Vintage Bridge on Mex Standard?

PJ · May 8th, 2008, 10:14 AM

How tough is the conversion to a vintage bridge on a Mex Standard?
Drilling required, or is there a direct drop-in vintage bridge that'll use the factory drilling? If so, who makes such a bridge? Since I don;t have a Mex Standard, I really don;t have any experience with their dimensioning, string-spread, drilling, etc.

jwells393 · May 8th, 2008, 10:34 AM

Very easy .............. no filling .......... no drilling. Just screw it on and adjust the intonation. Any vintage style bridge will work.

One caveat......... I assume you're talking about a recent MIM Standard. In the mid-90s the MIM Standards were top-loaders with three mounting screws.

boris bubbanov · May 8th, 2008, 11:55 AM

PJ, the only thing to maybe look out for is the long plate, which comes stock on the MIM Standard, could possibly mar the finish under that plate, and if it did so low on the guitar body below what is covered by the vintage bridge, you could have a visible defect on your guitar.

Otherwise that MIM Std body is the paragon of interchangeability. Make sure the new "vintage" bridge fits flat, and coat the underside with wax before you install it.

Tdot · May 8th, 2008, 11:59 AM

I did both my '01 & '05, I used eBay bridges from a Highway 1, and an MIM Classic. Easy as changing a light bulb, and you don't need a ladder.

jwells393 · May 8th, 2008, 12:07 PM

Quote:

coat the underside with wax before you install it.

Now that's a new one on me. Perhaps you could elaborate......... and how is that going to affect bridge grounding?

PJ · May 8th, 2008, 02:35 PM

I appreciate all the help! Didn;t want to buy one and get hung-up on the bridge compatibility. I do have a buffing wheel, so if there are any marks under the bridge, I'll bet I can get them out without too much trouble. So, the Fender "Pat.Pend" vintage bridge will work OK?

mellecaster · May 8th, 2008, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJ

I appreciate all the help! Didn;t want to buy one and get hung-up on the bridge compatibility. I do have a buffing wheel, so if there are any marks under the bridge, I'll bet I can get them out without too much trouble. So, the Fender "Pat.Pend" vintage bridge will work OK?

Yep...will fit just fine

twangcaster1 · May 8th, 2008, 02:45 PM

It's a cake-walk. Easy. If you really want optimum tone, get a vintage bridge with and aluminum saddle for the E/A strings. I'm not sure who all makes them like that, but I got one from Glendale Guitars and it's really somethin' else. If you're not picky about your finish, I know other pickers who sand all the finish off right under their bridge plate to get better connection with the wood. Some folks just claim they resonate better that way, probably true. Haven't tried it for myself yet, though.

RotelliCaster · May 8th, 2008, 02:46 PM

It was a piece of cake!

I used a Wilkinson vintage with compensated saddles and notched out the edge of the plate with an angle grinder and some hand filing.

I love this Tele now!

twangcaster1 · May 8th, 2008, 04:08 PM

Makes a heck of a difference, don't it!

riolux · May 8th, 2008, 05:12 PM

Hey guys, how about a '07 American Series?

Tdot · May 8th, 2008, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riolux

Hey guys, how about a '07 American Series?

Nope, American Series are different.

riolux · May 8th, 2008, 05:24 PM

Aw

I'm thinking of getting an AS, but I guess I'll keep it stock if I do, or non-vintage anyway. And that goes for the tuners aswell. You just saved me some money

boris bubbanov · May 8th, 2008, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwells393

Now that's a new one on me. Perhaps you could elaborate......... and how is that going to affect bridge grounding?

I don't think the wax will effect bridge grounding.
What I am trying to accomplish is to keep the finish from sticking to the back of the bridge plate; I had that happen a bit early on and I just decided to be careful about that. I do the back of the neck plate as well.

boris bubbanov · May 8th, 2008, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riolux

Hey guys, how about a '07 American Series?

It can be done, but I can't quite imagine doing that to a guitar you paid a lot for. I got the one I'm showing real cheap.

The through hole and mount holes of 08 Standard and 07 and older Series guitars is the same. To make a regular vintage plate fit, you gotta drill 6 new holes for the strings to go through, plus you gotta drill 4 new body mount holes that are desperately close to the 6 AmSe Tele downholes in the body.

I've done 2 Am Se Teles, don't have the nerve to do any more.

riolux · May 9th, 2008, 03:14 AM

Thanks, that's very informative.

PJ · May 9th, 2008, 12:10 PM

Thanks, guys!!!

kevinlane · May 9th, 2008, 01:05 PM

I have read this thread with interest. I recently bought a standard ash Telecaster, which I simply loved from the beginning. Nevertheless, I got a vintage style bridge plate with compensated brass saddles and easily put it on.

