Can you replace a modern bridge with a vintage?

Maj. Lee FUBAR · April 19th, 2005, 07:48 PM

I have a American Deluxe Telecaster (a few years old) with the modern-style bridge. While I haven't made up my mind whether it's worth it to do this, I've been considering replacing the original bridge with a vintage-style bridge with compensated saddles. Can this be done without drilling? Would it screw up the scale length of the guitar? I'm sure this has been asked and answered on this forum before, but my search of recent posts has been fruitless. Thanks for any help!

yegbert · April 19th, 2005, 08:18 PM

It has been discussed quite a bit, but finding those discussions is a challenge with the search tools here.

The Darrell mod.

A thread Garcia started on the subject.

JACK72's thread on the subject.

Another.

Hucklebilly's method.

Maj. Lee FUBAR · April 19th, 2005, 08:41 PM

Wow, yegbert, I'm impressed that you could pull those threads out like that!

Amazing! I think I have my answer: if I want the vintage look, buy a vintage reissue. I'm not mechanically talented enough to be drilling holes, and none of the other options look appealing to me. Thanks again for your help!

kp8 · April 20th, 2005, 10:30 AM

you could get a replacement from callaham or some other third party. The Callaham is not exactly like a vintage in that it has no sides, but for some that is a plus.

some are magnetic some are not, etc..

-k

Mr. Jinx · April 20th, 2005, 03:13 PM

Just found a top-loading bridge and hope to attempt what Darrell has already done. My guitar is begging for it.

spencer · February 8th, 2007, 04:13 PM

I can't get any of those links to work for previous threads, can someone either repost them or give me a run down on how it can be done?

I'm really interested to the same thing on my modern American Tele.

pohorsky · February 8th, 2007, 07:12 PM

I did the same thing. Here is my mod.
If I recall correctly, I drilled the holes to mount the bridge on the body, and once it was lined up properly, I marked the string-through holes with a drill. Then I took the bridge off again and drilled the string-through in the bridge, and put it back together. The other option I recollect is putting the two bridges back to back, and drilled the holes that way.

casterway · February 8th, 2007, 07:56 PM

Here's what I did. You will need longer screws, though. I bought 35 mm long screws to replace the 30 ones that came with the saddles.

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-tech...exican+3+piece

endzone · February 8th, 2007, 08:06 PM

This is a thread where I asked the exact same question. I ended up going with a Glendale. (there's a picture of it in one of the posts). I needed a toploader but it can be used for string through. The main thing is that I DID NOT have to drill holes for the bridge. I used the existing holes. Dales bridges are the size of the modern but shaped and formed like a vintage. And they really sound better with the compensated saddles.

I did not find another alternative without having to drill new holes.http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-tech...e-bridges.html

spencer · February 9th, 2007, 01:25 AM

My guitar is actually a Highway 1 that has had it's vintage bridge REPLACED with a modern one; I'm now trying to revert back...can it be done without drilling?

pohorsky · February 9th, 2007, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spencer

I can't get any of those links to work for previous threads, can someone either repost them or give me a run down on how it can be done?

I'm really interested to the same thing on my modern American Tele.

I notice that somebody has a
Glendale Bridge that will drop right in at the garage sale.

casterway · February 10th, 2007, 12:15 AM

Spencer. I'm real sure that a vintage should work again, as this is what it came with originally. You just have to find the same type that it cane with, which shouldn't be a problem around here.

casterway · February 10th, 2007, 12:17 AM

Major, it won't screw up the scale length. The main difference between the two bridges is that the modern one is longer at the back, but the saddles are in the same place on both.

degsycaster · February 10th, 2007, 01:52 AM

I once replaced the flat bridge on my '96 USA Standard to an ashtray from a USA '52RI and it worked fine. I just had to elongate the top of the body end of the holes as they were just slightly out. All this meant was putting a kink in the strings when you re-fitted them to get them to line up with the holes on the ashtray, maybe added 5 minutes to changing the strings. A small price to pay for what is IMO a much better look.

spencer · February 10th, 2007, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by casterway

Spencer. I'm real sure that a vintage should work again, as this is what it came with originally. You just have to find the same type that it cane with, which shouldn't be a problem around here.

Whew! I even have the original bridge SOMEWHERE, I'll dig it out and see if it's easy to swap it over. I want to swap some nicer saddles into it, though.

casterway · February 10th, 2007, 08:43 PM

Then it's just a matter of removing and then replacing. Remember people, the Tele is the Volkswagon Beetle of guitars. Don't be afraid to take things apart.

yegbert · March 5th, 2007, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spencer

My guitar is actually a Highway 1 that has had it's vintage bridge REPLACED with a modern one; I'm now trying to revert back...can it be done without drilling?

spencer,

Here's the old thread from Darrell.

Here's the old thread from hucklebilly.

But those are methods to fit a vintage spec bridge to an American Standard or American Series Tele. If yours is a Hwy 1 on which a modern style has been installed...

Check to see if yours has 4 screws holding down the plate like a vintage bridge. If so, chances are you have either the Gotoh or the Fender MIM Standard string through bridge, which are made for the vintage hole pattern; it would have required no drillling and filling to install, and so you could just put a vintage back on it without any more drillling and filling.

Warmoth has one of the Gotohs here with a diagram that should help you figure out it yours fits this pattern.

