Aluminum Bridge Plates

Michael D. Slotboom · June 1st, 2008, 07:16 PM

Why are there no Telecaster Bridge plates available in aluminum?

Arlo · June 1st, 2008, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael D. Slotboom

Why are there no Telecaster Bridge plates available in aluminum?

Taipantone Engineering makes them www.taipantone.com or PM Vince here his TDPRI handle is Taipan.

mikethebike500 · June 1st, 2008, 08:36 PM

I would think they would be tooo soft of a metal....I can smash a beer can on my forehead....and I have!!!!!lol.....hell I dunno

robt57 · June 1st, 2008, 08:46 PM

6000 and 7000 series Aluminum are good hard alloyed metals. Not to mention Scandium Alloyed Aluminum. Good stuff. Id like to hear a Tele with such materials for the bridge plate.

Michael D. Slotboom · June 1st, 2008, 09:17 PM

Yeah, I guess the reason I ask is because I have gotten a few requests to make some as special plates from 6061 and 7075 aluminum and in the process started wondering why other shops don't offer this material except in saddles. My initial concern was with the possible trouble with eddy currents of other electrical phenomenon that may occur.

robt57 · June 1st, 2008, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael D. Slotboom

My initial concern was with the possible trouble with eddy currents of other electrical phenomenon that may occur.

I was thinking that myself remembering reading about aluminum for a bridge pickup baseplate for a Tele.

woodman · June 2nd, 2008, 03:05 AM

to expand on Arlo's point, Vince (Taipan) can make anything out of metal you want. need a bridge plate big as a '59 Cadillac? he's your guy!

jwells393 · June 2nd, 2008, 11:29 AM

Guitar Fetish sells what he calls an 'aluminized' bridge. Here's the link.

Guitar Fetish Aluminized Telecaster Bridge Plate

Sure looks like aluminum from the picture doesn't it?

......

Don't be fooled like I was. Here's a picture of the one I bought............. yes.... that's a magnet stuck to it.

......

robt57 · June 2nd, 2008, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwells393

Jwells, I like your 'picture takings stander upper device'

Kermit clamp ??

robt57 · June 2nd, 2008, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodman

to expand on Arlo's point, Vince (Taipan) can make anything out of metal you want. need a bridge plate big as a '59 Cadillac? he's your guy!

My son moved to IA weeks back, we rented a U-Haul and burned up a bunch of gas taking his stuff up there.

My wife and i got back and went to the house he and his roomies rented to clean it up [don't get me started]. One of the [many. many] leave behinds... A beer Keg.

I plan to cut it up and make some pieces.. It appears to be stainless.

woodman · June 2nd, 2008, 01:42 PM

jack, is the "aluminized" feature just for looks, or does it impart other properties as well?

i've never been a fan of non-ferrous (i.e. non-magnetic) bridge plates such as stainless steel ... they seem to twang less. something about the interaction between the pickup magnets and the ferrous plate, maybe?

jwells393 · June 2nd, 2008, 02:04 PM

I don't really know what "aluminized" means. It appears to just be a steel plate that is powder coated to look like aluminum ...... or aluminium for our British friends.

robt57 · June 2nd, 2008, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwells393

or aluminium for our British friends.

Don't forget der blokes down under...

Michael D. Slotboom · June 2nd, 2008, 08:07 PM

I think when a manufacturer uses the term "Aluminized" they are refering to a process called aluminum diffusion. It is actually a process to inhibit corrosion by protecting the surface of steel. I would imagine that the tone and intonation of the bridge and saddles from Guitar Fetish sounds remarkably similar to the Fender vintage. Especially since the saddles appear not to be compensated angle.

robt57 · June 2nd, 2008, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael D. Slotboom

I think when a manufacturer uses the term "Aluminized" they are refering to a process called aluminum diffusion. It is actually a process to inhibit corrosion by protecting the surface of steel.

Like anodizing ?

Michael D. Slotboom · June 2nd, 2008, 09:08 PM

Yeah, I think that would be an accurate assesment. Anodizing is generally used to create a surface in aluminum that is harder than the parent material and slows down aluminums natural oxidation process by creating a thicker, stronger version of the oxidized material. (Man, I think there is probably a lot cleared explanation of this, but thats all my mind can come up with right now). You can anodize other materials but aluminum is certainly the most common for this process. Also, dye can be added to give a color. The color is nothing more than aesthetic.

