Vintage Bridge

Phillip · February 5th, 2008, 12:46 PM

Does anyone have any advice on how to properly mount a 4 hole vintage bridge. I'm working on my first body and the bridge mounting holes are not drilled. Any info for a rookie is appreciated.

Phillip

Topper · February 5th, 2008, 01:48 PM

Here is what I did:
Temporarily mount the pickguard. The pickguard will help you see if things look right. Mount the bridge pickup in the bridge plate. This will help you align the bridge for clearance in the routed area. Get some fishing line or string. I got some elastic string at a fabric store which worked well. Put the string through the outer string holes and the tuners and pull it tight. This will help you line up the bridge so the strings are properly lined up on the fretboard. Put on the high e-string saddle. Put it on so you have about 80%the intonation screw between the saddle and the stringhole. Measure the distance from the face of the nut to the string touch point on the saddle - this should be the scale distance which is 25.5 inches. Jockey things around so that clearance to the pickguard looks right and square, the pickup clears the rout, the strings lay on the fretboard correctly and the scale distance looks like you will have sufficent adjustment room to move the saddles back. Tape the bridge down really well with painters tape or drafting tape. I used drafting tape. Take the time to untape and re-align if it is not perfect. This is your last chance.

Get a sharpie pen and carefully put an ink dot in the center of the screw holes. Get an awl and carefully put an indentation in the dot. Use a pin-vice and a 1/16th sharp bit and by hand, drill a pilot hole in the outer screw holes. This is not as much work as it sounds and offers much more control than an electric drill. Use a piece of tape to gauge how deep the bit should go in. Now, using a drill properly sized for the screw, enlarge the holes to proper size and depth. Put in the 2 outer screws, then do the other holes for the rest of the screws. Remove tape. Done.

You should be aware that the rout may show a crack on the treble side of the bridge. No help for it.

jwells393 · February 5th, 2008, 01:53 PM

Mount your neck with at least the two E tuners and the nut. Put strings (not guitar strings) around the tuner posts and attach weights as shown below. Move the bridge laterally until you have equal spacing along the edges of the fingerboard.

......

If the string through holes aren't drilled measure 25.5 inches from the nut and set the bridge so the saddles are adjustable around that point.

......

Be aware that when you put the oval head screw into the countersunk hole in the bridge, if the screw doesn't go into the exact center the bridge will shift when the screw is tightened down. Once you get two screws tightened down snug, this is no longer a problem.

Phillip · February 5th, 2008, 02:11 PM

Awesome! Looks like I've got alot to learn, so thanks for answering the what seem like "dumb" questions I'm sure.

Phillip

Colt W. Knight · February 5th, 2008, 03:07 PM

Jack, I will require more pictures of that red Thinline. She looks like a beauty.

jwells393 · February 5th, 2008, 04:06 PM

Colt ............ that was part of a thread I posted a while back where I converted a cheap Korean copy into a semi-hollow. It also includes a headstock transplant.

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaste...ight+reduction

guitarzan13 · February 5th, 2008, 04:21 PM

Welcome Phillip!!! I'm right down the road in LaGrange! Howdy neighbor!!.....and again welcome to our addiction!!

ChicknPickn · February 5th, 2008, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwells393

Colt ............ that was part of a thread I posted a while back where I converted a cheap Korean copy into a semi-hollow. It also includes a headstock transplant.

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaste...ight+reduction

Great Tele-Tip, Jack. Thanks for yet another one!

CP

Colt W. Knight · February 5th, 2008, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwells393

Colt ............ that was part of a thread I posted a while back where I converted a cheap Korean copy into a semi-hollow. It also includes a headstock transplant.

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaste...ight+reduction

Fantastic build thread. I love reading those innovative threads.

February 5th, 2008, 12:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
Phillip NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Newnan, Ga Age: 30 Posts: 2	Vintage Bridge Does anyone have any advice on how to properly mount a 4 hole vintage bridge. I'm working on my first body and the bridge mounting holes are not drilled. Any info for a rookie is appreciated. Phillip

February 5th, 2008, 01:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 12,247 101 Photos	Mount your neck with at least the two E tuners and the nut. Put strings (not guitar strings) around the tuner posts and attach weights as shown below. Move the bridge laterally until you have equal spacing along the edges of the fingerboard. ...... If the string through holes aren't drilled measure 25.5 inches from the nut and set the bridge so the saddles are adjustable around that point. ...... Be aware that when you put the oval head screw into the countersunk hole in the bridge, if the screw doesn't go into the exact center the bridge will shift when the screw is tightened down. Once you get two screws tightened down snug, this is no longer a problem. __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.

February 5th, 2008, 04:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 12,247 101 Photos	Colt ............ that was part of a thread I posted a while back where I converted a cheap Korean copy into a semi-hollow. It also includes a headstock transplant. http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaste...ight+reduction __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.

February 5th, 2008, 04:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
guitarzan13 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: LaGrange, GA Age: 43 Posts: 1,267 8 Photos	Welcome Phillip!!! I'm right down the road in LaGrange! Howdy neighbor!!.....and again welcome to our addiction!! __________________ Practice make permanent!!!!....Perfect practice makes perfect!!! Chris B. Current Band www.productoffaith.net Last band as a bass player www.neonjones.com

February 5th, 2008, 01:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
Topper TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 59	Here is what I did: Temporarily mount the pickguard. The pickguard will help you see if things look right. Mount the bridge pickup in the bridge plate. This will help you align the bridge for clearance in the routed area. Get some fishing line or string. I got some elastic string at a fabric store which worked well. Put the string through the outer string holes and the tuners and pull it tight. This will help you line up the bridge so the strings are properly lined up on the fretboard. Put on the high e-string saddle. Put it on so you have about 80%the intonation screw between the saddle and the stringhole. Measure the distance from the face of the nut to the string touch point on the saddle - this should be the scale distance which is 25.5 inches. Jockey things around so that clearance to the pickguard looks right and square, the pickup clears the rout, the strings lay on the fretboard correctly and the scale distance looks like you will have sufficent adjustment room to move the saddles back. Tape the bridge down really well with painters tape or drafting tape. I used drafting tape. Take the time to untape and re-align if it is not perfect. This is your last chance. Get a sharpie pen and carefully put an ink dot in the center of the screw holes. Get an awl and carefully put an indentation in the dot. Use a pin-vice and a 1/16th sharp bit and by hand, drill a pilot hole in the outer screw holes. This is not as much work as it sounds and offers much more control than an electric drill. Use a piece of tape to gauge how deep the bit should go in. Now, using a drill properly sized for the screw, enlarge the holes to proper size and depth. Put in the 2 outer screws, then do the other holes for the rest of the screws. Remove tape. Done. You should be aware that the rout may show a crack on the treble side of the bridge. No help for it.

February 5th, 2008, 02:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
Phillip NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Newnan, Ga Age: 30 Posts: 2	Awesome! Looks like I've got alot to learn, so thanks for answering the what seem like "dumb" questions I'm sure. Phillip

February 5th, 2008, 03:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
Colt W. Knight Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: West Virginia Age: 24 Posts: 2,170	Jack, I will require more pictures of that red Thinline. She looks like a beauty.