Four hole bridge in a 3 hole body?

Hey,

apart from drilling new holes will I need to make any adjustments installing a 4-hole bridge in a telecaster body with 3 holes?

IMO, not worth the work/trouble. But me, I just make another body...

I don't have the tools for a new body, I snagged the body because it was a killer deal. 1 piece hard ash body prerouted for H/S/S.

If it's a pain in the butt, it's still better than not being able to put the bridge I want on my guitar.

What is your reason for wanting to change?

It's not wanting to change, this is a from-parts build. I want to go to a gotoh bridge that will mount a full size humbucker. Unfortunately this bridge to my knowledge comes in four-hole only.

OK, sorry I can't be of help.

All I wanted to know is if you need to adjust the placement or drill new string holes when you install the new bridge, or is the placement the same, just with different mounting holes.

Without seeing exactly what is placed were on that existing body...

You can download T-Down CAD drawing, search for it. You will find that useful to say the least.

I have drilled new holes in and after market bridge for the string through holes over existing body holes in a 99 US Tele Standard [I got in trad] body so I could string it up an use it. So you may be able to go a few directions.. I do not want to assume that just because you a have a 3 screw body it is to US spec.

String thru holes may not line up. Depends on what body, depends on what bridge.

There's no easy answer to this question. I think this is 80% correct:

If the '3 hole body' is a Squier, then the '4 screw bridge' can be made to fit. You'll have to drill string through holes (I think the '3 holers' were all top loaders?), and new mounting holes. Measure carefully to make sure you're locating the bridge properly.

If the '3 hole body' is an American body, then it's anybody's guess. In the case of the more recent bodies, then it will be a job. The distance between the string through holes and the bridge pickup doesn't match up. The relationship between the string through holes and the saddles is different. In short, it's a nightmare.

If it's an older American body, then again, it's anybody's guess.

Sorry this is so vague. I set out one time to definitively figure this out, and nearly went insane. I'm much hammer now.

Whatever the case, you're drilling and routing and improvising like crazy to make this work. If you're at this stage, you're only a sabre saw and sanding drum away from building your own body. By far the cheapest fix is to buy a bridge that fits the body.