3 screw hardtail bridge

[Ron_M_R]

which tele models including squires used a 3 screw hardtail bridge? Trying to figure out what body I have. Currently it has a 4 screw bridge that was drilled to fit.

Any help you would much appreciated.

 

[Ron_M_R]

I am thinking the body may be a 1995 MIM standard tele (these came with the hard tail 3 screw bridge). I am hoping it is not a squire.

 

[Ira7]

Rule #1:

Squier.

It could have came 4 screw, someone drilled for 3, and someone went back to 4.

I assume you've assumed the neck isn't original.

 

[Ron_M_R]

The neck is a nice relic from Allparts and as you can see someone has put a lil 59 i it.

If you look at the holes the originals were countersunk so I am pretty sure the original bridge was 3 screws. A little checking i found pictures of MIM telecasters in 1995 with the hard tail 3 screw bridges. There is too much chipping around the 4 screws to be original screw placements.

 

[hellopike]

How do those string through holes look? If it started as a three hole mount bridge, then the person who modified it would’ve had to drill 10 holes to accommodate the vintage bridge. That’s a hell of a lot of holes. Plus the 3 in the line are drilled real close to the string through holes. I’d agree with @Ira7 that maybe it was originally 4 not 3.

 

[Ira7]

The neck is a nice relic from Allparts and as you can see someone has put a lil 59 i it.

If you look at the holes the originals were countersunk so I am pretty sure the original bridge was 3 screws. A little checking i found pictures of MIM telecasters in 1995 with the hard tail 3 screw bridges. There is too much chipping around the 4 screws to be original screw placements.



View attachment 525836

There's no reason to countersink bridge plate holes, which kind of makes my scenario make more sense.

And the chipping DOES make sense if original owner(s) went back and forth between 4 and 3 and used different screws.

 

[Ron_M_R]

Mystery solved. It is a MIM squire, which in that time period 93 - 96 intermixed many Mexican and American made parts to produce a guitar that was very similar to MIM standard guitars. In some cases even better due to the use of integrating american electronics, bodies and necks. The 3 screw bridge was heavily used in the production of these guitars in that time period. Counter sinking although not on all fender productions does occur, I have seen many examples of this over the years.

 

[warrent]

Mystery solved. It is a MIM squire, which in that time period 93 - 96 intermixed many Mexican and American made parts to produce a guitar that was very similar to MIM standard guitars. In some cases even better due to the use of integrating american electronics, bodies and necks. The 3 screw bridge was heavily used in the production of these guitars in that time period. Counter sinking although not on all fender productions does occur, I have seen many examples of this over the years.

Here's what it would have originally looked like if its a squier series tele.

 

[Wrighty]

The neck is a nice relic from Allparts and as you can see someone has put a lil 59 i it.

If you look at the holes the originals were countersunk so I am pretty sure the original bridge was 3 screws. A little checking i found pictures of MIM telecasters in 1995 with the hard tail 3 screw bridges. There is too much chipping around the 4 screws to be original screw placements.



View attachment 525836

I’ve got a 99 Mexican, Black Fender logo, no Squire logo. Three screw top loader bridg, six individual barrel bridge pieces. I converted it to string thru, only needed six holes drilled.

 

[Ron_M_R]

Thanks for your reply's guys, it re enforces what I suspected. I continue to read that these guitars where constructed from left over American necks and bodies. It looks like someone has upgraded the pots. I am going to restore the body by repairing the extra screw holes and a few of the dings. Can't wait to get it back together to here how it sounds.

 

[nojazzhere]

which tele models including squires used a 3 screw hardtail bridge? Trying to figure out what body I have. Currently it has a 4 screw bridge that was drilled to fit.

Any help you would much appreciated.

My 1993 Korean Fender Squier came with a three screw, top-loading bridge, although if someone looked under bridge today, they might be confused like you....I've had four different bridges on it, from three hole , top-load to four hole string-through and back to three screw top-load. So many holes drilled under my bridge that I've probably achieved great
weight reduction....