Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: HTH AMPS on December 12, 2011, 06:46:37 PM

Title: new Tele bridge, anyone seen these before?
Post by: HTH AMPS on December 12, 2011, 06:46:37 PM
I reckon these could be ok, looks like the saddles still have plenty of weight in them - unlike most 6-saddle Tele bridges I've seen.  I'm looking as my Tele's intonation isn't as close as I'd like AND those old ashtray bridges are lethal.


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300634447903?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_1538wt_1396

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd300/patrickwhill/CF%20Music%20Images/TXC6saddleGallerysm.jpg)
Title: Re: new Tele bridge, anyone seen these before?
Post by: Philly Q on December 13, 2011, 12:55:30 AM
I must admit that's a new one on me!  :o

Pretty massive construction, obviously NOT going for traditional Tele twang!

Have to say I'm not a fan of the six saddles.
Title: Re: new Tele bridge, anyone seen these before?
Post by: HTH AMPS on December 13, 2011, 01:07:19 AM
They do a 3-saddle version too Philly.  I also prefer the look of the old brass 3-saddle ashtray, but it does have compromises and this seems to be the closest I've found to something that would give better intonation and the mass of the bridge interests me, gonna try one if I can get one cheap enough (£50 max).
Title: Re: new Tele bridge, anyone seen these before?
Post by: Philly Q on December 13, 2011, 01:59:01 AM
Have you considered Callaham?  They do the compensated saddles and the look is more traditional, but with a slightly thicker base plate for a warmer, smoother tone (and no sharp edges!) 

Expensive, but you might find one secondhand.
Title: Re: new Tele bridge, anyone seen these before?
Post by: darkbluemurder on December 13, 2011, 08:41:47 AM
The Callaham is very good but also very expensive. Very solid and still retains the tele twang.

For my stage tele I had to change the ferrous bridge to a Glendale stainless steel type to cut down unwanted microphonic feedback. While I could solve that problem I lost much of the tele twang unfortunately.

Cheers Stephan
Title: Re: new Tele bridge, anyone seen these before?
Post by: Andrew W on December 13, 2011, 09:49:46 AM
Quote from: Philly Q on December 13, 2011, 01:59:01 AM
Have you considered Callaham?  They do the compensated saddles and the look is more traditional, but with a slightly thicker base plate for a warmer, smoother tone (and no sharp edges!) 

Expensive, but you might find one secondhand.


I think Wilkinson do compensated saddles too and are a lot cheaper than Callaham (who isn't?).

Not sure the bridges are any less lethal than the Fender ones though. You could always put a bridge cover on it like Leo intended...
Title: Re: new Tele bridge, anyone seen these before?
Post by: Twinfan on December 13, 2011, 10:05:49 AM
They're a pig to play with though, you have to play near the neck pickup and you can't palm mute  :(
Title: Re: new Tele bridge, anyone seen these before?
Post by: gwEm on December 13, 2011, 10:28:50 AM
I got a set of Wilkinson compensated saddles, and they are really good. Would suggest those.
Title: Re: new Tele bridge, anyone seen these before?
Post by: Sifu Ben on December 13, 2011, 10:38:46 AM
MIK Tele clones have quite often had six old style saddles, this kinda looks like one of them crossed with a Schaller unit.
Title: Re: new Tele bridge, anyone seen these before?
Post by: Andrew W on December 13, 2011, 10:43:04 AM
Quote from: Twinfan on December 13, 2011, 10:05:49 AM
They're a pig to play with though, you have to play near the neck pickup and you can't palm mute  :(

That is very true. Gendale bridge with the chunk cut out that tears up your hand when attempting Townsend windmills then?

(http://www.glendaleguitars.com/SSDC.jpg)

They are pretty much Callaham price though.
Title: Re: new Tele bridge, anyone seen these before?
Post by: Ratrod on December 13, 2011, 11:19:29 AM
Those grub screws stick out too much so you'll stiil cut your hands and you can't palm mute properly.

For a really good (but expensive) bridge go here: http://ruttersguitars.com/Hot_Rod_Parts.html (http://ruttersguitars.com/Hot_Rod_Parts.html)

(http://tinyurl.com/yka4z4s)

Look closely, the saddles are compensated.

He'll do custom jobs too like custom spacing and top loading.

Title: Re: new Tele bridge, anyone seen these before?
Post by: Philly Q on December 13, 2011, 11:36:47 AM
Quote from: Ratrod on December 13, 2011, 11:19:29 AM
For a really good (but expensive) bridge go here: http://ruttersguitars.com/Hot_Rod_Parts.html (http://ruttersguitars.com/Hot_Rod_Parts.html)

Another place I haven't seen, I am slipping!

