Did Leo experiment with Tele bridge pickups?

TheGoodTexan · January 2nd, 2006, 09:27 AM

The Tele bridge pickup design is the greatest sounding set-up for my styles of playing....and I don't even do much country playing, mostly rock, blues, soul and funk. I usually just slap a Duncan Broadcaster in the bridge of my Tele de jour, and I'm ready for anything. I don't really use the neck pickup much at all.

So it got me to thinking. What possessed Leo to design a bridge that the pickup actually mounts in? Were there other prototypes of drastically different design that were discarded? Surely he didn't nail it on the first try, did he?

I've seen Tom Anderson guitars that use a Tele bridge pup, but they just mount it to the wood, and use a standard hard tail bridge (or trem). Wonderfully crafted instruments, but what a waste. It does not sound nearly as good, IMO. Not enough bite at all.

Thanks again Leo, for your contributions.

WickedGTR · January 2nd, 2006, 12:47 PM

I think it was a happy accident of trying to design a guitar that was easy to manufacture and repair.

It just happened to sound great also.

Geo · January 2nd, 2006, 12:57 PM

Wasn't that type mounting taken from the lap
steel guitars he was already making?

Mark Davis · January 2nd, 2006, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geo

Wasn't that type mounting taken from the lap
steel guitars he was already making?

There wasnt a lap steel with an exact tele type bridge but that is where he gpt the idea from.

The Telecaster style bridge pickup first showed up in the late 40's in the Champion lap steel. Its just about the same as an early Broadcaster pickup besides the mounting plate as the lap steel pickups had a rectangle shaped bottom and they were held to the guitar with wood screws directly into the body.

Leo was an Americal genius who made real simple stuff that works great forever.

Rick Towne · January 2nd, 2006, 01:41 PM

and I agree with you re the Tom Anderson design. Does anyone know why Anderson does it this way? It's not necessary to forego the Tele bridge to have a trem, as I have a G&L ASAT Classic with ashtray bridge and G&L trem. You simply cut the bridge in half to conform to the trem bridge curve and the pickup still mounts directly to the ashtray which screws to the body.

editorjuno · January 2nd, 2006, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGoodTexan

The Tele bridge pickup design is the greatest sounding set-up for my styles of playing....and I don't even do much country playing, mostly rock, blues, soul and funk. I usually just slap a Duncan Broadcaster in the bridge of my Tele de jour, and I'm ready for anything. I don't really use the neck pickup much at all.

So it got me to thinking. What possessed Leo to design a bridge that the pickup actually mounts in? Were there other prototypes of drastically different design that were discarded? Surely he didn't nail it on the first try, did he?

I've seen Tom Anderson guitars that use a Tele bridge pup, but they just mount it to the wood, and use a standard hard tail bridge (or trem). Wonderfully crafted instruments, but what a waste. It does not sound nearly as good, IMO. Not enough bite at all.

Thanks again Leo, for your contributions.

My guess would be that this particular Leo contribution was an accident -- imo he just wanted an economical way to mount the ashtray cover that was the centerpiece of the '50s Detroit chrome cosmetics of the guitar. Any audible effect on performance was most likely an unanticipated side effect that the players discovered and exploited after the fact, creating the classic Tele bridge pickup tone we know and love.

Doug 54 · January 2nd, 2006, 02:07 PM

Tom Anderson does w/o the trad bridge to cut down on the squeal.

Rick Towne · January 2nd, 2006, 02:26 PM

Isn't it part of the inherent identity of the guitar?

Doug 54 · January 2nd, 2006, 02:31 PM

Email Tom!!

Just remembering the various magazine reviews of his Tele-type guitars, and interviews with Tom.

BTW: I had an 80's Robin Ranger---probably MIJ, a great guitar that has the rear pup mounted directly to the wood.
Had the twang!

January 2nd, 2006, 12:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
WickedGTR Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Hillbilly Hollywood Posts: 2,127 4 Photos	I think it was a happy accident of trying to design a guitar that was easy to manufacture and repair. It just happened to sound great also. __________________ http://www.myspace.com/jameswilsey

January 2nd, 2006, 12:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
Geo Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hendersonville, TN Age: 59 Posts: 2,484 15 Photos	Wasn't that type mounting taken from the lap steel guitars he was already making? __________________ "Somewhere between culture and agriculture"

January 2nd, 2006, 01:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
Rick Towne Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 819	It was just one of those moments of practical genius... and I agree with you re the Tom Anderson design. Does anyone know why Anderson does it this way? It's not necessary to forego the Tele bridge to have a trem, as I have a G&L ASAT Classic with ashtray bridge and G&L trem. You simply cut the bridge in half to conform to the trem bridge curve and the pickup still mounts directly to the ashtray which screws to the body.

January 2nd, 2006, 02:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
Doug 54 Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ohio, Dayton area Posts: 640	Tom Anderson does w/o the trad bridge to cut down on the squeal. __________________ The Bobby Mcfarrin of guitar

January 2nd, 2006, 02:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
Rick Towne Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 819	No squeal=No Tele? Isn't it part of the inherent identity of the guitar?

January 2nd, 2006, 02:31 PM	#9 (permalink)
Doug 54 Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ohio, Dayton area Posts: 640	Email Tom!! Just remembering the various magazine reviews of his Tele-type guitars, and interviews with Tom. BTW: I had an 80's Robin Ranger---probably MIJ, a great guitar that has the rear pup mounted directly to the wood. Had the twang! __________________ The Bobby Mcfarrin of guitar