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Tele Bridge and Saddles opinion?

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2/10/2001 2:02 PM

Tele Bridge and Saddles opinion?

On my Japan Tele I have mounted a Gotoh non ferrous (brass?) bridge with six brass saddles (GTC201 model).

The tone is a little dull: not the classic, lively tone I expect from a tele. I noted Gotoh built another option, same bridge with steel saddles (GTC202)...

Any opinion about bridge tone on teles (obviously, wood and PU have the same importance, but I'm into the bridge problem now).

Thanks

m.

2/10/2001 2:52 PM

I could be wrong about this, but IMO, you need a stock Tele bridge to get the classic Tele tone. The ferrous bridge needs to interact with the magnetic pickup. And the three individual bridge saddles sound better than six. The only reason to go to six bridge saddles is for intonation. But I can get my old Tele to intonate good enough with the old style bridge and the original Tele tone makes me feel like making music...which is what it's all about. Lot's of great instruments other than guitars have tuning problems...if the tone turns you on you just live with it. So I'd be putting a stock vintage Tele bridge back on if it was my guitar. You can buy those angled "Danny Gatton" style brass bridge pieces from Stew-Mac if you need better intonation. But I wouldn't use a six saddle bridge. Also, most of those MIJ pickups are dull sounding. Get some good pickups. The Duncan Broadcaster pickup is cheap and sounds great! Lew

2/10/2001 7:41 PM

Lew:

I just checked at Stew-Mac and I found the Wilkinson compensated bridge for ~$80... I wonder where you can just get the barrels?

http://www.stewmac.com/catalog/1.asp?name3=Wilkinson_Adjustable_Compensated_Vintage_Tele_Bridge

There is another company that sells non-adjustable angled barrels... something like $25 for a set of 3.

--Thanks!

Steve Ahola

P.S The Lindy Fralin tele pickups are great! About $130 for the pair.

2/10/2001 11:14 PM
Sam	Stew - Mac Compensated Saddles for Tele " Three vintage-style polished unplated brass saddles are angled for improved tuning. Set includes chrome slotted height screws, springs and intonation screws." # 5167 Set of 3 ... $12.95

2/11/2001 5:50 AM

Sam:

    Thanks! I had a question about the "chrome slotted height screws" on the barrels... does it bother anybody else that they usually stick up and embed themselves in your palm?

    I just ran across a set of the large diameter barrels and replaced the tall slotted screws with some black set screws (ten 3/8" and two 5/16"). Maybe it is an optical illusion but the matte finish black set screws seem to be less hard than the chromed ones...

    So I was wondering if it might be better to cut off the excess length on the chrome screws and add new slots with a dremel mototool?

Steve Ahola

2/11/2001 7:14 AM
Dave B.	Or just buy shorter screws from a hardware company like Olander in Sunnyvale, CA just my .02 DB

2/11/2001 7:27 AM

You're getting warm...

Yeah Steve, it bugged the hell out of me! You've got it right about taking the excess off with a Dremel tool, but you take it off of the bottom. I just measure the difference that is protruding from the top and take that amount off of the bottom. I grind them so that they are flush with the top of the saddle. Yes, you lose that little dimple on the bottom, but that screw ain't going nowhere once it's under tension. And you've still got your screw slots!

Sam

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