June 1st, 2008, 07:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
Michael D. Slotboom NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Austin, Tx Age: 48 Posts: 7	Aluminum Bridge Plates Why are there no Telecaster Bridge plates available in aluminum?

June 1st, 2008, 08:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
mikethebike500 Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2008 Location: eau claire Michigan Age: 37 Posts: 245	I would think they would be tooo soft of a metal....I can smash a beer can on my forehead....and I have!!!!!lol.....hell I dunno __________________ "day-care center's and nightshcools, Handle ME with care"

June 1st, 2008, 08:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
robt57 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Lost Yankee in Nashville Age: 51 Posts: 3,702 21 Photos	6000 and 7000 series Aluminum are good hard alloyed metals. Not to mention Scandium Alloyed Aluminum. Good stuff. Id like to hear a Tele with such materials for the bridge plate. __________________ Leo's Great, Leo's Good, let us thank him for our... Twang!

June 2nd, 2008, 03:05 AM	#7 (permalink)
woodman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mint Hill, NC Age: 62 Posts: 5,962	to expand on Arlo's point, Vince (Taipan) can make anything out of metal you want. need a bridge plate big as a '59 Cadillac? he's your guy! __________________ Truth is stranger than fact ... www.myspace.com/woodymitchellmusic BAND PAGES: www.myspace.com/stragglerswing (Stragglers - Western Swing) www.myspace.com/loafersgloryband (Loafers Glory - '70s country-rock)

June 2nd, 2008, 11:29 AM	#8 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 12,242 101 Photos	Guitar Fetish sells what he calls an *'aluminized'* bridge. Here's the link. Guitar Fetish Aluminized Telecaster Bridge Plate Sure looks like aluminum from the picture doesn't it? ...... Don't be fooled like I was. Here's a picture of the one I bought............. yes.... that's a magnet stuck to it. ...... __________________ 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.

June 1st, 2008, 09:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
Michael D. Slotboom NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Austin, Tx Age: 48 Posts: 7	Yeah, I guess the reason I ask is because I have gotten a few requests to make some as special plates from 6061 and 7075 aluminum and in the process started wondering why other shops don't offer this material except in saddles. My initial concern was with the possible trouble with eddy currents of other electrical phenomenon that may occur.

June 2nd, 2008, 01:42 PM	#11 (permalink)
woodman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mint Hill, NC Age: 62 Posts: 5,962	jack, is the "aluminized" feature just for looks, or does it impart other properties as well? i've never been a fan of non-ferrous (i.e. non-magnetic) bridge plates such as stainless steel ... they seem to twang less. something about the interaction between the pickup magnets and the ferrous plate, maybe? __________________ Truth is stranger than fact ... www.myspace.com/woodymitchellmusic BAND PAGES: www.myspace.com/stragglerswing (Stragglers - Western Swing) www.myspace.com/loafersgloryband (Loafers Glory - '70s country-rock)

June 2nd, 2008, 02:04 PM	#12 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 12,242 101 Photos	I don't really know what "aluminized" means. It appears to just be a steel plate that is powder coated to look like aluminum ...... or aluminium for our British friends. __________________ 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.

June 2nd, 2008, 08:07 PM	#14 (permalink)
Michael D. Slotboom NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Austin, Tx Age: 48 Posts: 7	I think when a manufacturer uses the term "Aluminized" they are refering to a process called aluminum diffusion. It is actually a process to inhibit corrosion by protecting the surface of steel. I would imagine that the tone and intonation of the bridge and saddles from Guitar Fetish sounds remarkably similar to the Fender vintage. Especially since the saddles appear not to be compensated angle.

June 2nd, 2008, 09:08 PM	#16 (permalink)
Michael D. Slotboom NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Austin, Tx Age: 48 Posts: 7	Yeah, I think that would be an accurate assesment. Anodizing is generally used to create a surface in aluminum that is harder than the parent material and slows down aluminums natural oxidation process by creating a thicker, stronger version of the oxidized material. (Man, I think there is probably a lot cleared explanation of this, but thats all my mind can come up with right now). You can anodize other materials but aluminum is certainly the most common for this process. Also, dye can be added to give a color. The color is nothing more than aesthetic.