Bridge Pickup Cavity Visible

grownupboy · March 16th, 2008, 06:16 PM

hey all - did a quick search and couldn't find any info on this so i thought i'd ask...

i've noticed a few teles with vintage bridgeplates where you can see the pickup cavity exposed outside the edge of the bridgeplate. looks like a QC issue but i'm not sure if there's some reason that this might be happening like this.

here's a pic from MF that shows what i'm talking about:

any ideas? if it's a QC issue i'll be on the watch when my AV52RI Hot Rod finally shows up. thanks a ton!

k

Tom52 · March 16th, 2008, 06:26 PM

I'm no authority but I seem to remember seeing this question in previous discussions. The concensus seemed to be that original specs on the cavity resulted in what is shown in your photo, but the original specs also include a bridge cover. No one was supposed to see the bridge and the resulting gap based on the original design. Maybe Fender takes the original specs a bit too far.

J-man · March 16th, 2008, 06:26 PM

Every Fender Telecaster with a vintage bridge that I've ever seen has this gap, it's more visible on some Teles, but it's present on all of them. (As far as I know)

grownupboy · March 16th, 2008, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom52

I'm no authority but I seem to remember seeing this question in previous discussions. The concensus seemed to be that original specs on the cavity resulted in what is shown in your photo, but the original specs also include a bridge cover. No one was supposed to see the bridge and the resulting gap based on the original design. Maybe Fender takes the original specs a bit too far.

ahh... so that little gap would be covered by the thickness of the ashtray bridge cover - of course! but then... they don't even include the bridge covers with the hot rods. oh, fender!

k

J-man · March 16th, 2008, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grownupboy

ahh... so that little gap would be covered by the thickness of the ashtray bridge cover - of course! but then... they don't even include the bridge covers with the hot rods. oh, fender!

k

I think the AV52RI may be the only currently produced Tele that comes with an ashtray.

tele_jas · March 16th, 2008, 06:43 PM

That gap bothers me, I've passed up some tele's due to it...... but now I understand it. I too, thought it was a QC issue at the factory.

Now I know, "The rest of the story".

MartineckArt · March 16th, 2008, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J-man

I think the AV52RI may be the only currently produced Tele that comes with an ashtray.

Nocasters

BroadMaster · March 16th, 2008, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom52

I'm no authority but I seem to remember seeing this question in previous discussions. The concensus seemed to be that original specs on the cavity resulted in what is shown in your photo, but the original specs also include a bridge cover. No one was supposed to see the bridge and the resulting gap based on the original design. Maybe Fender takes the original specs a bit too far.

Precisely, Tom. One cannot see the cavity, with the ashtray attached.

BroadMaster · March 16th, 2008, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J-man

Every Fender Telecaster with a vintage bridge that I've ever seen has this gap, it's more visible on some Teles, but it's present on all of them. (As far as I know)

Yeppers, J-man. You're right. I've seen 2 that were just too obvious, but they were both white. I think it shows up more on lighter colors. That could just be me.

J-man · March 16th, 2008, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroadMaster

Yeppers, J-man. You're right. I've seen 2 that were just too obvious, but they were both white. I think it shows up more on lighter colors. That could just be me.

No, that makes sense. The lighter colours would certainly create a more noticeable contrast between the darkness of the cavity (sounds sick doesn't it

), and the finish of the guitar.

rhinocaster · March 16th, 2008, 07:22 PM

That visible route is quite common, as others here have already noted. The best name I've heard for it was on this site.

Telecaster Butt Crack.

BroadMaster · March 16th, 2008, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J-man

No, that makes sense. The lighter colours would certainly create a more noticeable contrast between the darkness of the cavity (sounds sick doesn't it

), and the finish of the guitar.

you said darkness of the cavity.

I believe it is the contrast effect. It would virtually disappear to the casual observer if it was black or wine metallic, etc.. Albeit, in varying degrees of course.

spicolli · March 16th, 2008, 07:55 PM

BUTT CRACK

robt57 · March 16th, 2008, 08:00 PM

I think I see termite looking out in that pic.... rut-row ;)

pickinpete · March 17th, 2008, 12:23 AM

I have the Deluxe Nashville and as you can see from fenders stock photo, it is the same and yes..vintage bridge.

Nash.jpg

blacklove · March 17th, 2008, 12:41 AM

I actually like the "crack". It's a tip of the hat to the old days when things weren't so danged PERFECT.

J-man · March 17th, 2008, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartineckArt

Nocasters

I meant non CS Telecasters, sorry.

pickinpete · March 17th, 2008, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blacklove

I actually like the "crack". It's a tip of the hat to the old days when things weren't so danged PERFECT.

Agreed. Doesnt bother me abit. I'm 41 years old and I've been playin since I'm 14. I play Mandolin, guitar, bass and banjo, and of all the instruments I've owned over the years, this is my first one that wasnt some entry level asian import.....(its a mexican import) but you know what I mean.

This is by far the best quality axe I've ever owned. If you can call that little gap a flaw...its the only one on the whole guitar. come to thing of it....its also the first one I've ever bought without changing anything!

drummerdarko · March 17th, 2008, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhinocaster

Telecaster Butt Crack.

i think Butt Hole might be a more acurate description...

hahaha!

