Hipshot and G&L Tribute ASAT Classic

[strat56]

I've been thinking about putting a Hipshot on my G&L Tribute ASAT Classis, just to see if I'll like it and if I do then I'll add one to one of my Teles.

I'm wondering, based on the picture of the bridge, what would be the best way to add it? Cut the back of the bridge, drill a hole thur the back, etc?

As you can see from the pic, the string comes across the saddle and then down thru the body but the hole thru the body is partially under the intonation screw. I'm thinking if I cut the back of the bridge or try to drill a hole it may effect the stability of the intonation screw.

You guys are the experts, what do you think?



Before I took this pic, I never realized that the G and D strings were not in the groove in the saddle!!!!

[jmiles]

Could you post a pic of the back of the bridge, showing the intonation screw heads? With those style of saddles, I'd be somewhat worried about getting sufficient downpressure on the saddle if you just notch the back of the bridge plate.

[strat56]

Ok, how's this?

[Ming]

When I set up my "ashtray" with compensated saddles, I anticipated the same tension issue with the HipShot but it never became a problem. I think the tensioning devices for the B and G that comes with the HipShot helps greatly.

Of course, I don't do windmill power chords like Pete Townsend since the 60s.

In other words, I think it will work just fine unless your first name is Pete.

[EZchair Picker]

I had geometry issues putting a hipshot on a fender vintage 6 saddle bridge...which is layed out very similarly to your ASAT bridge. The string did not have a straight shot from the bender to the saddle because I had to have it go around the intonation screw. This causes it to bind up and have issues returning to pitch after the bend.

I picked up a 3 barrel bridge from guitarfetish.com and swapped that on. Problem fixed.

[helle_man]

If it were my guitar, I'd drill a small hole just to the left of the black intonation screw. If you have a precision drilling rig, I would actually drill 2 holes - one below the other - so that if the angle to the bridge saddle is not enough or too much, you have the option of using the other hole.

Make sure you drill the right size hole to accommodate the nylon/teflon Hipshot tubing to help keep the string from "binding".

Good luck.

WR

[Ming]

I'll add further, I shimmed my neck back a small amount and abled me to jackup the barrels just high enough that I needed no drilling. I checked my workmanship recently and found the B string clears the trailing edge of the bridge plate by about 3/64 to 1/16. I could probably shim this out and lower the 3rd barrel but it works very well as is. I shold take a killer pix of my bridge like 'Strat56 did. What a neat photo.

Of course, I set up intonation for the neck movement and barrel adjustments but the string moving about issue never materialized. Still happy after all these years.

..or I could have let loose the MotoTool and grinding disc. Good luck.

Cheers
Ray W.

[jmiles]

I completely agree with what Will suggests. That's why I wanted to see the rear view pic. I think only one hole is needed though. As close to the face of the guitar as possible. The other strings are going thru the body, so I think the more downforce on that saddle, the better. You don't want to end up with 5 strong-sounding strings, and a weak-sounding B string. I must say, I don't like that bridge design. From the pics, it looks like the strings are already being deflected by the intonation screw springs. I'd much prefer a top-loading, 3 saddle Tele style bridge. With that style bridge, you get pretty even loading of all stings on the saddles. Maybe you could install a compensated set of Tele saddles? Doesn't look like that would be too hard. You'd have to drill three new holes for the Tele intonation screws, but could use the existing six holes for top-loading all six strings.

[strat56]

Thanks all.

The wound strings do "bend" around the intonation screw spring. About half the hole that runs the string thru the body is under the screw. The plain strings run right beside the spring but are not bent around the spring like the wound strings. I'm going to take a straight edge and place it against the B string and the G string and mark the top of the ashtray and see where the holes would need to be drilled to give the string a straight pull to the bender. I'm afraid, as EZChair Picker pointed out, the head of the intonation screw will be in the way.

[jmiles]

sFiddy6,
Do the G and D strings often pop out of the grooves when you're playing? Just not crazy about the saddle design, having the strings not centered across the saddles doesn't seem like the best idea to me. Are you putting on a double bender? No toggles?

[helle_man]

Originally Posted by strat56

Thanks all.

I'm going to take a straight edge and place it against the B string and the G string and mark the top of the ashtray and see where the holes would need to be drilled to give the string a straight pull to the bender. I'm afraid, as EZChair Picker pointed out, the head of the intonation screw will be in the way.

Keep in mind that the Hipshot bender arm (not the detachable bar) can be repositioned (with snap ring pliers) so that you can get a fairly straight line from the Hipshot to the bridge saddle, even if the newly drilled hole is a little off "center".

