Telecaster bridge question.

[Samhain]

I'm wanting to build an HH telecaster.
I've noticed on the warmoth site, the choice of bridges is pretty slim.
I don't want to use the telecaster ashtray type humbucker bridge.
I want to use a regular hardtail like on the fender HH.
Will a regular fender hardtail telecaster bridge fit the Warmoth?

 

[Cagey]

Sure. You'll have to have them drill for it, but they'll do it.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Different mounting holes.

The Gotoh humbucking Tele bridge follows the vintage Tele mounting and string thru holes. 

You want the Strat flat mount, either vintage or Am Standard spacing.  The Am Standard spacing will need the string thru holes on the body drilled out larger.

*edit

A halfcut Tele bridge will (obviously) fit the vintage mounting of the Gotoh humbucking Tele bridge.  My above reply was about the Strat mount mounting vs. the Gotoh humbucking Tele bridge mounting. 

 

[Kostas]

You have to know if the body is routed for three or four holes. If it's a showcase body it will have four holes and it's hard to find a strat style hardtail bridge. I wanted to use the Hipshot strat style and I ended up with the Rutters chopped bridge.

Check the options here http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Bodies/Options/BridgeRoutingOptions.aspx although if it's a showcase body you'll have no options for bridge routing.

 

[AirCap]

Schaller makes a flat mount with stringing on top, if you wish. It's a kickass bridge.

 

[Cagey]

He never said he had a body; I got the impression he wanted to buy one. If that's the case, I thought Warmoth would drill it for whatever, but the choices aren't in the builder. So, he'd have to call, but I can't imagine they couldn't drill/route it for whatever bridge he wanted. Or, get it without any bridge routing, and do it himself. Or send it to somebody who could. I happen to know a guy...

In any event, there's nothing holding him to a traditional Tele bridge.

 

[Samhain]

He never said he had a body; I got the impression he wanted to buy one. If that's the case, I thought Warmoth would drill it for whatever, but the choices aren't in the builder. So, he'd have to call, but I can't imagine they couldn't drill/route it for whatever bridge he wanted. Or, get it without any bridge routing, and do it himself. Or send it to somebody who could. I happen to know a guy...

In any event, there's nothing holding him to a traditional Tele bridge.

Correct, I don't have the body yet.
I'm shopping on the in stock bodies.
It seems on those there's only 2 options for the bridge routing.
I'm ok with that, I just don't want to use the humbucker tele bridge. I'm wanting a hardtail type. I've been looking around online and can't seem to find one that isn't an ashtray type bridge. I used one of those in the past and it really affected the tone.

 

[Samhain]

Schaller makes a flat mount with stringing on top, if you wish. It's a kickass bridge.

That's a cool bridge but I was wanting to keep the string through.
I guess my only option is to build my own body?

 

[bagman67]

If your issue is with the pickup being suspended in the bridge, you could do the half-bridge thing:


https://reverb.com/item/1097295-wilkinson-tele-half-bridge-chrome?gclid=Cj0KEQiAh4fEBRCZhriIjLfArrQBEiQArzzDAYokbYIYJl18LgNcKgF3IZVmsgewYsPtm5LWAu55jksaAgbJ8P8HAQ&pla=1

There are lots of others out there too.

 

[Samhain]

If your issue is with the pickup being suspended in the bridge, you could do the half-bridge thing:


https://reverb.com/item/1097295-wilkinson-tele-half-bridge-chrome?gclid=Cj0KEQiAh4fEBRCZhriIjLfArrQBEiQArzzDAYokbYIYJl18LgNcKgF3IZVmsgewYsPtm5LWAu55jksaAgbJ8P8HAQ&pla=1

There are lots of others out there too.

Thank you!
I've never tried one of those bridges before. I've seen them and been worried that not being able to intonate each string individually would be an issue?

 

[Cagey]

It's nothing to worry about. You just can't do it. At least, not accurately. But, you can get close, which is as good as most bridges are adjusted anyway.

 

[Verne Bunsen]

Thank you!
I've never tried one of those bridges before. I've seen them and been worried that not being able to intonate each string individually would be an issue?

There are many folks making "compensated saddles" for Teles to address that, so that's an option. Frankly though you can get totally acceptable results with standard saddles. Jerry Donahue breaks it down pretty well:

http://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/the-tone-garage/jerry-donahue-on-telecaster-style-bridge-intonation

 

[rgand]

Thanks for that link, Verne. A good explanation.

 

[DustyCat]

Hey guys, at teh risk of sounding like a n00b, is it that ashtray bridge that gives the Telecaster its distinctive chirpy sound?

 

[Cagey]

Yes. First, it's coupled directly to the body, rather than riding on posts. Second, they typically have those brass dowel stock saddles, which have a lotta mass. Third, the metal surrounding the pickup has an effect on the magnetic field of the pickup. What kind of metal will make a difference as well. Many Tele bridge plates are made of steel, but some are stainless and some are brass. They each have different levels of conductivity, and so will produce differing amounts of eddy currents.  Finally, Tele pickups are like any other in that they can be wound and magnetized and use different base plate materials, all in varying amounts that make each somewhat unique.

Which feature has the most effect? Probably the direct coupling. The hardtails I've done, regardless of body style, vary dramatically between the ones where the bridge is flush and tight to the body vs. mounted on posts or pivots like a TOM or any vibrato style.

 

[Kostas]

Hey guys, at teh risk of sounding like a n00b, is it that ashtray bridge that gives the Telecaster its distinctive chirpy sound?

I have two Telecasters, one with a three saddle chopped bridge and one with the modern six saddle bridge. The classic tele tone comes from the bridge pickup. You can use any bridge and any pickup you want in the neck position it doesn't matter.

Also, the compensated saddles help with intonation. I was always scared to use a traditional tele bridge but I realized they work like any other bridge when someone does a good setup on the guitar.

IMO  :headbang5

 

[DustyCat]

Without a doubt, the next electric is getting SA-SA in the neck and middle. I've enjoyed those DG20's in my squire. But I'm also a big fan of the tone Zakk got with the 81 in the bridge. I used to have the 81 in the bridge of an epi LP.

You guys think that maybe more of that bell-like Telecaster tone might be cultivated from an SA-SA-81 combo with that ashtray bridge ("coupled directly to the body, rather than riding on posts...")?

So basically SA-SA-81 (+Expander and Fat Boost) with Tele sprinkles on top of that bridge tone.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

I've considered the EMG Tele set for the Bari-Tele.

 

[DustyCat]

Too bad EMG's don't do custom orders like SD.

From what I've heard, you can call them up and request a hybrid of two pickups, or straight up custom orders.

 

[Samhain]

Without a doubt, the next electric is getting SA-SA in the neck and middle. I've enjoyed those DG20's in my squire. But I'm also a big fan of the tone Zakk got with the 81 in the bridge. I used to have the 81 in the bridge of an epi LP.

You guys think that maybe more of that bell-like Telecaster tone might be cultivated from an SA-SA-81 combo with that ashtray bridge ("coupled directly to the body, rather than riding on posts...")?

So basically SA-SA-81 (+Expander and Fat Boost) with Tele sprinkles on top of that bridge tone.

I'm not a single coil guy, nor a an EMG guy, but I had a set of SAs once, didnthe 18volt mod and they sounded amazing.