Tele bridges

[enharmonic]

I've got a severe itch for a tele...either sonic blue w/ blackguard or mary kaye w/ blackguard...monster neck, maple fretboard...maybe just one pickup (bridge).

Thing is, I can't decide between barrel-style bridge and the more recent American Std. style bridge. I know the purists will say barrel, but how well do they intonate? Also, is it hard to palm mute on the barrel style? Finally, is there a significant tonal difference?

It's been too long since I've had a tele in the stable...must find someone who can build me a monster for under 2.5k :dude

[Roe]

intonation and palm muting are not problems at all if you go with glendale or callaham. Yes there is a significant tonal difference.

[stucker]

Wilkinson makes a Tele bridge that has pivot screws through the center of the brass barrels for precise intonation adjustment. Most Suhr Teles have these. I installed one in my Grosh Tele and am very happy with it.

Scott

[billybob77036]

There are 3 choices of a bridge I would do if I were building a tele right now, and all include the barrels.

My choices in order:
1) Glendale bridge and barrels - He has a host of options magnetic/non, and tons of barrel choices.
2) JT Bridge with Glendale barrels - Read about the bridge HERE (http://tdpri.com/viewtopic.php?t=30537&highlight=&sid=4ef921324bf9e077379a665776c302e9), and still get that Glendale stuff on there.
3) Callaham hardware - good stuff, that has proved it's self over time.

Have fun!

[ToneRanger]

Is it possible to get presice intonation with 10-52 strings since most compensated saddles seem to be designed for 10-46 or 11-50??

[Unburst]

Barrel bridges are great for palm muting as long as the height screws are not too long.

Intonation wise they are a compromise but there are ways around it.
Compensated saddles is another option.

btw, there is nothing wrong with a 6-saddle bridge, just another flavour.

[billygoat]

Glendale has a set of compensated saddles just for 10-52. That said, even compensated saddles aren't as precise as individual saddles. That said, you'll have to pry my Glendale Twang set from my cold dead fingers

[CJW]

What would be the tonal differences between 3 and 6 saddle bridges? And if 3 saddle bridges are a definite tone improvement, why do I not see them on strats? Just curious.

[billygoat]

3 saddle bridges (with brass barrels) contribute to that tele twang. There's alot of theories as to why, however, in my experience, it's just the truth

[El Kabong]

Joe Barden w/ compensated saddles...you will never go back:
http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/gbridge_afttelejoebarden.htm

[billybob77036]

Joe Barden w/ compensated saddles...you will never go back:
http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/gbridge_afttelejoebarden.htm

thought he shut his doors? :confused:

[Roe]

bigger saddles=more sustain
strat has 6 saddles because of intonation

[jpage]

Buy the wood from Warmoth or USACG--BE SURE to spend a premium for hand selected XXX light swamp ash and neck figure if that floats your boat. I like the "boatneck" from Warmoth but season to taste...

Send wood directly to a reputable (RS does a good job) nitro finisher and relic-er if that's your bag.

Call Fralin (my choice) and describe the tone in your head. Wait time on pickups will not be as long as nitro so may as well special order.

Callaham for bridge--guy does a great job and it DOES make a difference.

Bridge plate and pickguard can be OEM Fender and can be purchased many different places on the net. Fender parts give it a nice touch I believe.

Throw a great experienced tech a couple hundy to put it all together. Worth the money for the fret work and confidence everything is done right. He'll enjoy doing it so he'll usually get you right in.

Total should come in just under $2000 for the perfect tele.

[Killcrop]

$2000? You should be able to build one for under $1000.

[esoteric pete]

yeah, i built one for well under $1000 and thats with USACG/mark jenny finish/lollars ect!

[gkoelling]

thought he shut his doors? :confused:

He's back.

[clothwiring]

I really like a barrel style on my normal tele. I can deal with subtle intonation issues. I don't find it hard to palm mute or that it causes any issues. On my Gigliotti GT Custom it has a modern 6 saddle bridge, I like that just the same.

I don't like the modern bridges on normal teles just because I feel they sound too "heavy", hard to explain, but it's almost like I'm saying it passes to much tone...I don't know. I like the twang I get on the barrel style bridges.

[ruby7829]

Barrel all the way. I'm so finicky when it comes to tuning and intonation. I have three teles. A '69 with the grooved steel saddles, an '85 MIJ Esquire Custom with brass barrels and a '74 Thinline with Strat saddles. The classic tele brass barrels sound best by far. Better twang. Nice tight response. They actually intonate about as good as the strat saddles on teh Thinline(although I'm sure a strobe tuner would say different). And lets be honest...they look absolutely awesome. And hey, if you're even more finicky than me, get compensated ones.

[ruby7829]

Man you're quick. I accidentally posted before I finished. You can even see the accidental caps lock issue I had with the letter E.

[Tinman]

Man you're quick. I accidentally posted before I finished. You can even see the accidental caps lock issue I had with the letter E.

And to really confuse things, I deleted the post.

[Chris Rice]

3-saddle for me please. More comfort, better sound (subjective).

The Glendale saddles are my favorites. His bridges are primo also. Dale is great to work with. The screws are all the proper length and stainless steel. Comfy.

Callaham, Wilkinson, Allparts, Stew-Mac, random eBay saddles are all good. I've used them all, no real issues.


Glendale round brass set:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/dabluzeguy/ChrisBGuard/Bkguard12.jpg

[wgs1230]

...maybe just one pickup (bridge).
Thing is, I can't decide between barrel-style bridge and the more recent American Std. style bridge.