April 19th, 2005, 07:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
Maj. Lee FUBAR Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Traverse City, MI Posts: 168	Can you replace a modern bridge with a vintage? I have a American Deluxe Telecaster (a few years old) with the modern-style bridge. While I haven't made up my mind whether it's worth it to do this, I've been considering replacing the original bridge with a vintage-style bridge with compensated saddles. Can this be done without drilling? Would it screw up the scale length of the guitar? I'm sure this has been asked and answered on this forum before, but my search of recent posts has been fruitless. Thanks for any help!

April 20th, 2005, 10:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
kp8 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 2,705	Re: Can you replace a modern bridge with a vintage? you could get a replacement from callaham or some other third party. The Callaham is not exactly like a vintage in that it has no sides, but for some that is a plus. some are magnetic some are not, etc.. -k

February 8th, 2007, 07:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
pohorsky Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bakersfield Age: 23 Posts: 721 48 Photos	I did the same thing. Here is my mod. If I recall correctly, I drilled the holes to mount the bridge on the body, and once it was lined up properly, I marked the string-through holes with a drill. Then I took the bridge off again and drilled the string-through in the bridge, and put it back together. The other option I recollect is putting the two bridges back to back, and drilled the holes that way. __________________ Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday. John Wayne

February 8th, 2007, 07:56 PM	#8 (permalink)
casterway Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Aldergrove, British Columbia,Canada Age: 40 Posts: 2,558	Here's what I did. You will need longer screws, though. I bought 35 mm long screws to replace the 30 ones that came with the saddles. http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-tech...exican+3+piece __________________ There's nothing wrong with a proper repair... "I don't scratch no guitars." John Lee Hooker, when asked to carve his signature into an old acoustic.

February 8th, 2007, 08:06 PM	#9 (permalink)
endzone Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Louisiana Age: 52 Posts: 1,548 39 Photos	Here's a thread This is a thread where I asked the exact same question. I ended up going with a Glendale. (there's a picture of it in one of the posts). I needed a toploader but it can be used for string through. The main thing is that I DID NOT have to drill holes for the bridge. I used the existing holes. Dales bridges are the size of the modern but shaped and formed like a vintage. And they really sound better with the compensated saddles. *I did not find another alternative without having to drill new holes.http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-tech...e-bridges.html __________________ I'm Makin Progress*

April 19th, 2005, 08:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
yegbert Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Clinton, Maryland (US) Age: 54 Posts: 4,547 77 Photos	It has been discussed quite a bit, but finding those discussions is a challenge with the search tools here. The Darrell mod. A thread Garcia started on the subject. JACK72's thread on the subject. Another. Hucklebilly's method.

April 19th, 2005, 08:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
Maj. Lee FUBAR Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Traverse City, MI Posts: 168	Wow, yegbert, I'm impressed that you could pull those threads out like that! Amazing! I think I have my answer: if I want the vintage look, buy a vintage reissue. I'm not mechanically talented enough to be drilling holes, and none of the other options look appealing to me. Thanks again for your help!

April 20th, 2005, 03:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
Mr. Jinx Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2004 Location: Dixie Posts: 150	Just found a top-loading bridge and hope to attempt what Darrell has already done. My guitar is begging for it.

February 8th, 2007, 04:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
spencer TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 14	I can't get any of those links to work for previous threads, can someone either repost them or give me a run down on how it can be done? I'm really interested to the same thing on my modern American Tele.

February 9th, 2007, 01:25 AM	#10 (permalink)
spencer TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 14	My guitar is actually a Highway 1 that has had it's vintage bridge REPLACED with a modern one; I'm now trying to revert back...can it be done without drilling?

February 10th, 2007, 12:15 AM	#12 (permalink)
casterway Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Aldergrove, British Columbia,Canada Age: 40 Posts: 2,558	Spencer. I'm real sure that a vintage should work again, as this is what it came with originally. You just have to find the same type that it cane with, which shouldn't be a problem around here. __________________ There's nothing wrong with a proper repair... "I don't scratch no guitars." John Lee Hooker, when asked to carve his signature into an old acoustic.

February 10th, 2007, 12:17 AM	#13 (permalink)
casterway Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Aldergrove, British Columbia,Canada Age: 40 Posts: 2,558	Major, it won't screw up the scale length. The main difference between the two bridges is that the modern one is longer at the back, but the saddles are in the same place on both. __________________ There's nothing wrong with a proper repair... "I don't scratch no guitars." John Lee Hooker, when asked to carve his signature into an old acoustic.

February 10th, 2007, 01:52 AM	#14 (permalink)
degsycaster Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2006 Location: Suffolk, England Age: 38 Posts: 409 31 Photos	Flat bridge to ashtray. I once replaced the flat bridge on my '96 USA Standard to an ashtray from a USA '52RI and it worked fine. I just had to elongate the top of the body end of the holes as they were just slightly out. All this meant was putting a kink in the strings when you re-fitted them to get them to line up with the holes on the ashtray, maybe added 5 minutes to changing the strings. A small price to pay for what is IMO a much better look. __________________ To twang is to live!

February 10th, 2007, 08:43 PM	#16 (permalink)
casterway Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Aldergrove, British Columbia,Canada Age: 40 Posts: 2,558	Then it's just a matter of removing and then replacing. Remember people, the Tele is the Volkswagon Beetle of guitars. Don't be afraid to take things apart. __________________ There's nothing wrong with a proper repair... "I don't scratch no guitars." John Lee Hooker, when asked to carve his signature into an old acoustic.