Which bridge to pair with nut?

[Deckding]

Hello,

I have a Gibson scale tele pocket neck with a 42mm/ 1.650” nut headed my way.

I want to buy a T-style body with all the comfort cuts, but I’m stuck on a bridge selection / routing

Is a 54mm (e-e) ((10.8mm string spacing)) bridge a bad choice?

I am struggling to find narrow T-style bridges that have 6-saddles (that isn’t the inexpensive Wilkinson bridge.

Any advice from t-builders with that nut size would be so appreciated!

Thank you all in advance!

 

[Tretgeraet]

Is a 54mm (e-e) ((10.8mm string spacing)) bridge a bad choice?

4 of the 5 guitars I build have 54mm spacing, two of them are teles, one of them with a 1.650" nut width, so no, I wouldn't say it's a bad choice!

The Teilecaster, as I call it, has the Gotoh "In-Tune" bridge that Warmoth sells and I like it very much. You can see it here.

It's not a 6-saddle bridge, but that has yet to be a problem. I haven't had any issues so far.

 

[Deckding]

Have you noticed the strings are noticeably closer to the edge of your fingerboard on the 42mm nut guitar?

 

[Tretgeraet]

Have you noticed the strings are noticeably closer to the edge of your fingerboard on the 42mm nut guitar?

I'm not sure what you mean: Closer than what?

I wouldn't call them "close", I think the guitar plays very nice and comfortable.

 

[Deckding]

I suppose the fear a narrow narrow nut is the feeling of the string slipping off the fret when fingering chords, or bending (I don’t bend my e or any string down) but it’s what people said. I really like the look of a 54mm bridge but am just worried with the shorter scale neck and more narrow nut (than the standard 43mm on modern teles) I will need to be more careful on the edge of the fretboard with the E.

If that makes any sense…

 

[supertruper1988]

I suppose the fear a narrow narrow nut is the feeling of the string slipping off the fret when fingering chords, or bending (I don’t bend my e or any string down) but it’s what people said. I really like the look of a 54mm bridge but am just worried with the shorter scale neck and more narrow nut (than the standard 43mm on modern teles) I will need to be more careful on the edge of the fretboard with the E.

If that makes any sense…

I am confident you are ovethinking this. The string spread at the bridge matters a lot more than the nut for the space on the fretboard and a narrower nut will give you more space on the upper frets.

Consider this, Vintage Strats are 57mm at the bridge and there are millions of that spec out there. 54mm is vintage tele and will be great. Even at a 43mm nut. 42mm will be even more space.

 

[Tretgeraet]

Ahh, I think I get it now!

Well, the 5th guitar I build has an even shorter scale (it's a Mustang -> 24") and an even narrower nut of 1 5/8". Ok, the spacing at the bridge is also narrower, but not that much: 42,4mm. And on that guitar, the outer strings have a LOT of room to the edges.

@Deckding I think your geometry is kinda reversed there, if anything, narrower nut plus shorter scale will move the strings further away from the edge of the fretboard.