Suggestions on Vintage Bridges....? [Archive] - Telecaster Guitar Forum
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Suggestions on Vintage Bridges....?

PJ
September 4th, 2008, 08:47 PM
Any opinions on the Barden, Wilkinson, Glendae & Callham rigs?
I need to pull the trigger on a vintage bridge, and I'm up for something a little more "engineered" than the normal Fender bridge that I normally use. Thanks guys!

yegbert
September 4th, 2008, 09:54 PM
I posted some observations about a Wilkinson by Sung-Il bridge plate here (http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-tech/121326-vintage-style-bridges-specs-manufacturing-tolerance-quirks.html). I like the placement of the toploader holes and the saddle screw holes on it. It has smooth corners, is slightly thicker than a FENDER PAT PEND plate, and seems to be plated nicely. It is stamped "Wilkinson by Sung-Il". The placement of the pickup mounting/adjusting screw holes isn't ideal for a Fender spec spacing of screws, so the screws angle and may bind a bit, more so the higher you adjust the pickup. I think if you can deal with that hole placement (live with it, or ream them out in the direction needed for a better fit), it looks like a good value. I got mine used and without the Wilkinson saddles. I like their shelved compensated design, but I prefer steel over the brass that those Wilkinsons come in. I have a few sets of the RS Guitarworks shelved compensated steel saddles that I'm happy with.

I haven't tried any bridgeplates made by those other companies you mention, but I've used Glendale saddles. They looke nice, seem to be well crafted. But my strings, especially the 1st and 2nd, have some tendency to slide sideways on angle compensated saddles like those. Folks using heavier guage strings (I use 9s) and/or saddles made of brass (I like steel) seem to have less problems with string slip like that.