an OCD quibble with my glendale bridge - glendale bridge owners please.

[vanguard]

so i noticed something slightly weird about my glendale bridge when i first got it. i chalked it up to handmade, boutique cuteness because i didn't want to wait for a replacement if i returned it. the lip on the bass side kind of tapers out next to the end of the bridge pickup. it looks kind of weird to me. part of me says "forget it. it's just your gear OCD. consider it a quaint detail of handmade quirkiness." but another part of me says, "remember how much you paid for said bridge plate? that's right: $100. it better be f-in perfect."

also, the plate doesn't lay quite flat below said taper against the guitar body. my last $7 plate from fender also left a gap in the same spot, so i suppose it could be the body and not the plates? it seems if i had the exact same prob twice, it's probably the body that's the culprit. anyway, not a big deal, just enough to slide a piece of paper between the bridge and the body about 3/4" in at the top edge.

so my question for glendale bridge plate owners: does your bridge plate taper out at the end of the lip on either side? is mine just weird? if mine is weird, should i fuggitaboutit, or send it back? i REALLY hate removing screws in my guitars unless it's absolutely necessary. a little wood comes out with the screws every time.

[rocketop777]

Could you take a pair of pliers and put some paper towels or a cloth between them and the bridge and just give it a little bend?

But true. If you pay that much for a hunk of metal... it better be "f-in" perfect.

[allen st. john]

Originally Posted by rocketop777

Could you take a pair of pliers and put some paper towels or a cloth between them and the bridge and just give it a little bend?

But true. If you pay that much for a hunk of metal... it better be "f-in" perfect.

As far as the pliers, I'd say that, in this case, the enemy of the good is the better. Leave it as is and you can send it back for a refund or exchange, or sell it (hey, I'd probably buy it.)
With a kink in it? Another story.

[newtwanger]

Not acceptable. You could easily fix it yourself in place if you lower the pickup all the way down then do as rocketop777 suggested.

On the other hand, if you screw it up, you're screwed. I'd contact Dale and request a replacement, $100 isn't $7. I'm sure he doesn't want an example of poor workmanship floating around either.

[Mark Davis]

Thats as crooked as a bag of snakes send it back.

If you can slide paper under the bridge its gonna feedback at high volumes.

It almost looks like it was bent out so there would be enough room for the pickup.

[vanguard]

just sent an email to dale, and got a response in minutes. he's going to replace it. good guys over there, even if they are a bit expensive

[csbluesman]

Hey,Vanguard does it feed back? Just wondering.
I didnt know something that simple would exect it.
Wish I could afford that bridge I here they sound awesome!
I would of ask for another one too its just to much money to not be satisfied.

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

Thats as crooked as a bag of snakes send it back.

If you can slide paper under the bridge its gonna feedback at high volumes.

It almost looks like it was bent out so there would be enough room for the pickup.

I don't think it was bent deliberately. Sort of an optical illusion in the first of Vanguard's images. The mini-lip comes no-where near the pickup, and even a big Keystone goes right on in there.

BTW, I checked one of mine and it does not turn out like that. I bet something happened to it while the plater or polishers were working on it.

[garytelecastor]

Send it back.

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by vanguard

just sent an email to dale, and got a response in minutes. he's going to replace it. good guys over there, even if they are a bit expensive

Dale is great, and he's very concerned about quality.

He sold a bunch of those machine jack cups last year as blems at 60+ % off - I bought dozens of them - I could never figure out where the blem was, even after he told me where to look.

[PJ]

You might run the risk of cracking the plating if you take a pliers to it. I;d probably return it. Especially if it's one of the (real) costly models.

[Bozo Bus]

He sold a bunch of those machine jack cups last year as blems at 60+ % off - I bought dozens of them - I could never figure out where the blem was, even after he told me where to look.

That there is customer service.
PEACE,
Phil

[stephent2]

Yup, Dale is all about the happy customer. Three thumbs up. I'm really enjoying the Chimemaster I'm running and I'll tell ya, a really good tele bridge plate goes a long way to making a great tele.

[esquire09]

Yep mine looked similar and I was told "it must be my guitar as the Bridge is perfect" I also twisted the head off a cheap screw sent with the bridge. Ever since Callaham has been my choice of the way to go and never had a problem. Also my pup sat cocked, not centered in the pickup cut out towards the control plate, if you look closley at the pic you'll see the same thing....

[FredDairy]

Send it back. Especially for what you pay for those. I recently bought a Nocaster that had a Glendale plate already installed on it. That too didn't sit flush on the body lucky for me the original owner kept the original Nocaster plate. After putting the Fender bridge back on it not only sat flush but sounded better.

[Ricky D.]