WR

[jmiles]

Check the saddles in this thread. Seems like they'd be fairly easy to install on your bridgeplate. 3 new holes.
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/b-bender-...es-bender.html

[strat56]

Originally Posted by jmiles

sFiddy6,
Do the G and D strings often pop out of the grooves when you're playing? Just not crazy about the saddle design, having the strings not centered across the saddles doesn't seem like the best idea to me. Are you putting on a double bender? No toggles?

Was out of town on business all week and didn;t have a chance to check in.

I have to assume they do pop out while playing. I don't I notice it but based on the first pic they must.

I was thinking of putting on the works, B, G bender and D tuner for the low E string.

[jmiles]

"I have to assume they do pop out while playing. I don't I notice it but based on the first pic they must."
If that is the case, with the strings going through the body, it's gonna get a lot worse with the lesser downforce applied by the Hipshot. Why don't you call/email some of the companies that make aftermarket bridges, and see if the have a top-loader Tele style that will fit your guitar? After all, it is still a Leo Fender guitar. Maybe the dimensions are the same as a standard Tele?????

[strat56]

Hi all,

I wasn't able to find a replacement bridge for the Tribute but I did find one that will work with my Fender Tele Deluxe. It's a combination top loader and thru body. Does it look like a good candidate to work with a hipshot?

Original Tele bridge from top and back.



Replacement bridge from top and back.

[jmiles]

Abdo-lutely poifect! If the teflon tubes won't fit, you may have to ream the holes out a bit. Did you hold it up to your Asat to see if it would fit on that guitar?

[strat56]

It won't fit the ASAT but it will fit my Fender Deluxe Tele. I'm going to go with putting the Hipshot on the Tele instead of the ASAT.

[EZchair Picker]

That one you have is a 3 hole design where as the stock bridge is a 4 hole, so you're gunna have to drill into your tele to make it work. I ended up using this bridge from guitarfetish.com and it works like a charm. It's a 4 hole design that lets you either string through body, or top load. They also have bridges on the cheap with compensated saddles, but I just tweaked mine with a pair of pliers to bring in the intonation.

http://store.guitarfetish.com/3brsatebrch.html

[strat56]

I'm pretty sure the bridge on my Tele is only 3 screws to attach to the body, but if not I'll get another, don't want to drill any extra holes.

[milocj]

The bridge in your picture has the string-thru holes behind the bridge mounting holes. If you look at the Tele in your picture the string-thru holes are to the pickup side of the mounting holes. Even if they both have three mounting holes I don't think it will fit.

I think that any bridge that fits a vintage style Tele (like the photo above) will fit the Asat Classic. I have a US made Asat Classic and a Callaham vintage style fit perfectly and I can't imagine that they made something unique for the Tribute.

[strat56]

Originally Posted by milocj

The bridge in your picture has the string-thru holes behind the bridge mounting holes. If you look at the Tele in your picture the string-thru holes are to the pickup side of the mounting holes. Even if they both have three mounting holes I don't think it will fit.

I think that any bridge that fits a vintage style Tele (like the photo above) will fit the Asat Classic. I have a US made Asat Classic and a Callaham vintage style fit perfectly and I can't imagine that they made something unique for the Tribute.

Good catch!! I didn't notice that. Oh well back to the drawing board.

[jmiles]

I use a top loader bridge plate on one of my old String thru Teles. I like to put all the strings on using the top loader holes. I noticed that when I put four non-bender strings thru the body, that the two strings that went to the bender had a different tone than the other four.

[Tele-brewer]

The links below are to the installation I did myself. The text is in portuguese but I could give you more details if you wish.

http://htguitars.blogspot.com/2009/02/b-bender.html
http://htguitars.blogspot.com/2009/0...-da-ponte.html

[strat56]

I started talking about this a while ago, but I finally got around to putting a Hipshot on one of my Teles.

I'd originally planned to put one on my ASAT Tribute but I bought a MIM Tele from MF when they had them on special on Fender Friday a few weeks ago. I replaced the bridge with a Wilkinson 3 saddle dual load and put the Hipshot on tonight.

Works great, stays in tune pretty good but I think the strings are binding in the nut, I hear those little tink tink sounds when I'm tuning. I think the slots may need some work. I've fixed this kind of problem before with some sandpaper so I'll try that next and also get some Nut Sauce. I put some graphite in the slots tonight but it's still binding. Anyway, very happy over all. I don't think the palm lever G bender is going to work for me but the B-Bender is great. It only came with two pieces of Teflon tube, so I'm going to look around for another piece to use on the drop D lever on the E string.

[EZchair Picker]

Looks good! I dig the color of that tele too.

FWIW, you could probably cut one of those teflon tubes in half and have plenty enough to do two strings out of it.

Enjoy the guitar!