Hi and a question

[darkstar]

Hello everyone, I'm a new member here (long time lurker) and i had a question for you here. I have a MIM standard tele (serial number indicates around 2001) and id like to get a vintage style, 3 brass saddle bridge for it, as I hear they do a lot for your tone. Now, I know Fender has different standards of string spacing for different guitars and i was wondering what bridges would directly fit my guitar, and where I could get one online for cheap. I dont care about having super-precise intonation and the normal straight saddle one would be fine with me. So where is the best place to get one of those? Thank you for your help.

Edit: Oh, i just remembered something else. Id also like to get another string tree, as i have trouble keeping the G string down far enough on the tuner so it doesnt chime a bit behind the nut, so id also like to be able to pick up some string trees from the same place.

[jhundt]

Sorry I can't help with your question concerning which bridge will fit your guitar. But here's a place where you can find most everything you will need for your guitar:

http://www.stewmac.com/

[maestrovert]

if your Mim Standard bridge has 4 mounting screws ahead of the string throughs (it probably does), you can fit an ashtray style 3 saddle bridge.....
some guys prefer the feel of the Standard's 6 smooth saddles though.......
do you have sonic reasons for the switch ?

ultimately,the twang's the thang

[e-merlin]

Yes, the bridge will fit if it's a MIM Standard. I really don't recall seeing a MIM Tele that a vintage bridge won't fit, but every time I make a no exceptions statement someone comes along and proves me wrong.

I would definitely check Stewmac and WD Music Products. Sometimes you can score one cheap on eBay, but make sure you won't pay more (including shipping) for that one than for one you could get locally or through one of the aforementioned reputable companies.

[editorjuno]

Originally Posted by darkstar

Hello everyone, I'm a new member here (long time lurker) and i had a question for you here. I have a MIM standard tele (serial number indicates around 2001) and id like to get a vintage style, 3 brass saddle bridge for it, as I hear they do a lot for your tone. Now, I know Fender has different standards of string spacing for different guitars and i was wondering what bridges would directly fit my guitar, and where I could get one online for cheap. I dont care about having super-precise intonation and the normal straight saddle one would be fine with me. So where is the best place to get one of those? Thank you for your help.

Edit: Oh, i just remembered something else. Id also like to get another string tree, as i have trouble keeping the G string down far enough on the tuner so it doesnt chime a bit behind the nut, so id also like to be able to pick up some string trees from the same place.

A standard Fender or aftermarket ashtray-style bridge plate will fit any recently-made MIM Standard Tele, and pretty much any dealer that stocks Tele bridges will also have a suitable string tree.

That said, imo the tonal advantages of an old-style bridge plate and three saddles have been wildly overstated, especially in your case since the MIM Standard has a very non-traditional bridge pickup (steel pole pieces with a ceramic bar magnet instead of alnico slugs as per Leo).

You might want to consider replacing that pickup before or at the same time you swap out the bridge, and don't ignore the hand comfort angle -- the sharp flange(s) of an ashtray bridge take some getting used to, and a modern L-shaped brass bridge with six elongated Strat-style saddles (e.g. Gotoh's, available from Stew-Mac and AllParts, among others) has its own set of advantages.

I for one gave up on ashtrays a couple of years ago and haven't looked back since -- ymmv and lots of folks continue to swear by them. However, the stock MIM Standard bridge plate has nothing to recommend it whatsoever -- it has neither the "twang" contribution of an ashtray (too thick) nor the hum and feedback advantages of a brass or stainless steel bridge plate (because it's steel and therefore ferromagnetic).

[darkstar]

Thanks for the replies guys. Ive always just heard that the vintage bridges sound better, but maybe now ill think it over a bit first.

[Fatmanstratman]

Darkstar, dunno about any improvement to your tone, but the vintage vibe would look cool. I much prefer the 3-saddle brass bridge visually, although sometimes it can be a b*tch to get the intonation spot on.

Try here for some nice parts at good prices (and you can 'Buy it Now' to avoid the drawn-out auction process):

http://stores.ebay.com/GUITAR-PARTS-RESOURCE-LLC