? I don't mind with modifications that will be hidden underneath the bridge if I can use a Hipshot.

 

[bagman67]

I'm afraid not, Kostas - the standard Tele bridge has four screws north of the string-through holes, and the strat bridge has three screws south of the string-through holes.  See:


http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Bodies/Options/BridgeRoutingOptions.aspx


Strat (narrow):

Strat (vintage):

Tele:

.

 

[Fat Pete]

What's the bridge pickup rout? you might be able to use a short/half Tele bridge like this one:

 

[Kostas]

The body has been routed for two tele pickups.

The Rutters is 4-hole mount with 2 1/8" string spacing like the Gotoh standard bridge so I'm guessing it can be used with no modifications. I've also found the Wilkinson which is cheap.



I just haven't used a three saddle bridge again and I don't know how "flexible" there are comparing to bridges with six saddles. I'm talking about intonation and string height.

 

[Fat Pete]

String height adjustment isn't a problem but intonation is a compromise. Using the compensated saddles as on that Wilkinson seems to work very well though - I have that set-up on the Tele in my sig and it's in tune all the way up the neck (or close enough for my ears anyway).

Are you planning to wood-mount a normal Tele bridge pickup? Not the prettiest things IMO but whatever works. Don't forget you'll need to earth the bridge if you go that way unless you're using EMGs or similar.

 

[Kostas]

...Are you planning to wood-mount a normal Tele bridge pickup? Not the prettiest things IMO but whatever works. Don't forget you'll need to earth the bridge if you go that way unless you're using EMGs or similar.

Yes, the plan is to make it look like this:

Although mine is rear routed so there would be no pickguard or control plate. Not only it would be a shame to hide a highly figured top but I don't like the Gotoh bridge visually. It's even longer than the traditional Fender tele bridge.

I will use passive pickups, I don't think there be a problem to earth the bridge.

Which saddles have you used? I can't see if their color is white or gold.

 

[Fat Pete]

They're Graphtech white(ish) saddles. I also have one of the Wilkinson half bridges on another guitar and it's fine.