1. Get 2 pickups, and get them rw/rp. More tones, less noise.

2. Agree with all on the barrels, as the old 6-saddle ashtray saddles are temperamental unless you treat the screws. Compensated barrels, even the cheap ones from StewMac, make a big difference re. intonation. But what no one has mentioned is ferrous vs. non-ferrous. The Fender ashtray is made of stamped steel, the AmStd of potted brass; the ashtray becomes part of the bridge pickup- it's really a mild microphonic effect (in my case, not so mild recently...)- in a way the brass option can't possibly, and it's a fundamental part of classic Tele tone. Don't be denied.

[tedm]

bridge should be metallic. I just get the old fender part. Saddles I use stew mac's. No major intonation problems with 10-46's, even when tuning a few steps down.

1. Get 2 pickups, and get them rw/rp. More tones, less noise.

2. Agree with all on the barrels, as the old 6-saddle ashtray saddles are temperamental unless you treat the screws. Compensated barrels, even the cheap ones from StewMac, make a big difference re. intonation. But what no one has mentioned is ferrous vs. non-ferrous. The Fender ashtray is made of stamped steel, the AmStd of potted brass; the ashtray becomes part of the bridge pickup- it's really a mild microphonic effect (in my case, not so mild recently...)- in a way the brass option can't possibly, and it's a fundamental part of classic Tele tone. Don't be denied.

[DaveG]

I guess I'll be the lone voice...
I think the late-style 6 saddle bridges are much more comfortable, are easier to intonate, and twang just fine. I've swapped 'em out for 3 saddle bridges before, and couldn't hear any appreciable difference (although the compensated saddles did intonate fairly well). And, some of the best country pickers do use 6 saddle bridges (a couple even use Strats!), which indicates that the twang just might not come from the saddles...;)

Try to play a bunch of Teles, with different bridges, and choose the style that feels best to you.

[Lex Luthier]

I have Glendale saddles on an older 52 RI bridge plate, and I'm very happy with the sound and intonation.
I have less than 1K into this one with USACG parts and MJ paint, and I really like the guitar.
http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/117/t297jx.jpg

[Bonedance]

I prefer the 3 barrel myself, but have had good tones with the modern 6 also.

I really don't think you can go wrong with Callaham, Vintique, Glendale, Barden, Wilkinson, et al. Heck, even the good old cheapie Fender bridge is great.

As far as saddle material, you might want to check back threads on the TDPRI for info on the various bridges mentioned.

I have non compensated brass and stainless steel on 2 teles. No tuning problems whatsoever. I did some experementing with my #1 ( USACG chambered mahogany body ) and believe it or not, a set of Graph Tech IOS Tusq saddles were a big improvement over brass and steel. Not everyones cup of tea, but the sure work for me. The white color and non traditional material scare people off, but they could look like a dog turd and I'd be happy as they sound excellent and offer spot on intonation. While compensated, these sit straight ala the Wilkerson and are not angled. Just another option to muddy the waters!

[IndieHead]

Frens....

I need a good vintage top loader bridge as my tele does not have a string thru body. Any recommendations please?

Cheers.

[Gas-man]

I guess I'll be the lone voice...
I think the late-style 6 saddle bridges are much more comfortable, are easier to intonate, and twang just fine. I've swapped 'em out for 3 saddle bridges before, and couldn't hear any appreciable difference (although the compensated saddles did intonate fairly well). And, some of the best country pickers do use 6 saddle bridges (a couple even use Strats!), which indicates that the twang just might not come from the saddles...;)

Try to play a bunch of Teles, with different bridges, and choose the style that feels best to you.

This is true. Telemaster Brent Mason uses a modern bridge on his '68.

He tends to get some okay spank outta that plank.

I prefer the Glendale twang set, but...

[Gas-man]

Speaking of Vintique...

Anyone heard from Jay Monterose recently? Is he still in business?

[Chris Rice]

Frens....

I need a good vintage top loader bridge as my tele does not have a string thru body. Any recommendations please?

Cheers.
Wilkinson Staggered Saddle Tele bridge has top-load holes. AllParts #TB_5129-001.
Looks like this:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/dabluzeguy/CarlTele/CarlTele13.jpg

[esoteric pete]

dudes...glendale all the way...heres the all brass twang set on my MJ finished 60' clone:
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h111/palexus/outsidetopbody.jpg (http://s62.photobucket.com/albums/h111/palexus/?)

[mainsale]

Don't forget PigTail. He makes one heck of a bridge with compensated brass saddles for an American Standard Tele.

[shallbe]

I love Teles. I've owned several and made a few. IMO, the 3 barrel si the way to go, and I LOVE the Wilkinson 3 barrel bridge on my bad-ass Suhr Esquire. Smooth feel, intonates very well, sounds great.

[tonedaddy]

Speaking of Vintique...

Anyone heard from Jay Monterose recently? Is he still in business?
Not sure, but I'd search the forums for threads on him before I'd do business with him.

Start here:
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=142049&highlight=vintique

[illinimax]

In my experience most teles will intonate just fine with 3 vintage non-compensated saddles. The Fender bridge is made from soft metal and benefits from a quick go on a belt sander to smooth the bottom.

[vegabondblues]

:crazyguy

[strangec]

Just curious- Does the Glendale or Wilkenson do anyting to help with microphonic squeeling form Tele bridges? I know Callaham and Barden address this with thicker steel (Callaham .075 and Barden .066") as well as optional screwholes for the front of the bridge. The FenderGlendale thickness of .048-.050" and has no front hols so so I can see why its more vintage (and potentially has the same issues as the vintage ones).
__________________

[Polynitro]

3 barrel

[Tinman]

Bump

[Polynitro]

^^^Why?

[Tinman]

There is more that needs to be said.

[Polynitro]

^^^ So say it?