Tele vintage style 3 saddle

[mrm4712]

I may be shooting a question that's has been answered previously so I apologize for my newbieism! I've read that the vintage style 3 saddle bridges are a bear for intonation set up! Is this true, and would you navigate away from Teles with this bridge? Thanks again for any responses and I once again apologize for my lack of site knowledge!

[JCBurke59]

Personally, I really like 3 saddle bridges for their traditional appearance. I use compensated saddles to 'help' with the intonation thing, but many here feel they aren't necessary or create problems of their own (they work fine for me).

I've also got a 6 saddle bridge on one of my Tele style guitars. They both work pretty well, so I don't have a preference based on 'performance'.

Lots of opinions, so fasten your seat belts...
...and welcome to the forum.

[mrm4712]

Thanks man! I agree, I love the way they look too. Im just a little nervous about getting one with a 3 saddle on it. I'm not the set up guru and get a little intimidated with setting up intonation and action and just wondered if I was biting off more than I can chew with my Baja. Sounds great right now but I get somewhat worried when I think about changing to 9s with this bridge. Thanks for the response!

[tele_pathic]

I love my 3-saddle bridge. Wouldn't buy anything without an ashtray bridge, really hate the way the American Standards look with their flat bridges. I gotta have junk in the trunk.

BTW, Iowa Park? Holy schnitz. My sister-in-law grew up there before moving to Lubbock. used to drive through IP all the time on our way to Lubbock. You holdin' the fort down?

[mrm4712]

LMAO Thats cool! You're the first person I've ever met that knew where this place is! Yea, I'm holding all 6000 of us down (if that many) do you have any issues with tuning and set up with these bridges? Good ole IP Holy hell that's funny!

[telex76]

Yes this question is asked in one form or another at least 3 times a day.
No they aren't that hard to intonate, just learn how.
You don't need 6 saddles to get proper intonation, and I think compensated saddles are just worthless.
I have 6 teles, all with vintage 3 barrell brass saddles and all of them intonate very well.
I tried compensated saddles on a couple for awhile just to see what the talk was about, but took them off.

[JCBurke59]

Originally Posted by mrm4712

...I'm not the set up guru and get a little intimidated with setting up intonation and action...

Well, see there's some opportunity here.

Basic set-up isn't rocket science (I mean if I can get through some of the basics...). This is a great place to learn about that kind of stuff. The biggest favor you can do for yourself is to get comfortable with setting - and re-setting - the easy things like neck relief, string height, intonation, pickup height, etc. Hey, it's all adjustable and a Tele is about as basic as it gets.

Read the threads here, pick up a book or video and check it out. With just a little acquired skill and some basic tools, you'll always be able to make your guitar play and feel good. A local tech let me sit in on a set up and really helped me get started (mostly by getting over the fear of messing something up). Pretty much anything you do to a guitar with an allen key or screw driver you can un-do with the same tools.

Next thing you know, you'll be working on nuts and frets.

[Triton Thrasher]

Originally Posted by mrm4712

Thanks man! I agree, I love the way they look too. Im just a little nervous about getting one with a 3 saddle on it. I'm not the set up guru and get a little intimidated with setting up intonation and action and just wondered if I was biting off more than I can chew with my Baja. Sounds great right now but I get somewhat worried when I think about changing to 9s with this bridge. Thanks for the response!

If it won't intonate with 09 strings, go back to heavier ones.

[Rod Parsons]

My '91 American Standard came with the 6 saddle flat bridge... When I looked at magazines like Musician Friends, etc., I wished that mine had the 3, just for the looks. When the vintage '52 bridge came out, I got one, and it sounds better to me.. More twangy, or something... Louder to my ear, too. I put it in myself and it took just a little bit of shaving off some wood to make it fit.. I just lined up the 6 holes, got it really straight, drilled 4 pilot holes and screwed it in. Also what I like about the original "BRASS" barrels is that the strings stick to it enough the I can push the strings exactly over the pole pieces, and they will stay there... In a fairly short time, the strings will make a really tiny grove in the brass and they will stay even better. The whole bridge assembly was inexpensive, easier to play, [because of the boxed plate], and I like having Pat. Pend stamped into the plate. Tuning, better than good enough. Man! what's not to love about it..... R

[mrm4712]

WOW! Thanks guys! The advice is really appreciated. I would love to feel more confident with set up procedures. Plus it would not only save me money by doing it myself but would also be set like I like it. It's more based on the feeling like I'm going to jack something up and that's why I haven't messed with it thus far. Do you guys suggest any good books on these techniques, specifically on teles? I would hate to keep bugging all of you with stupid questions because of my lack of skill and knowledge.

[telex76]

Here is the best info on intonating a vintage 3 barrell bridge.
http://www.seymourduncan.com/support...addle_up_your/

This is a good book. Tells you how to set up most models of Teles and the tools to use.

[JCBurke59]

'How to Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great' by Dan Erlewine was one I got early on. It's not Tele specific, but has lots of good general information. It looks like there is a new edition of this book - might be worth going for that one. My copy was published in 2001.

http://www.amazon.com/Electric-Guita...p/0879306017#_

Fender also has a set up guide on their website:

http://www.fender.com/support/articl...er-setup-guide

[flashman]

Originally Posted by telex76

Here is the best info on intonating a vintage 3 barrell bridge.
http://www.seymourduncan.com/support...addle_up_your/

That is a great piece! Thanks for the link. It is easy to get too precise on intionation - and I believe that a guitar is never intonated "perfectly" and that trying for this is an example of the eprfect being the enemy (or is it enema!!!) of the good. With any guitar bending notes and simply changing the intonation while fretting makes perfect intonation an illusion. So again, nice tip you posted. I already emailed the link to a few friends.

[DeepDrummer]

One point of note is that bending strings and string height itself will always come out more sharp? Having intonation set sharp will make the situation worse will it not?
It's easy to say that it's ok because your fingers throw it out anyway but when it comes to actually throwing it out further by starting out sharp the problem doubles.
Just some food for thought.
I believe some have the solution. I do not believe Seymour Duncan's method is the top of the line solution although it could be considered a workable compromise or at least portions thereof.
I haven't got the answer yet proven to myself in a satisfactory manner but I am going to attempt to prove that a 3 saddle bridge can be a wonderful thing.
Mind you, I only have to satisfy myself as do we all but I assure you, I am not easily satisfied.
From a beginner like myself, it means nothing but I believe it CAN be done. Time will tell. Ask me around July....in the meantime check this one possible idea out:
http://earvana.com/

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by mrm4712

I may be shooting a question that's has been answered previously so I apologize for my newbieism! I've read that the vintage style 3 saddle bridges are a bear for intonation set up! Is this true, and would you navigate away from Teles with this bridge? Thanks again for any responses and I once again apologize for my lack of site knowledge!

We could have you reading for hours and hours.

You've got to try the Advanced Search function here; seems like 20-25% of all conversations here are about this very subject and the more you can read, the better.

The best one sentence piece of advice is, use the "height" adjustment screws on that bridge to articulate the angle of the saddle - that helps a lot.

My second sentence would be, no guitar intonates perfectly all up and down the board. You will have to make subtle adjustments with the fingers on your left hand to sharpen and flatten certain notes - the Tele just teaches you out front you gotta do that to sound great.

A great search term is "Jerry Donahue". Jerry did an article on his take on how to get the best intonation you can with the 3 barrel, and I highly recommend reading that as soon as you come across it.

[Jeff H]

Paul Balmer's "Fender Telecaster Handbook"
Page 37