Originally Posted by rocketop777

Could you take a pair of pliers and put some paper towels or a cloth between them and the bridge and just give it a little bend? ...

The problem with straightening bent steel is that steel tends to work harden. The precise spot where the piece was bent originally is now harder than the surrounding material. So if you try to just bend it back with pliers, you may put a new bend in it instead. You can relieve the work hardened area by annealing it, that is heating it with a torch and allowing it to cool slowly. That would probably screw up the plating, now another problem to fix.

Try straightening a bent coat hanger, can't be done, same issue.

Vanguard's bridge is only slightly bent. It might be possible to fix it by clamping it in a bench vise and tapping that flange back in place. That's how I would attempt it if it was mine.

Of course, Dale had the best remedy: exchange for a new one!

[boris bubbanov]

Superb post, Ricky!

[Ricky D.]

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

Superb post, Ricky!

I am not worthy.

[Stylemaster]

Originally Posted by vanguard

I just got a blackguard cold rolled steel plate like yours and yours looks a little similar to mine around the logo. Mine almost looks like a fine metallic dust has been blown out of the letters but it's the way it's finished. It sort of bothers me, especially for $100. I called Dale and he said send it back but he said that he thought it was one of the nicest he ever made. So I decided being that these are handmade which engenders irregularity, I might like the replacement even less. So I kept it. But I'm still mixed about it. I know I'm OCD, but so be it - I am an professional commercial artist and it comes with the territory. But it almost makes me want to spring for the fully polished stainless steel and be done with it, only I'm not sure if stainless would yield the tone I want. May possibly be harsh from what I've heard.





It's kinda like "Frosty The Snow-Bridge Plate"


...

[Tommyboy]

Dale will be at the Arlington guitar show next week. Find somebody near you that is going to the show that can take the bridge with them. They could swap it out for you right there at the show. Dale takes a lot of pride in his work so I'm sure he would be happy to swap that bridge for one that is more visually appealing to you.

[Stylemaster]

Originally Posted by Stylemaster

I just got a blackguard cold rolled steel plate like yours and yours looks a little similar to mine around the logo. Mine almost looks like a fine metallic dust has been blown out of the letters but it's the way it's finished. It sort of bothers me, especially for $100. I called Dale and he said send it back but he said that he thought it was one of the nicest he ever made. So I decided being that these are handmade which engenders irregularity, I might like the replacement even less. So I kept it. But I'm still mixed about it. I know I'm OCD, but so be it - I am an professional commercial artist and it comes with the territory. But it almost makes me want to spring for the fully polished stainless steel and be done with it, only I'm not sure if stainless would yield the tone I want. May possibly be harsh from what I've heard.





It's kinda like "Frosty The Snow-Bridge Plate"


...

Anybody else get one like this?


...

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by Stylemaster

Anybody else get one like this?


...

Looks neat!!

[Stylemaster]

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

Looks neat!!

You like it? Part of me thinks it looks more interesting this way and part of me would rather have one that looks more plain like this:

[vanguard]

Originally Posted by Stylemaster

You like it? Part of me thinks it looks more interesting this way and part of me would rather have one that looks more plain like this:

that's more what mine looked like (sent it back). yours, however, looks great IMO. i like the weirdness of it. i am all about quirks AS LONG AS THEY ARE NOT FUNCTIONALITY QUIRKS. i see the strange finish on your bridge plate like irregular grain on an ash body (maybe it looks like E.T.'s visage or something). or like tiger stripe on a maple neck.

i say roll with it. it's cool looking.

[Stylemaster]

Originally Posted by vanguard

that's more what mine looked like (sent it back). yours, however, looks great IMO. i like the weirdness of it. i am all about quirks AS LONG AS THEY ARE NOT FUNCTIONALITY QUIRKS. i see the strange finish on your bridge plate like irregular grain on an ash body (maybe it looks like E.T.'s visage or something). or like tiger stripe on a maple neck.

i say roll with it. it's cool looking.

Thanks for your feedback, Vanguard. So you sent yours back because of the bent corner? Or because of the dull finish? Do you have any other full photos of the plate you sent back?

[PCR985]

Originally Posted by Stylemaster

I just got a blackguard cold rolled steel plate like yours and yours looks a little similar to mine around the logo. Mine almost looks like a fine metallic dust has been blown out of the letters but it's the way it's finished. It sort of bothers me, especially for $100. I called Dale and he said send it back but he said that he thought it was one of the nicest he ever made. So I decided being that these are handmade which engenders irregularity, I might like the replacement even less. So I kept it. But I'm still mixed about it. I know I'm OCD, but so be it - I am an professional commercial artist and it comes with the territory. But it almost makes me want to spring for the fully polished stainless steel and be done with it, only I'm not sure if stainless would yield the tone I want. May possibly be harsh from what I've heard.

