Fender Texas Special bridge - Which radius?

Guys (and girls),

Does anybody know for which radius the staggered polepieces (with a high D and a G that's halfway the D and the rest of the polepieces) on the Fender Texas Special bridge are designed? I haven't been able to find a definite answer on that!

I use it with a 22 fret, 12" radius rosewood fretboard and I'm wondering if the fretboard is to flat.

To get an idea of what that guitar looks like:

http://images.fendercs.com/products/guitars/1509850864_alt_wlg_002.jpg

The basterds stole my idea! Mine has Schaller locking tuners, compensated 3-saddle bridge and a pearl pickguard. But for the rest this is an exact copy...

If anyone knows: Thanks in advance!

I started a thread on staggered vs flat pole pieces the other day ... that doesn't make an expert, but I did find some things as I prepared that post.

1. Views are all over the map on the value/worth/sound/use of staggered poles. YMMV.
2. Lollar (and Fralin and others) seem to be saying that the raised pole pieces was designed for smaller radius fretboards -- i.e., 7.25; and that once you get to 9.5 even, that the flat pieces work best. But 'best' is defined by #1.
3. Bill Lawrence has his one special recipe for stagger ... he didn't exactly say what, but I did read he felt the 'standard' one you get on the Texas Special or the '62 Custom are non-optimal. Bill experimented and came up with his own formula; you could call him and ask.

From what I read, on your 12" radius, staggered/raised poles are not optimal. However, see #1 above (again). I've got a CS Texas Special on a 9.5" Esquire ... sounds fine. I have a flat-pole stock Fralin on a 9.5" Nocaster clone ... sounds fine. I've got '62 Customs (staggered) on an Esquire, and a AV52RI (7.25") and a partscaster (9.5") ... all sound great.

So ... see #1 (or what others have said on my thread).

Honestly..really doesn't matter..if you like the sound and it works for you..theres no right or wrongs with such a pup...theres no set formula..thats for sure.

True that there is no right and wrong, but there is balanced and unbalanced. Flat poles would be great with a 12" radius, but there's also string type to consider. Some types of alloy wraps on the wound strings are more "magnetic" than nickel, and will have a more equal output with the plain strings.

Fender PUP's with molded plastic bobbins can be heated with a hair dryer, and the poles pushed down flat. Not so with fiber bobbins. It would probably break the coil. Grinding can destroy the magnet. I wouldn't try either method with that PUP. Your D and G may be a little loud.

Not much you can do about the G string, but you can always use Stainless, Alloy 52, or Alloy 5109 strings with a standard nickel wrapped D string. I find stainless to be too bright. Alloy 52 is great, but it's hard on the finger tips and frets, and sweat makes it feel a little sticky. Try the Sfarzo Alloy 5109's. They seem ideal to me: rich and even tone with a slinky and smooth feel and a micro coating for longevity. Cheap, too.

I use D'Addario EXL110. Maybe not the best strings in the world but you can actually get them anywhere in the world. And that's also worth something.

Problem is that I actually haven't had the possibility to try the guitar due to a certain person f*cking up the finishing of this Partscaster! We assembled it together: He just needed to mount the pickguard, solder the electronics and set it up. He f*cked up everything...

At the moment I'm working on getting things right and then I need to find someone to give it a good going' over and set-up.

In conclusion (so far): Might sound great but can have an unbalanced sound.


If that's the case then I have the option to change the Texas Specials for a set of Twang King's that I have for the next Partscaster. That one is going to have a 9,5" maple Stewmac (Mighty Mite) neck. Or better be safe and change pickups while I'm working on it?

The problem for me (in my head) is that this one has 'Texas Special' all over the place! The next one is going to be Daphne Blue with a aged white pickguard. And for me that's more 'Twang King' than 'Texas Special', if you know what I mean.

So what to do?

I don't think you're getting consensus here in the 'against' proposition, Pally. So my suggestion is ... try it. I mean, it's not like you can't put 'em in, see how it is, like and it and be happy -- or not and then just swap 'em out and try those Twang Kings. Rather than trying to gather info ... do the experiment!

Not chiding you ... I'm the same way (read all my "hey what do you think?" posts on here). :grin:

I think the non staggered ones need to be tuned higher
(you know because they are flat)......................
oh never mind I'll go away now