After about a week, I changed back to the original standard bridge plate because I didn't like the new sound. It was darker and less bell-like. It sounded less like a Tele to me.

Now, I should point out that this is my first Telecaster, so maybe I am missing something. So, what I would like to know is this: What are the reasons for wanting a vintage style bridge on there?

Maybe I didn't get the pickups set right, or something.

Tdot · May 9th, 2008, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinlane

What are the reasons for wanting a vintage style bridge on there?

I just like the lip for a thumb rest on the top, and something to anchor my fingers at the bottom. I haven't been using picks.

PJ · May 9th, 2008, 01:41 PM

Kevin...a big part of the "tone" of your Tele is going to be influenced by the pickups. I've never owned a MIM Std. Tele. but I suspect the bridge pickup probably doesn't have the copper baseplate that the vintage Tele pickups have. But, you're right. Your model Tele is probably designed to sound a certain way with the hardware and pickups it ships with. I've just gotten used to the vintgae bridge - but if I was unhappy with the resulting tone, I'd probably do the same thing.

kevinlane · May 9th, 2008, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJ

Kevin...a big part of the "tone" of your Tele is going to be influenced by the pickups. I've never owned a MIM Std. Tele. but I suspect the bridge pickup probably doesn't have the copper baseplate that the vintage Tele pickups have. But, you're right. Your model Tele is probably designed to sound a certain way with the hardware and pickups it ships with. I've just gotten used to the vintgae bridge - but if I was unhappy with the resulting tone, I'd probably do the same thing.

Well, chalk it up to my relative inexperience with playing a Telecaster. I mean, I really like my standard MIM Telecaster Ash. But if I were to change out the pickups (which are the "standard neck and bridge pickups), what would be my best options?

PJ · May 9th, 2008, 09:37 PM

There's a couple I like. Fender Texas Specials and Duncan Alnico Pros.
Haven't really tried too many others. I know a lot of guys here like the Vintage 52s, as well. If you go to the Duncan website, there are
some sound clips of their different Tele pickup options there. Oh, I do have a Fralin neck pickup in one of my Teles that's flat-out terrific.

RotelliCaster · May 9th, 2008, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJ

Kevin...a big part of the "tone" of your Tele is going to be influenced by the pickups. I've never owned a MIM Std. Tele. but I suspect the bridge pickup probably doesn't have the copper baseplate that the vintage Tele pickups have. But, you're right. Your model Tele is probably designed to sound a certain way with the hardware and pickups it ships with. I've just gotten used to the vintgae bridge - but if I was unhappy with the resulting tone, I'd probably do the same thing.

The MIM STND bridge pup is all plastic bobbins and base.

Great pickups don't have to cost a fortune. I like fender Tex-Spec and Seymour's too. But Bill Lawrence Keystone for Tele's are some of the best you can get and cost less than $80 to your door. I also love the Toneriders too, they're a bit more but still under $100.

I changed the bridge on my MIM to see if there was a tone difference But I changed pickups too, so I'll never know.

But i love the classic looks of the vintage style bridge and with the notch I can play with it, with out the notch I can't live with it. My 2 cents.

Ciao

PJ · May 9th, 2008, 10:51 PM

I think I paid $120 for the set of Duncans. Not cheap, but worth every cent. Oh, and I eBay'd the stock units and recovered $30
or so. It'll be a whole new guitar with some major-league pickups in it.

May 8th, 2008, 10:14 AM	#1 (permalink)
PJ Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,285 4 Photos	Vintage Bridge on Mex Standard? How tough is the conversion to a vintage bridge on a Mex Standard? Drilling required, or is there a direct drop-in vintage bridge that'll use the factory drilling? If so, who makes such a bridge? Since I don;t have a Mex Standard, I really don;t have any experience with their dimensioning, string-spread, drilling, etc. __________________ PJ "I don't know if it's art, but I like it."

May 8th, 2008, 10:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 10,128 101 Photos	Very easy .............. no filling .......... no drilling. Just screw it on and adjust the intonation. Any vintage style bridge will work. One caveat......... I assume you're talking about a recent MIM Standard. In the mid-90s the MIM Standards were top-loaders with three mounting screws. __________________ Jack's disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" ____

May 8th, 2008, 11:55 AM	#3 (permalink)
boris bubbanov Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA + in the past Posts: 5,126	PJ, the only thing to maybe look out for is the long plate, which comes stock on the MIM Standard, could possibly mar the finish under that plate, and if it did so low on the guitar body below what is covered by the vintage bridge, you could have a visible defect on your guitar. Otherwise that MIM Std body is the paragon of interchangeability. Make sure the new "vintage" bridge fits flat, and coat the underside with wax before you install it. __________________ Bubban0v

