Okay, here's a new one. I have a rear routed strat body enroute, routed for S-S-S. Given only the string holes have been drilled, but not the bridge holes, can I use a Tele bridge and PUP in lieu of a Strat hardball bridge and bridge PUP (with no additional routing)?
Tele Bridge for Strat?
- Thread starter Watchie
- Start date
That's what I am not sure of. From available pictures the routing looks to be in the same place. If this is indeed the case, then I could simply drop in the Tele bridge and PUP and be done with it (and have a rather funky guitar - maybe the best of both worlds). Obviously, if the Strat routing is not in the same place (relative to the bridge) this won't work. I do wonder why, however, the routing would be different in terms of bridge PUP distance from the string-through-body holes.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
My thought is that the string holes would be the same for intonation purposes. The issue would be the existing routing for the bridge PUP and how that matches the strat vs. the tele. In other words, the saddles would not be in a different position for either bridge.
Am I wrong about this?
Am I wrong about this?
im not sure if the bridge holes are the same but you should have enough adjustment in the saddles to compensate. also remember the vintage fender spacing was way wider than a modern bridge so you will need to match that. also the tele piclup needs a very big route for the base plate, even a humbucker route might need some more wood removed from the front edge. also a strat pickup wont fit in the route and the bridge at the same time because the angle is different. basically the bridge pickup routing must be redone but it is doable. you need a template for the telecaster bridge but you need to align it to the string through holes, it may wind up a slightly different distance from the neck pocket but that's not important becase you should still be able to get the saddles in the right place.
mayfly
Epic Member
- Messages
- 9,060
Sadly, it won't work without additional routing. The Tele pickup is much larger than the strat pickup and won't fit in the standard strat pickup route.
However, I must say that I applaud this approach and think you should do it. Routing is not that hard! And tele pickups are the best.
Yours,
Trevor
However, I must say that I applaud this approach and think you should do it. Routing is not that hard! And tele pickups are the best.
Yours,
Trevor
Thanks for the input. If I can find a correctly sized template I may give it a try. It seems to me that with the rear routed body I can create a "hybrid" that will give me the best of both worlds - the "twang" of a Tele and the clear "quack" of a Strat.
Then again, what if I were to reroute for a P90 in the bridge...javascript:void(0);
Then again, what if I were to reroute for a P90 in the bridge...javascript:void(0);
O
OzziePete
Guest
Watchie said:
A P90 pickup is much wider than a Tele bridge pickup and the Tele bridge won't accomodate a P90. If you want a P90-ish tone AND a Tele bridge, you would have to go either a humbucker-sized P90 in a Tele bridge for a humbucker pickup OR go a half Tele Bridge (just the plate and saddles, no pickup accomodation) and route for a full sized P90. Your choice.
http://www.wdmusic.com/product10281.html
http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/specialized/progressive/sph901_phat_cat/
mayfly said:
Also, a Tele bridge pickup is mounted via 3 screws on it's base plate and that takes up a lot of real estate on the body, whereas the Strat pickup utilises the more standard 2 screw placement. FWIW,a genuine P90 soapbar pickup mounts via 2 wood screws straight thru the pickup casing and into the body underneath. You can also get dogear P90s that mount onto the pickguard but the dogear casing size is an issue - it might be too tall and not fit under the strings.
OzziePete:
I should have been more clear about my throw away reference to using a P90. Yes, clearly it would not fit into a Tele bridge as you correctly state. My reference was intended to suggest as an alternative to using a Tele bridge and single PUP, instead using a Strat bridge and P90.
W
I should have been more clear about my throw away reference to using a P90. Yes, clearly it would not fit into a Tele bridge as you correctly state. My reference was intended to suggest as an alternative to using a Tele bridge and single PUP, instead using a Strat bridge and P90.
W
Jusatele said:
that's a good question but i dont have an answer. warmoth doesn't advertise that dimension. you could google it i guess. the thing is that that measurement isn't all that important for a custom routing because it doesn't tell you where the saddles are gonna be. there must be a standard though becasue it determines how it lines up with the pick guard on a stock fender.
also to the op you may need an american standard type bridge. looking at the routes the again i see that the vintage type has the screw holes forward of the string holes. that will be fine if there are no mounting holes drilled but if there are the bridge wont cover them so you'd have holes to plug if you went with a vintage tele bridge and you'd have to paint over them or come up with a way to decorate them as if it was intensional. if the body doesnt have mounting holes drilled you may have a choice as long as you widen the bridge plate holes enough to accept string spacing. the mounting holes may need to be plugged anyway and redrilled but atleast the bridge plate of an american standard will cover them.
Okay, let's take this a slightly different direction. The body I have enroute is routed S-S-S. Am I correct that if I want to stay with a strat bridge that the current bridge routing could be rerouted to accommodate a Soapbar P90? Note that the guitar is rear routed, so there will be no pickguard.
ok a p-90 can be routed into the body and will completely cover an "emg style" single coil route. an standard single coil route is cutting it close but if you angle it it will certainly work. if you are ok with that idea then id buy a template or make one and check it strait to see if that is possible but as a backup plan it can be angled.