Atticus 3 8 97 · March 18th, 2008, 11:40 PM

if i put a vintage bridge on a MIM standard will that cavity be there?

cause ive seen some guitars with a vintage bridge that does not have that gap, is it only if you switch it out? anybody with a MIM standard who has put a vintage bridge in who could answer that question?

VWAmTele · March 19th, 2008, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atticus 3 8 97

if i put a vintage bridge on a MIM standard will that cavity be there?

It's on my '06 MIM SB after I changed to a vintage bridge. The 6-saddle is wider.

boris bubbanov · March 19th, 2008, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartineckArt

Nocasters

I think the CS boys cut a little smaller bridge pup rout. My CS NOS No-Caster does not have any evidence of this, nor have others I have examined; every single AV52 FSR 60th Anniversary 'Inlay' I've seen has at least some of this issue, as J-man has said.

Over on the Ensenada side, it is the same issue. An additional reason, maybe a trivial reason for some, that I like the Callaham vintage bridge is that the Callaham is an eighth inch wider, and covers the dreaded 'butt-crack' in all but the most badly aligned Tele bodies.

BTW, USACG bodies, despite being scrupulously accurate about the router hump and the area around the jack rout, do not provide you with any butt crack. Moreover, the ferrule holes aren't misaligned like they're supposed to be.

red57strat · March 19th, 2008, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

BTW, USACG bodies, despite being scrupulously accurate about the router hump and the area around the jack rout, do not provide you with any butt crack. Moreover, the ferrule holes aren't misaligned like they're supposed to be.

Yep. No butt crack on my USACG T-Style body.

BTW, the router hump and neck pocket shelf were offered to me as no charge options when I ordered my body from them 4-1/2 years ago.
I considered them to be flaws and went without them on my body.

March 16th, 2008, 06:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
grownupboy TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: toronto Posts: 28	Bridge Pickup Cavity Visible hey all - did a quick search and couldn't find any info on this so i thought i'd ask... i've noticed a few teles with vintage bridgeplates where you can see the pickup cavity exposed outside the edge of the bridgeplate. looks like a QC issue but i'm not sure if there's some reason that this might be happening like this. here's a pic from MF that shows what i'm talking about: any ideas? if it's a QC issue i'll be on the watch when my AV52RI Hot Rod finally shows up. thanks a ton! k

March 16th, 2008, 06:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
J-man Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Wales/Scarborough Age: 19 Posts: 5,884 9 Photos	Every Fender Telecaster with a vintage bridge that I've ever seen has this gap, it's more visible on some Teles, but it's present on all of them. (As far as I know) __________________ Write a wise saying and your name will live forever. - Unknown When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. - Hunter S Thompson

March 16th, 2008, 06:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
tele_jas Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Springfield/Mt.Vernon, MO Age: 36 Posts: 368 12 Photos	That gap bothers me, I've passed up some tele's due to it...... but now I understand it. I too, thought it was a QC issue at the factory. Now I know, "The rest of the story". __________________ *Dr. Z Stangray & Z 2x12 cab Dr. Z Mazerati * 2 tele's * Some pedals * ect...** Good deals with: tweeddeluxe, Lwilliams, Sunkidd www.markchapmanband.com www.myspace.com/themcb www.guitartest.moonfruit.com

March 16th, 2008, 07:22 PM	#11 (permalink)
rhinocaster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Oregon Age: 44 Posts: 1,069	That visible route is quite common, as others here have already noted. The best name I've heard for it was on this site. Telecaster Butt Crack. __________________ Just because I "Don't" get it doesn't mean I "Won't" get it!

March 16th, 2008, 07:55 PM	#13 (permalink)
spicolli Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: 315 Age: 32 Posts: 312	BUTT CRACK __________________ Rock and roll around my head Fifty watts happening

March 16th, 2008, 06:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tom52 Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 162	I'm no authority but I seem to remember seeing this question in previous discussions. The concensus seemed to be that original specs on the cavity resulted in what is shown in your photo, but the original specs also include a bridge cover. No one was supposed to see the bridge and the resulting gap based on the original design. Maybe Fender takes the original specs a bit too far.

March 16th, 2008, 08:00 PM	#14 (permalink)
robt57 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Lost Yankee in Nashville Age: 51 Posts: 1,756	I think I see termite looking out in that pic.... rut-row ;)

March 17th, 2008, 12:23 AM	#15 (permalink)
pickinpete Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Lawrenceburg, TN Age: 41 Posts: 101 2 Photos	I have the Deluxe Nashville and as you can see from fenders stock photo, it is the same and yes..vintage bridge. Nash.jpg __________________ Pickin Pete www.myspace.com/pickinpete www.billsbluegrass.com

March 17th, 2008, 12:41 AM	#16 (permalink)
blacklove Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Small Pond Posts: 367 6 Photos	I actually like the "crack". It's a tip of the hat to the old days when things weren't so danged PERFECT.

March 18th, 2008, 11:40 PM	#20 (permalink)
Atticus 3 8 97 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Boston, MA Age: 20 Posts: 175	if i put a vintage bridge on a MIM standard will that cavity be there? cause ive seen some guitars with a vintage bridge that does not have that gap, is it only if you switch it out? anybody with a MIM standard who has put a vintage bridge in who could answer that question?