May 8th, 2008, 11:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
Tdot Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Back of the Wasatch, UT Posts: 3,098 55 Photos	I did both my '01 & '05, I used eBay bridges from a Highway 1, and an MIM Classic. Easy as changing a light bulb, and you don't need a ladder. __________________ And now for some feedback: EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

May 8th, 2008, 02:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
PJ Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,285 4 Photos	I appreciate all the help! Didn;t want to buy one and get hung-up on the bridge compatibility. I do have a buffing wheel, so if there are any marks under the bridge, I'll bet I can get them out without too much trouble. So, the Fender "Pat.Pend" vintage bridge will work OK? __________________ PJ "I don't know if it's art, but I like it."

May 8th, 2008, 02:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
twangcaster1 TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 16	SLC Twangsmith It's a cake-walk. Easy. If you really want optimum tone, get a vintage bridge with and aluminum saddle for the E/A strings. I'm not sure who all makes them like that, but I got one from Glendale Guitars and it's really somethin' else. If you're not picky about your finish, I know other pickers who sand all the finish off right under their bridge plate to get better connection with the wood. Some folks just claim they resonate better that way, probably true. Haven't tried it for myself yet, though.

May 8th, 2008, 02:46 PM	#9 (permalink)
RotelliCaster Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bethany, OK Age: 41 Posts: 237 13 Photos	It was a piece of cake! I used a Wilkinson vintage with compensated saddles and notched out the edge of the plate with an angle grinder and some hand filing. I love this Tele now! __________________ " Trust me, I saw this in a cartoon and I'm pretty sure I can do it! " http://www.myspace.com/bmwsteve

May 8th, 2008, 04:08 PM	#10 (permalink)
twangcaster1 TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 16	SLC Twangsmith Makes a heck of a difference, don't it!

May 8th, 2008, 05:12 PM	#11 (permalink)
riolux TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Age: 29 Posts: 48	Hey guys, how about a '07 American Series?

May 8th, 2008, 05:24 PM	#13 (permalink)
riolux TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Age: 29 Posts: 48	Aw I'm thinking of getting an AS, but I guess I'll keep it stock if I do, or non-vintage anyway. And that goes for the tuners aswell. You just saved me some money

May 9th, 2008, 03:14 AM	#16 (permalink)
riolux TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Age: 29 Posts: 48	Thanks, that's very informative.

May 9th, 2008, 12:10 PM	#17 (permalink)
PJ Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,285 4 Photos	Thanks, guys!!! __________________ PJ "I don't know if it's art, but I like it."

May 9th, 2008, 01:05 PM	#18 (permalink)
kevinlane NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ringgold, GA Age: 50 Posts: 3	Tried the vintage bridge and went back to original I have read this thread with interest. I recently bought a standard ash Telecaster, which I simply loved from the beginning. Nevertheless, I got a vintage style bridge plate with compensated brass saddles and easily put it on. After about a week, I changed back to the original standard bridge plate because I didn't like the new sound. It was darker and less bell-like. It sounded less like a Tele to me. Now, I should point out that this is my first Telecaster, so maybe I am missing something. So, what I would like to know is this: What are the reasons for wanting a vintage style bridge on there? Maybe I didn't get the pickups set right, or something.

May 9th, 2008, 01:41 PM	#20 (permalink)
PJ Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,285 4 Photos	Kevin...a big part of the "tone" of your Tele is going to be influenced by the pickups. I've never owned a MIM Std. Tele. but I suspect the bridge pickup probably doesn't have the copper baseplate that the vintage Tele pickups have. But, you're right. Your model Tele is probably designed to sound a certain way with the hardware and pickups it ships with. I've just gotten used to the vintgae bridge - but if I was unhappy with the resulting tone, I'd probably do the same thing. __________________ PJ "I don't know if it's art, but I like it."

May 9th, 2008, 09:37 PM	#22 (permalink)
PJ Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,285 4 Photos	There's a couple I like. Fender Texas Specials and Duncan Alnico Pros. Haven't really tried too many others. I know a lot of guys here like the Vintage 52s, as well. If you go to the Duncan website, there are some sound clips of their different Tele pickup options there. Oh, I do have a Fralin neck pickup in one of my Teles that's flat-out terrific. __________________ PJ "I don't know if it's art, but I like it."

May 9th, 2008, 10:51 PM	#24 (permalink)
PJ Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,285 4 Photos	I think I paid $120 for the set of Duncans. Not cheap, but worth every cent. Oh, and I eBay'd the stock units and recovered $30 or so. It'll be a whole new guitar with some major-league pickups in it. __________________ PJ "I don't know if it's art, but I like it."