1966 Telecaster Bridge

[croakersmoker]

Hey guys, had a question regarding my 66 esquire. The bridge is not original to the guitar, as it has the brass saddles and pat. pending text close to the pickup. The 66 bridges I have seen sport the threaded saddles and the fender/pat no is further back. I have also seen 1966 bridges that have the steel saddles with the two string ribs. What is the history on fender bridges in 1966....what is correct.
Also the bridge on my Tele was said (by the previous owner) to be a pre 66 bridge...or it could be a reliced reissue. Like I said above it says
FENDER
PAT. PEND.

How can I tell if my bridge is the real deal? See picture

Thanks in advance guys!

 

[Major Gruber]

Some closer pics of the markings could help. The thickness of the letters is a clue (thinner on genuine ones)

 

[Antoon]

Original ones often have peeling chrome plating and spots with black corrosion rather than brown

 

[croakersmoker]

Any info on what the saddles should be on a true 1966 bridge. I've see the threaded steel and 2 rib steel...what is correct?
I'll get some better pics of the bridge

 

[KevinB]

The '66 bridge should have FENDER PAT.NO DES and the patent numbers stamped on it. But these plates were used from '62 through '83 so narrowing one down to '66 isn't easy.

Threaded steel saddles were used from mid '58 (when they replaced plain steel) through early '68 (when they were replaced by grooved steel). Like this (courtesy of TDPRI member Ron Garson)...

 

[croakersmoker]

Got ya! That was the main thing I wanted clarification on. I would like to find an original 66 bridge to replace mine...just wanted to make certain the one I buy is correct here is a pic of the esquire custom, the neck is an overspray and I believe it's an old refin, it looks good though and glows under the black light

 

[KevinB]

Wow! It's a beauty.

I hope you find a correct bridge.

 

[Major Gruber]

Wow! It's a beauty.

I hope you find a correct bridge.

Got ya! That was the main thing I wanted clarification on. I would like to find an original 66 bridge to replace mine...just wanted to make certain the one I buy is correct here is a pic of the esquire custom, the neck is an overspray and I believe it's an old refin, it looks good though and glows under the black light

Yeah, it looks great. Concerning the bridge, yours couldn't be 66, but I meant closer pictures could help check if it can be older. I don't think so but the vision is not perfect.

 

[croakersmoker]

I'll take more detailed pictures this afternoon, stand by

 

[KevinB]

I see that someone also added a second string tree which is only correct for '72 onwards.

Easily fixed though!

 

[Antoon]

There is a nice one on Ebay now for $195 from which you can sell the saddles that come with it again. The plate about matches the degree of wear on the other parts of the guitar.

 

[charlie chitlin]

That neck is a thing of beauty!

 

[croakersmoker]

There is a nice one on Ebay now for $195 from which you can sell the saddles that come with it again. The plate about matches the degree of wear on the other parts of the guitar.

Do you have a link?

 

[croakersmoker]

I see that someone also added a second string tree which is only correct for '72 onwards.

Easily fixed though!

The string tree was added and plugged years ago. The pictures don't do the flame justice. I want to say the neck is stamped February of 66

 

[Obelisk]

Don't get those type of saddles unless you like broken strings. There is a reason why the previous owner changed the original bridge: the threaded saddles are awful for strings life and their tone isn't that great. They were really meant for flatwound strings which more players used in the early to mid-'60s. I personally like steel saddles better, but the bridge you have on the guitar is way better than than those threaded saddles. Remember they were thinking of discontinuing the Telecaster due to flagging sales. Though I have no proof, those saddles could have contributed to the flagging sales from 61-66 of Telecasters as most every Telecaster I've played from that time period with an original bridge left me flat. Many of them don't have that bridge anymore if they have been played. Your guitar looks killer as is: it has probably been refinished so what's the point of getting a historically accurate bridge anyways?

 

[Antoon]

(link removed)

But I just saw it has top loader holes drilled in it