It's kinda like "Frosty The Snow-Bridge Plate"[/b]


...

Here's a pic of my SS Glendale Bridge. It's 'Frosty' too.

You can order them polished?

[Stylemaster]

Originally Posted by PCR985

Here's a pic of my SS Glendale Bridge. It's 'Frosty' too.

You can order them polished?

Thanks for sending this. Yours is 100% frosty in the middle. Mine is half frosty and part shiny. I like yours better. Dale said no polishing on the blackguard cold rolled steel. However the SS can be ordered with mirror polished finish (All other people who think this is a ridiculous conversation please reserve comments! Thanks.)

[Dizi]

I guess I just don't get it. I would not be satisfied with any of the plates in this thread so far.

[Mark Davis]

Originally Posted by Dizi

I guess I just don't get it. I would not be satisfied with any of the plates in this thread so far.

Me neither. I know Dale is a good guy no doubt but Im seeing shoddy workmanship.

Callaham and Barden bridges both look way better than these.

[tap4154]

Originally Posted by Stylemaster

Anybody else get one like this?
...

Wow, the holes look like they were drilled and counter sunk with a hand drill. All off a bit.

$100?

[Colt W. Knight]

To me its a guitar bridge, not an engagement ring. But for what Glendale charges they pretty much have to replace any product thecustomer wants to nit pick.

[FredDairy]

Originally Posted by tap4154

Wow, the holes look like they were drilled and counter sunk with a hand drill. All off a bit.

$100?

I had one of these on my Nocaster when I bought it used. I was totally shocked by the quality and glad I didn't pay for it.

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

Me neither. I know Dale is a good guy no doubt but Im seeing shoddy workmanship.

Callaham and Barden bridges both look way better than these.

I've held several of these Glendale plates in my hands, and pored over them.
Pictures don't always tell us everything there is to know. These are very nice, and so is the Callaham and also the Taipantone.

If you can get a deal through your local Allparts dealer, the Joe Barden was good and it has been improved lately. But I still modify these Joe Bardens extensively before they go on my guitars. I don't modify, don't have to modify either the Callaham or the Glendale except I might change hardware from phillips head to slot head. And I'm increasingly anxious with the new batches of the Joe Bardens I spoke highly of before. The strings come dangerously close to the height hardware, almost as much as the TB 5125 saddles do. I may have to change out the B-little E saddles.

[vanguard]

Originally Posted by Stylemaster

Thanks for your feedback, Vanguard. So you sent yours back because of the bent corner? Or because of the dull finish? Do you have any other full photos of the plate you sent back?

i sent it back because the bent corner caused the base below it to rise away from the body. a bridge has gotta be perfectly flat for me. i don't care about much else on a tele, but the sucker's gotta be light weight amd have a flate plate.

here's another pic of the one i sent back:

[Stylemaster]

Originally Posted by tap4154

Wow, the holes look like they were drilled and counter sunk with a hand drill. All off a bit.

$100?

I thought it was just me when I noticed that. Thanks for confirming that I'm not being too nit picky. I was frankly shocked when I opened the box - especially after all I've heard about this company's products.

[tap4154]

Originally Posted by Stylemaster

Hmmmm.... I don't get it. The string holes are in front of the mounting holes

Oops! Nevermind. It's the modern standard bridge (Googled it)

[Stylemaster]

Originally Posted by tap4154

Hmmmm.... I don't get it. The string holes are in front of the mounting holes

Oops! Nevermind. It's the modern standard bridge (Googled it)

You got it!

[Mark Davis]

On the topic of these aftermarket bridges all the makers of course say they will improve your sound.

But has anyone actually taken a stock Tele a 52ri Baja 50's Classic or any other vintage style and made recordings with the stock bridge and then changed to a Glendale Callaham Barden or any brand set the pickup to the exact same height and used the same brand strings and made comparison recordings?

Ive never heard the proof that any of these aftermarket bridges actually sound better than the plain old stock cheap thin fender bridge.

[Colt W. Knight]

I did that with saddles, but not bridges. I havent ever had to change a bridge before. I either started with the bridge I wanted or saddle upgrades were sufficient for me.
To me, the hundred dollars is better suited spent elsewhere.

[Stylemaster]

Originally Posted by vanguard

i sent it back because the bent corner caused the base below it to rise away from the body. a bridge has gotta be perfectly flat for me. i don't care about much else on a tele, but the sucker's gotta be light weight amd have a flate plate.

here's another pic of the one i sent back:

So you sent it back. For a refund or an exchange for another one? Need to know, since it might help my decision making process. This is the only thing holding me back from completing this amazing build I'm doing.