Looks like good stuff!


Regarding the sharp edges, I was really only thinking about the back corners rather than the sides of the bridge.  I don't do windmills!  :lol:

Those back corners really are horrible on Fender bridges.... except the Highway 1 bridges, which have thicker baseplates (but - apparently - are made of slightly softer metal).   I got a couple quite cheap on eBay - the saddles are rubbish but easily replaced with Wilkinsons, Glendales or whatever depending on budget.
Title: Re: new Tele bridge, anyone seen these before?
Post by: HTH AMPS on December 13, 2011, 12:34:49 PM
Thanks for those links guys, a wealth of knowledge on here as always.  The Rutter and Glendale ones look spot on, could be just the ticket.

To be fair, I'm only attempting to make this more playable for my needs as I can't shift the damn thing - ideally I want to sell it and buy one of those Pelham Blue LP juniors.


Title: Re: new Tele bridge, anyone seen these before?
Post by: Twinfan on December 13, 2011, 12:46:30 PM
They're sweet in the flesh Ian, and the neck wasn't quite as skinny as I was expecting.  Well worth £550 of anyones money...
Title: Re: new Tele bridge, anyone seen these before?
Post by: Philly Q on December 13, 2011, 01:52:42 PM
Quote from: Twinfan on December 13, 2011, 12:46:30 PM
They're sweet in the flesh Ian, and the neck wasn't quite as skinny as I was expecting.  Well worth £550 of anyones money...

Yeah, the "slim taper" necks aren't really as skinny as all that. 

I still wish ALL Gibsons had a '50s neck option, though.  For example, just about every SG in the current range, from budget to Custom Shop, has a slim taper neck apart from the SG Special and Standard.  :(   I guess it saves me some money....
Title: Re: new Tele bridge, anyone seen these before?
Post by: Telerocker on December 13, 2011, 02:01:06 PM
I prefer the normal flat Fender-saddles over the vintagebridges. Maybe not authentic tele, but not painful either.
Title: Re: new Tele bridge, anyone seen these before?
Post by: Twinfan on December 13, 2011, 03:54:40 PM
Quote from: Philly Q on December 13, 2011, 01:52:42 PM
I still wish ALL Gibsons had a '50s neck option, though.  For example, just about every SG in the current range, from budget to Custom Shop, has a slim taper neck apart from the SG Special and Standard.  :(   I guess it saves me some money....

They'd be seriously neck heavy though Phil - fat necks and SGs don't mix that well...
Title: Re: new Tele bridge, anyone seen these before?
Post by: HTH AMPS on December 13, 2011, 03:58:07 PM
Quote from: Twinfan on December 13, 2011, 03:54:40 PM
Quote from: Philly Q on December 13, 2011, 01:52:42 PM
I still wish ALL Gibsons had a '50s neck option, though.  For example, just about every SG in the current range, from budget to Custom Shop, has a slim taper neck apart from the SG Special and Standard.  :(   I guess it saves me some money....

They'd be seriously neck heavy though Phil - fat necks and SGs don't mix that well...

just put a Bigsby on to counter the balance   :lol:
Title: Re: new Tele bridge, anyone seen these before?
Post by: blue on December 13, 2011, 04:27:46 PM
or a hang a lead weight off the bottom strap pin :)
Title: Re: new Tele bridge, anyone seen these before?
Post by: Twinfan on December 13, 2011, 04:29:31 PM
Yep, they'd do it!  :lol:
Title: Re: new Tele bridge, anyone seen these before?
Post by: HTH AMPS on December 13, 2011, 04:51:40 PM
Quote from: blue on December 13, 2011, 04:27:46 PM
or a hang a lead weight off the bottom strap pin :)

that was my second thought   :lol:
Title: Re: new Tele bridge, anyone seen these before?
Post by: Philly Q on December 13, 2011, 04:56:53 PM
Quote from: Twinfan on December 13, 2011, 03:54:40 PM
Quote from: Philly Q on December 13, 2011, 01:52:42 PM
I still wish ALL Gibsons had a '50s neck option, though.  For example, just about every SG in the current range, from budget to Custom Shop, has a slim taper neck apart from the SG Special and Standard.  :(   I guess it saves me some money....

They'd be seriously neck heavy though Phil - fat necks and SGs don't mix that well...

I don't mind the neck-heaviness on SGs - the whole thing is so light that you just get used to holding the guitar in place, I think.

And Kluson style tuners - as opposed to Grovers - certainly help!

(I am thinking of trying a Bigsby on my Tokai SG..... with the usual proviso that I'll probably never get round to it)