Bridge plate question

[blindsummit]

I have a 96 AM STD Tele. I'd like to replace the original bridge plate (099-0807-100) with a vintage bridge plate with brass saddles (099-0806-100). Is this a straightforward swap or are there size differences between the plates?

Thanks in advance.

[mellecaster]

Not straightforward at all...but not impossible...a tad tougher if you're doing it to a "Pretty" Guitar....I just converted this USA Std. Body to Vintage for a recent Relic Build I did...If you're handy w/ tools and just use common sense, and get all your stuff lined up well, it's just a matter of elongating your string thru holes on top....enlarging the Pickup rout slightly...doweling the original mount holes, and drilling 4 new ones....but there are other options from Glendale and Callaham also.

[blindsummit]

Thanks for that. I'm keen to give this a go, I'm pretty handy with hand tools so should be able to achieve it. How much work is there to do on the pickup hole? Is it a question of a few millimeters? Also can you describe a little more about elongating the string holes? If you've got a photo of the guitar with the bridge plate removed following the work, I'd really appreiciate it.

Thanks,

[mellecaster]

Originally Posted by blindsummit

Thanks for that. I'm keen to give this a go, I'm pretty handy with hand tools so should be able to achieve it. How much work is there to do on the pickup hole? Is it a question of a few millimeters? Also can you describe a little more about elongating the string holes? If you've got a photo of the guitar with the bridge plate removed following the work, I'd really appreiciate it.

Thanks,

The small amount that needs to be removed from the pickup rout, can be easily done w/ a Dremel or Rotary tool w/ a small drum sander..or a small curved scoop hand chisel...I'm sorry that I don't have a Photo w/ the Bridge plate removed, and the Guitar is now in Germany...but it's just a matter of chamfering the 6 holes rearward in the body, to line up w/ the 6 holes in the plate, to make string installation easy...Hope that Helps.

[yegbert]

Originally Posted by mellecaster

...enlarging the Pickup rout slightly...

That's the first I've heard of needing to enlarge the pickup rout for this conversion on an American Standard. Can you elaborate why you found that necessary?

[mellecaster]

Originally Posted by yegbert

That's the first I've heard of needing to enlarge the pickup rout for this conversion on an American Standard. Can you elaborate why you found that necessary?

Yegbert...just a very slight amount on the control plate side of the body rout, and I mean Very little...this was using a Fender Pat Pend. Plate and a OV 52ri Bridge Pup....Everything was Spot on for alignment btw, using a Bakelite Guard...etc.

[GilmourD]

Here you go.

3 Slant Compensated Saddles Brass Satin pictured
Upcharge fee for Left-handed version.
Left-handed version only available in Highluster.
Upcharge fee for Stainless Steel saddles.


Callaham Tele Bridge Assembly for American Standard or American Series Guitars w/
3 Slant Compensated Saddles or
3 Enhanced Vintage Compensated Saddles
It includes:

• Callaham (please specify)
  3 Slant Compensated Brass Saddles or
  3 Enhanced Vintage Compensated Brass Saddles
• Stainless steel phillips intonation, height, phillips top plate screws, and springs
• Callaham cold rolled steel nickel plated bridge plate
• allen wrench
• Satin finish

Note: This is a direct replacement for American Standard (American Series) guitars for those players wanting a vintage 3 saddle bridge sound. The bridge plate has a lower, cleaner profile than the stock plate allowing for better muting. The steel plate will dramatically increase sustain, volume, response time and string balance of an American Standard guitar compared to the stock brass plate. String holes have a full radius edge like the stock plate. The change is as significant as changing your pickups. Please remember that American Standard and Vintage plates are not interchangeable.