Tele Bridge Question...

[Strat Avenger]

Is the vintage 3-saddle Tele bridge directly interchangeable ( screw hole positions) with the Standard 6-saddle bridge?

 

[Cagey]

What's a "Standard" 6 saddle bridge? I thought the 3 saddle part was standard.

I do know the Gotoh 6 saddle replacement bridges bolt right up. Actually, I think they call their single coil versions "standard" and the humbucker styles "humbucker". Maybe that's what you're talking about?

 

[bagman67]

Probably not.


There are old-style ashtray bridges with three and with six saddles, and those tend to be interchangeable.  They are not interchangeable with the more modern six-saddle bridges without the ashtray edges (USA Standard), however.  The ashtray bridges are a four-screw model, with the screw holes between the string holes and the pickup rout.  The modern bridge is generally a three-screw affair, with the string holes between the screw holes and the pickup rout.


Hope this helps -


Bagman

 

[Strat Avenger]

What's a "Standard" 6 saddle bridge? I thought the 3 saddle part was standard.

I do know the Gotoh 6 saddle replacement bridges bolt right up. Actually, I think they call their single coil versions "standard" and the humbucker styles "humbucker". Maybe that's what you're talking about?

By "Standard", I was referring to Fender's current Standard Telecaster (Mexican).

 

[Jusatele]

I see that warmoth only offers 2 routings for the tle bridge
there is the original style the the American standard style
and all the holes are different, strings and mounting
that is all I can say, so if the MIM is not using a AM SD bridge, then it should
here is the page with the routings on it
http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Bodies/Options/BridgeRoutingOptions.aspx

 

[tfarny]

Warmoth's "Vintage" rout will fit most of the aftermarket parts - Callaham, Hipshot, etc. as well as the Gotoh 6 saddle bridge that Warmoth sells. Don't confuse the mounting hole placement with the number of saddles. That route is probably what you want because it gives the most options.

To mount a current-spec American Standard bridge (not MIM, not a vintage reissue) then you need the other rout.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

MIM Standard bridge is not the American Standard routing.  The American Standard routing has 3 mounting holes behind the string thru routes.  The MIM Standard has 4 in front of the string thru routes, and it's the same as the older 3 saddle bridges.

 

[Strat Avenger]

MIM Standard bridge is not the American Standard routing.  The American Standard routing has 3 mounting holes behind the string thru routes.  The MIM Standard has 4 in front of the string thru routes, and it's the same as the older 3 saddle bridges.

So does that mean a 3-saddle "ashtray" style bridge would directly swap in place of a MIM 6-saddle bridge on a Fender "Standard" Tele?

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Not necessarily.  Callaham makes a 3 saddle ashtray style bridge that fits the American Standard, and my '95 MIM Standard Tele was topload only.

 

[tfarny]

MIM Standard bridge is not the American Standard routing.  The American Standard routing has 3 mounting holes behind the string thru routes.  The MIM Standard has 4 in front of the string thru routes, and it's the same as the older 3 saddle bridges.

So does that mean a 3-saddle "ashtray" style bridge would directly swap in place of a MIM 6-saddle bridge on a Fender "Standard" Tele?

Forget about the number of saddles and look at the number of mounting screws and their placement - some / most of the vintage style bridges will indeed directly retrofit a MIM tele, yes. But not because of how many saddles they have!