Where do we buy a b-bender?

I've seen one at guitar center once and they're not on mf.com or gc.com. any websites out there?

Depends on which kind you want. Hipshot B-benders are available at Stew-Mac... (http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar,_non-trem_tailpieces/Hipshot_String-Bending_System.html)

Cheers, Tim

Depends on which kind you want. Hipshot B-benders are available at Stew-Mac... (http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar,_non-trem_tailpieces/Hipshot_String-Bending_System.html)

Cheers, Tim

thanks tim, but i mean actual guitars. do you have a bender??

Ah, I see!

Nope, but an old bandmate of mine had a really nice Tele with a Hipshot on it, back in the 80s when they first came out. I liked it!

I just did a Google for the Fender Nashville B-Bender Tele, and found they have them here. (http://store.nationalmusicsupply.com/items/item.aspx?itemid=6693474) No idea about the vendor, but these are the only factory Fender B-Bender Teles, as far as I know...

Cheers, Tim

just my opinion.... but, buy a great tele and send it to brianf.

I second that. Buy a tele that gives you everything that you want and then send it to Brian Friend. He is in southern California. He can install both Parsons White and Parsons Green benders in both short and long throw. He does great work and is very reasonable considering the amount of work required to install an internal bender. Brian has done work for many of the posters on this forum. Brian did this one for me about a year ago.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/Dogbear/PWBender2.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/Dogbear/PWBenderback.jpg

I also have a factory Fender Nashville B bender and a Fender Muddy Waters with an aluminum Hipshot P/G installed. I find the P/W to be smoother (and my favorite), but all work well. If you decide to have a Hipshot P/G installed, choose the aluminum one as it doesn't change the weight of the guitar significantly. The factory chrome steel Nashville is right up there in weight with a Lester. In fact I think my Lester is lighter.

There are many other treads like this in this forum and in the CWF. Search the forums for additional information, views and opinions.

You can also get any Parsons stuff by Gene Parsons via stringbender.com or Bill Bores at steelbenderinnovations.com does a top notch job too! I've had both install a P/W style, and I'm quite satisfied. Not to try to take any business away from Brian - his work looks flawless. I'm only speaking of the folks I've dealt with.
Not to hijack, but does anyone know if Larry Miletech is still installing benders?

Not to hijack, but does anyone know if Larry Miletech is still installing benders?


Yep, he is. :)

You'll find few stores that stock bender Teles, and the ones that do usually have the Parsons/Green-loaded Ones from the Fender factory. Not a bad unit, but you're stuck with a guitar you might not like since options are so limited.

As suggested before, the best solution is to find a Tele you really like and send it to one of the installers. I'd also suggest Brian - his work is the cleanest and most precise I've seen outside of the one Tom (TV) Jones made for me years ago. His prices are also reasonable, and he'll ensure it's not just a bender install but a nice setup - just let him know how you like it. Then you'll probably end up with a Parsons-White type bender (with either long or short throw - your choice) on a GOOD guitar for the same price or less than a factory pop-out production model with the (comparably) inferior PG bender).

The other option is eBay - there have been some nice deals lately, but you ARE buying blind. I only suggest eBay bender-guitar purchases for folks who are their own techs and can do a proper setup.

Last year I got a Highway One Tele that I wanted to make a partscaster from and went to the HipShot site and ordered one of their Parsons/Green style bender units. I took the neck off and shipped just the bender and the body to Brian Friend in SoCal who installed it flawlessly. It was much better and cleaner than a factory installation IMHO..... Brian was very reasonable and professional in his work............JH in Va.

What are the advantages/disadvantages of a short-throw and long-throw bender? I'm just getting interested in benders (not that I have any business making playing more complicated than it already is) and any info is appreciated.

http://www.mcvaybenders.com/