Whammy bar on a Telecaster?

[OllyWobbs__]

I recently was gifted a Player Series Fender Telecaster and wanted to install a Whammy bar. I've looked at Bigsbys and Vibramates but as far as I can tell they only work with the vintage style bridges which I don't think mine has (I may be wrong, semi-new to this). Is there any other alternatives to getting a similar whammy effect, or a Bigsby that does work with mine (or any other alternative). Maybe if there is even a way to convert the bridges on the guitar just so I can install it. Thanks.

 

[fenderfan]

I've done several Vibramate projects on Teles, and can pass along this info: Vibramate makes two versions for Teles; one, as you noted is for Teles with vintage style bridges, but they also make one that works with American Standard type Tele bridges, which I think would also include bridges on the Player Series. I have a Squier Bullet Tele, and it had the American Standard type of bridge, and I just put a Vibratmate and Bigsby on that one.

 

[John C]

Another option would be Bigsby B5 kit for the Telecaster which also includes a replacement plate with a tune-o-matic type bridge.

 

[Boreas]

Another option would be Bigsby B5 kit for the Telecaster which also includes a replacement plate with a tune-o-matic type bridge.

I have installed several of these and like them a lot. It is the setup Fender typically used, incorporating their low-profile rocker bridge. If you can track down a "F" logo B5, even better!

 

[Fenderdad1950]

Congrats on getting a Player Tele. Remember extra holes that will be drilled, can only be filled if you don't like it ( which looks pretty tacky IMO) Fender makes another guitar called a Start, which comes with a whammy bar. I have heard the model might become popular.

 

[Boreas]

Congrats on getting a Player Tele. Remember extra holes that will be drilled, can only be filled if you don't like it ( which looks pretty tacky IMO) Fender makes another guitar called a Start, which comes with a whammy bar. I have heard the model might become popular.

I don't fill holes. To me, holes are just evidence of a colorful past. But I don't mess with my vintage/valuable instruments.

 

[KC]

I had a tele with a bigsby on it for a while, added some weight, constantly in the way, the bridge rattled, etc -- and this was a Fender Japan factory job. You have to really really want a wiggle to put up with this thing.

For not a lot more $$$ you could get a MIM Strat that was made to whammy. Set that baby up to float and you're in tremolo heaven. And there aren't any new holes in your tele!

 

[loopfinding]

the vintage style bridge is more or less a drop in on the modern mexican bridge (i think just the hole spacing for the strings is a tad different). it's just shorter than the MIM bridge. the only one that presents a real issue is the old american standard modern bridge - 3-screw, different length and mounts in a different place.

that being said, the bigsby plate is 3-screws and mounts in a different place. you'd have to redrill to install it, it's not drop in on a vintage 4-screw bridge tele. a vibramate kit and a vintage-style 4-screw bridge would probably be drop in, but then you don't get the rocking bridge and will run into more friction.

if it were me and i really wanted a trem, i'd start with a different tele body and do the bigsby plate...and route it for a jazzmaster trem.

 

[pelle31]

I say go for it. I wasn't crazy about the feel of the Bigsby so I decided to go with the strat system.

 

[thegaijin]

This is one of the things i love about teles. Pretty much everything you do is reversible if you don’t like it.
Whammy bar? Why not. I know some people who even put humbuckers in theirs

 

[tfarny]

While I think the Bigsby is the correct choice as well, there are some alternatives including getting a new tele body routed for a strat bridge (from Warmoth or other custom order parts companies). The Bigsby is a certain kind of whammy bar, which I love, but is not for everyone or every style of music.

 

[jvin248]

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Another alternative, is find one of the 2021 American Pro II Jazzmaster trems. They have nearly the same dive as Strats but seem to have fixed all the tuning problems of both Strats and JMs.

While there is still routing involved, it's all on the top face and much more simple to install.

Hopefully Fender will start selling these bridges+trems in their site. Otherwise it might be a Stratosphere/etc type of find from a dismantled JM.

.

 

[relativegain]

You know what they say. You don’t ever do that. But once it’s done. Now we’re having some fun. Do whatever makes you love your guitar. Because you will play it more. Something we all should be doing.

 

[Yonatan]

I say go for it. I wasn't crazy about the feel of the Bigsby so I decided to go with the strat system.

View attachment 938543

Here's mine!

 

[Rufustelestrats]

 

[Mur]

I say go for it. I wasn't crazy about the feel of the Bigsby so I decided to go with the strat system.

View attachment 938543

That is some wild stuff right there!

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